Burning Passion
Chapter 3
"Sasuke,"
"What?"
"We need to talk,"
Sasuke did a long sigh, "Did I do anything wrong?"
"You? No! Never you! It is Itachi, Itachi and the stupid marriage,"
"About that," Sasuke started, "I've got a plan, and you don't have to worry,"
"What? You do? I knew I could count on you Sasuke! Now do share,"
Taking a deep breath, "We'll run away"
Naruto's heart jumped. "Run away? How are we going to do that without getting caught?"
"We'll board a ship in the next…three hours? I'll have to check with the captain of the ship again to make sure,"
"And where exactly will we be going?"
"Cloud kingdom,"
"That's on the other side of Europe!"
"Exactly! Far, far away from Itachi," Sasuke growled.
Naruto, snuggling closer to Sasuke, smiled "It doesn't matter where we go as long as I'm with you"
Sasuke closed his eyes, resting his chin on Naruto's head, "I know, Naruto. Me too,"
Later that night, Itachi finally finished all his papers for the day and was about to retire into his bedroom, but was interrupted with an urgent knock.
"Prince Itachi!"
"Hn."
"Prince Sasuke and Naruto…They're nowhere to be found!" the guard exclaimed urgently.
"What!" Itachi said firmly, though still managing to keep his voice leveled.
"I—I think they ran away sir!"
"To where?"
"I don't know, they must have boarded the ship this afternoon that left four hours ago,"
Itachi walked past the stunned guard heading for the door, but stopped. "You were supposed to keep an eye on them." He turned around 180 degrees. "But it seems as if Naruto and Sasuke got the better of you. I'll give them a little break for being able to outsmart one of my best men. You, on the other hand, will not be so fortunate. I will punish you how I see fit,"
The guard shivered. "Sir, if I may—"
"If it's another excuse,"
"No, your honor, I was able to find out where the ship was heading to,"
"I could have figured that out myself. You were responsible with watching them. I'm still busy with work and my father's illness so, I will not retrieve Naruto and Sasuke right now,"
Itachi continued, "Is that all Asuma?"
"Yes, but would you like me to tell Naruto and Sasuke's parents?"
"No, don't tell my mother. She has enough stress as it is. Tell her Sasuke is on a trip. I will tell Mrs. Senju later as well also. You're dismissed"
Kushina listened intently on Mikoto's words. "Help me find who tried to kill my husband,"
Kushina's mouth was gapped open. "You honestly think he was killed,"
"I do," Mikoto paused for a second, "and I need your help," determination set in her eyes. "I may have not have liked Fugaku when I was a young girl 15 years of age, but he was faithful. He kept no prostitutes or concubines and always treated me kindly despite my brattish, childish behavior. Please, Kushina, if this is the only thing I can offer him, help me figure out who tried to kill my husband,"
"You have my word," Kushina agreed sternly.
It has been two whole days since Naruto and Sasuke have boarded the ship and now, they were walking off deck, never so happy to see ground.
"I don't know if I was able to stay another minute in the ship's basement. The stench of fish still lingers in my nostrils," Naruto complained.
"But we're free. We are free from all expectations and most importantly, free from my older brother Itachi!"
Sasuke was able to ask a stranger getting off deck, the directions to Collins, a small village on the outskirts of the Cloud Kingdom. Naruto and Sasuke were able to catch a horse since carriages were a luxury and they didn't want to attract attention. They arrived at a small, little restaurant that was owned by a cute old couple. Naruto was hungry and Sasuke was getting tired hearing Naruto whine.
"Wow! This Kingdom is so peaceful, especially this small town; the green grass and the little children. There has to be at most five families in here" said Naruto.
"Yeah, nobody will ever find us here," Sasuke reassured.
"Why hello, is there anything I can get you?" the cute old lady asked.
"Do you guys have any crème brulee?" Naruto asked cutely.
"A crème what," the lady asked.
