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

07: treat each other as strangers

Kotetsu cornered Iruka a few evenings later at dinner. He brought Iruka an orange. He hadn't had an orange since he was a child. A peace offering, Iruka thought. Not quite enough.

Kotetsu looked a little contrite, but mostly embarrassed. Iruka hadn't seen Izumo since the evening spent in the apricot orchard. "I… well I'm not exactly sorry, but… He doesn't mean it Iruka, he's just desperate. This is the first time that there's a real chance we, that he could get out."

"You think I'm not desperate?" Iruka tried to keep himself from getting upset, but it was hard. "I've been traded around my wholelife, it's time it ended," he whispered fiercely. "Why do I have to be responsible for him?"

Kotetsu nodded, avoiding Iruka's gaze. "He likes you Iruka. You remind him of someone, I guess. I'm just worried. I think something happened the last time the Sultan called for him. Please help him…us, please?"

Iruka wasn't surprised by the relationship, but he was surprised by Kotetsu's genuine concern and affection for Izumo. It warmed him, yet at the same time, he felt bitterly jealous. At least they had each other. He had nothing. Nothing.

"I'll try my best. I promise." Iruka tried to look bright and promising, but he felt the same despair circling him.

After this, then what?

He'd barely turned around to go outside and eat his orange—not enough for a peace offering, but he'd hardly turn it down—when Izumo caught up with him.

They hadn't spoken at all since the evening in the pool.

"He's calling for you," Izumo said in a subdued, nearly apologetic voice. His gaze flickered up toward Iruka once and then drifted away.

Iruka sighed and held out the orange to Izumo. He shrugged at Izumo's bemused and cautious stare. "Someone should eat it. Your… Kotetsu gave it to me."

Izumo took the orange carefully. "I'll save it for you," he said. He looked at Iruka, his expression a cross between shame and contrition. "I'm…"

"Its fine, Izumo." Iruka turned and walked away before Izumo felt compelled to say anything else.

Hayate met him at the door. "They're here," he whispered in an awed tone that barely disguised his obvious excitement.

Iruka looked at him. "Who?"

"Your man and my—er, his guards. They came. We're both called for." Hayate suddenly seemed like an eager child going to the market for the first time.

"Hayate…" he began.

"No, no, they're really nice. I mean, you know, good. Um," he pondered, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm not explaining this well."

"I think I understand." Iruka walked in step with him as they made their way down the hall, escorted by another servant. He pondered this side of Hayate. Obviously he wasn't as naïve as he seemed. It also came as a surprise to Iruka that Hayate had been called to entertain before.

Hayate seems so… effortless. I can't believe he's looking forward to this. It shouldn't surprise me, I guess; there are at least a dozen of us called out regularly.

It was more surprising how many in the seraglio weren't courtesans of some sort. It seemed to consist more of servants and male staff than anything else. He knew the harem was the same: wives, children, and female relatives were far more common than actual courtesans, but he knew there were at least twice as many female courtesans as male, even though the seraglio was far more populated than the harem.

Hayate muttered as they rounded the last corner before the Sultan's salon. "I hope we get out of here soon."

"What?" Iruka turned to Hayate and asked in a shocked whisper. It sounded like he said…

"I hope we have fun." Hayate smiled and followed the servant in.

It was only the Sultan and Kakashi when they entered. They bowed quietly and gracefully at the foot of the Sultan and listened to Kakashi bargain for Iruka, Hayate, and whomever else he could manage. Sets would be nice, he told Itachi. The better they get along, he explained, the easier it would be on Kakashi and his guards to manage them.

"And what do you plan to do with them while they are under your ownership, Kakashi?"

Kakashi shrugged before grinning. "Everything I can."

Itachi laughed, a genuine laugh, and Iruka struggled not to look up and see it, make sure it was real and not his imagination.

"Very well. A servant will show you to your rooms." His voice shifted and Iruka knew—and knew Hayate realised it as well—that his attention was suddenly on them. "I trust you will take care of our guests tonight. Someone will come for you in the morning. Do not leave your rooms without an escort."

Servants came and walked Iruka and Hayate to separate rooms. As Iruka was led away from Hayate, he wondered, just who is he waiting for? There are two guards and only one of him. His mind flashed to the memory of the apricot pool, where, nights ago, Izumo and Kotetsu had… Iruka blushed and once more considered Hayate's eagerness.

The servant opened the door to Kakashi's rooms and pushed Iruka inside. He wondered how long he would wait before Kakashi appeared. This was no time to get lost in his thoughts.

Iruka sat on a low cushioned stool near the fireplace and waited for Kakashi to come. He was wearing his newest clothes; his favourite pair, he was a little guilty to admit. The only clothes he'd ever been given.

He was about to drift off when the door opened. It was Kakashi, all alone.

"Iruka," he said. He looked genuinely pleased, his voice was smooth and he was smiling. "How are you?"

Iruka bowed his head and led Kakashi to a table with wine. "The Sultan implied you had eaten. If you're hungry I can ring for food."

