I'm obviously opting for quirkier chapter titles. This is a pretty uneventful chapter – it's probably not one of those that actually contribute to the main story line. I'm just setting the context and things like that. Hope you don't mind this slightly boring chapter.

II. The Obligatory Analogy of the Bird and Freedom

"Greetings, Vice-Admiral Tezuko," one of the Duke's advisors—Deidara didn't know which—bowed his head in what seemed to be very practiced respect to the stout, muscular, hawk-faced man that was the Vice-Admiral. Deidara stood behind the advisor, and bowed politely when Tezuko's eyes rest upon him. "To the Uchiha residence. This groom will take your horse, if you wish to unmount here to make your first appearance and do your greetings through the main door. Otherwise, you may wish to take yourself and your family to the stables personally, and then—,"

"Don't worry about all that fuss,"

Tezuko gestured at Deidara, who went forward immediately to clutch firmly the reins of the majestic, glossy-coated brown horse of the Vice-Admiral, patting its long face gently.

"My family and I shall make our appearances through the front door. I'm sure that's where the Duke is expecting us," he adjusted his hat.

"Certainly," the advisor replied. Tezuko was obviously a very proud man, and rightfully so, and he didn't really look like he'd touched a weapon in his life even though he was the Vice-Admiral. Deidara walked deliberate, slow steps so that he could catch a glimpse of the two young daughters, but only caught the back of them as they were helped down from the carriage by two men that the advisor had gestured over. Deidara shrugged to himself and brought the horse over to another stable which house guest's horses. Soon he'd have to go back outside and help unbridle the horses pulling the carriage, something he didn't want to do, so he lingered in the stables, doing everything at a slower rate. Hearing the advisor say the Uchiha residence made Deidara consciously realize that he'd never really seen the Duke himself ride horses all that often: his younger brother, Sasuke, did it almost every day, and so Deidara was well acquainted with the impassive young man. The Duke, on the other hand…

"Deidara!" somebody yelled. "Come out here!"

Urgh. He almost wanted to yell back "I'm shovelling horse shit over here!" as an excuse, but he caved and went outside. A heavy stack of saddles, bridles, bits and reins were immediately shoved into his arms and he stumbled a bit before shifting his arms a little to get a better hold on them and walking back to wear he had just emerged from.

Come to think of it, Deidara seldom saw the Duke, and he knew it was probably because he was always inside, making decisions or holding functions. Deidara shook his head gently. He'd never talked to him personally, but he sounded like a bit of a wuss.

He stacked the accessories onto the shelves and wiped his forehead. He was hoping he wasn't going to get more tasks to complete—after all, this was the extent of his job. But the head groom could usually come up with some random duties for him to do just to make him look busy, so Deidara wouldn't be surprised if the guy came in while he was lazing around and tell him to go buy fruit or something. He sighed heavily and flicked a finger against one of the overhanging reins. He couldn't wait until all the fuss about the arrival of the Vice-Admiral was over. With all this going on, he doubted he could have a proper meal without being called to do something. He headed outside again to grab an apple. That would have to do.

Tezuko's handshake was firm, and one look into his hardened eyes and Itachi knew the man was here on a mission. He glanced just over the man's broad shoulders to look at his daughters, who were scanning the castle with hopeful eyes. He looked back at Tezuko and offered the faintest of smiles.

"My brother, Sasuke,"

He stepped back and let his younger brother take over. He was a little more ambitious than Itachi was, and at once, Sasuke somehow struck a business-like rapport with the Vice-Admiral. Itachi walked over to the wife and kissed the back of her hand with practiced firmness.

"My ladies," he said quietly. He avoided the eyes of the daughters as he repeated the gesture with them, and ignored even more their whispers behind their hands after they withdrew them.

"I shall have my advisor, Danzo, show you around the castle," Itachi told Tezuko. "And after you and your family have settled into your rooms, we shall have ourselves a conversation over tea in the drawing room."

"It will be my pleasure, Duke," Tezuko bowed almost as stiffly as Danzo before the troupe headed off. Itachi whipped around and headed straight for his room as soon as they'd turned their backs, ignoring the disapproving look of his other advisor who had greeted them in front of the castle.

"You should have shown them around yourself, sire," the old man hissed as Itachi passed him. Itachi said nothing and pressed on. He was tired of this already. He passed window after window on the spiral staircase that led up to his room in one of the turrets and couldn't help but notice the fat yellow sun against the backdrop of the cloudless blue sky. Not to mention the damned birds, with their wings flapping in the air, gliding along the soft winds like the ocean water over the sand. He bit his lip angrily, wanting to go outside, but knowing he wouldn't ever go back inside if he did so, because he liked it too much out there. Then he wondered why he even cared that he would be, as a result, letting his advisors down. They were all senile old men, and none of them had his best interests at heart, after all.

It's not just the advisors…it's the people of the land.

He opened the door to his chambers and tried to remain calm. He only had an hour of peace before it would be disrupted by an afternoon, evening and night of putting up with his guests, and he was planning to spend it as well as possible within the confinements of his room. He stood by the window again and looked outside. The Vice-Admiral's carriage was parked safely under a thatched roof, and somebody was polishing it. Stable-hands were being barked at by the head groom, and a couple of women were running around with basketfuls of wet clothes. Itachi looked away. It was going to be a long day, and an even longer night. He was not looking forward to it at all.