"No… you don't have to serve me, Iruka. I'm neither hungry nor thirsty. Just talk to me. I want you to trust me. I didn't abandon you then and I'm not going to abandon you now." Kakashi ducked trying to look at Iruka's face and finally pulled Iruka's face up with both his hands. "Do you understand?" he asked. His voice was rough, nearly trembling.

Iruka smiled. "I understand. I'm here to please you. Whatever you wish. Do you want to bathe?"

"No, I don't want a bath! Please, just sit." He stood up and grabbed Iruka, stalking toward the low bed. He sat and directed Iruka to do the same. Iruka remained standing, watching Kakashi solemnly.

Iruka shifted out of his entari, draping it carefully over a small carved table in a corner. He turned to Kakashi and smiled carefully. He kicked off his soft soled slippers. Only his baggy selwar remained.

"I've learned lots while I've been here," Iruka said as he walked toward Kakashi. "I know more than I did when you saw me at my Uncle's."

"No, Iruka, that's not—not what I'm here for. I just, I thought you might want to get away, so you don't have to, what are you doing?" asked Kakashi in a shocked whisper as Iruka untied the drawstring of his selwar.

The loose pants dropped as soon as he untied them.

Iruka looked around blankly. "Undressing. These are my best clothes." He crawled onto the bed and onto Kakashi's lap. Kakashi looked a little uncomfortable, but didn't push him away.

"You don't have to…" he began slowly. "I don't want to, I mean, you shouldn't…"

Iruka placed a fingertip on Kakashi's lips. "Shh. I want to." He moved his hips, shifting as he settled in Kakashi's lap.

Kakashi scooted back until they were draped nearly sideways across the length of the bed. He leaned back against the cushions pilled around the mattress and looked up at Iruka

Iruka could feel Kakashi responding, feel the hardness between his legs, but he could see the denial in Kakashi's face still.

Leaning close, Iruka opened his mouth and licked Kakashi's lips. "I have to please the Sultan, Kakashi. I do that," he said, licking again and sealing their mouths together in a kiss, "by pleasing you. Please don't let me fail." He reached down to Kakashi's trousers and untied them, reaching his hand inside.

Kakashi made a low sound in his throat as Iruka ran his thumb around Kakashi's cock, fingers tight around its length. One hand pushed slightly on Iruka's shoulder, but the other, Iruka noted in relief, was flat against his lower back, holding him close.

Iruka rose up on his knees, his chest against Kakashi's chin and looked down at him. "Please?" he asked. When Kakashi nodded he sank back down, slowly, one hand on Kakashi to guide him inside. He closed his eyes and bit back a moan as Kakashi entered, but couldn't keep all the sounds he made silent.

Between each deep breath was a whimpering moan. Iruka bit his lip. The smear of oil he'd salvaged and rubbed on himself before they were escorted was barely helping. It almost hurt. It did hurt and it was so hot. He could feel his heart pounding and he could barely breathe. The pain nearly took his breath away, it was so much, but it was so good, just not enough. Iruka hoped to god that Kakashi wasn't going to sell him if he got his hands on him. Already he wanted to try this again.

Iruka moved slowly, not sure if this was going to work, scared to open his eyes, but he heard a long sigh from Kakashi and felt a warm hand on his back slide down to his ass and one on his neck and suddenly, Kakashi was kissing him, tongue licking at Iruka's corners and depths and he didn't know, for a minute, which was hotter. Kakashi moved under him and it was sudden and nearly too much. Iruka's head dropped back as he cried out in low, shuttered moans.

Kakashi's hands clutched at him, pulling him down with each movement.

He noted distantly that this was the first time he'd had sex in a bed and the first time he had—was going to—come. He could feel it, bubbling and burning up like a trail of fire and water boiling over, Kakashi moving, pushing his body up and pulling Iruka's body down, arms tight and clutching and then Iruka was shaking. He cried out once, wrapping his arms around Kakashi's neck and pushing, thrusting, rocking against Kakashi's chest, he suddenly felt broken into pieces, like he was floating in the pool under the apricot petals, floating, touching nothing, sinking beneath the surface.

Kakashi was still moving when Iruka opened his eyes, the light in the room shocking against his eyes. He tried to speak but nothing came out save for sobbing noises. He shivered as Kakashi reached out to grasp his neck and pull him close for a kiss.

"Oh, Iruka… I didn't…" Kakashi trailed off into a moan gripping Iruka, pulling him down. Kakashi's hands were hard on Iruka's hips as he held him close, harsh breath in his ear, then Iruka felt a twitching heat and Kakashi's body suddenly relaxed underneath him.

Iruka could feel Kakashi's heart pounding against his own. He felt like his body was still moving, still shivering. He'd never come from sex before. He panted, trying to collect his breath and his heartbeat. Suddenly, he felt sleepy, hungry, and limp. He could feel Kakashi moving and shifting them, pulling apart, then settling them under heavy blankets.

Iruka hovered on the edge of sleep, body and mind limp, Kakashi's arm holding him close.

I wonder what Hayate is doing?

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