"Naruto!" Sasuke interrupted, "This isn't the palace! They don't serve that kind of stuff here!"
"Sorry," Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He was always sheltered by his mother and didn't leave the Senju Kingdom unless it was to go down to see the Uchihas.
"Wait…You're royalty aren't you?"
Damn it, Sasuke mentally cursed. "Yes, but we are exiled and there are people out to kill us," he lied.
"Oh my goodness!" the lady put her hand over her mouth, "let me get my husband, you wait here".
The old man comes down stairs. The restaurant looks kind of like a home; they must live on the top floor.
"Why yes, you guys do have kind of a royalty air to you despite the reek of fish," he laughed.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched.
"My wife told me everything," he explained. "But, "the old man continued, "If you need a place to stay you're welcome to stay in our basement. It isn't the biggest, but there is one bedroom and a bathroom downstairs."
"Yes! Thank you so much!" Sasuke replied gratefully.
"But there is a catch though—"
"Yes, anything!" Sasuke interrupted.
"We need a couple waiters,"
"We'll do it!" Naruto jumped in.
So, it was official. Naruto and Sasuke now worked in a little restaurant in the town of Collins within the cloud kingdom as waiters.
"Let me lead you down stairs," the old lady proposed kindly.
Sasuke and Naruto followed her down stairs. They weren't lying, the place really was small and wasn't nearly what they were used to, but they were grateful and would make the best of it. The bed was a regular full size and it was agreed Sasuke would sleep on the floor beside Naruto (the old couple didn't know they were in a relationship). There was one simple dresser, no closet and one bed. The bedroom was simple. The bathroom was OK. There was a sink and a toilet and they would have to go upstairs to use the bath since there was only one in the restaurant/house. The toilet had to be flushed twice and pressed down really hard if you wanted it to flush all the way.
"I don't know how much to thank you for everything you've done for us" Sasuke exclaimed.
"No problem!" the sweet lady stated. "It's getting pretty late and so, we're going to head to bed. You're welcome to come up stairs if you need anything,"
Naruto and Sasuke watched the old lady disappear up the stairs.
Naruto sat on the bed, the springs made a squeaky sound. "We're so lucky Sasuke! Maybe fate really has called us to be together,"
Sasuke grinned, "Naruto, does this mean we still have to wait to marriage," Sasuke asked, while leaning in for a kiss.
"Pervert," Naruto grumbled while turning around, now laying stomach on the bed. "Is sex all you think about?"
"Not all the time, "Sasuke shrugged.
Naruto sniffed his shirt. He wrinkled his nose. His shirt smelt like fish.
"We'll take a bath and buy some new clothes tomorrow," Sasuke explained.
Naruto was already asleep. Sasuke smiled and kissed Naruto's forehead. "Welcome home, this is our new beginning"
It has been three days since Naruto and Sasuke's run away and Itachi is woken up with a crying Mikoto barging in his room. First, nobody enters his room, not even with permission. Second, his mother is a strong woman. She doesn't cry. Itachi gets up from his king size bed and puts on a red silk robe.
"Mother," Itachi says gently, a little worried to be upset with the fact that somebody entered his chambers.
She keeps on crying and mumbling.
"Mother, you're going to have to stop crying to explain to me what has happened,"
"Your father…He's—he's…dead,"
Itachi stilled. He knew his father was dying, but this soon? It has only been four days. He didn't have any time to prepare. He was going to wait till he was married and then have his crowning as king.
Itachi swiftly gets up and sits his mother on a chair and asks one of the chamber maids to bring his mother a cup of tea.
Itachi rubs his mother's back, "Relax, mother, everything will be fine. You stay here and I'll go to my office and prepare a few things and get ready to tell the dukes and representative of the royal court, leave everything to me,"
Itachi quickly gets dressed and heads for his offices in swift strides. Now since his father is dead, he has no time to be fooling around and certainly no time to mourn. Maybe when all of this is done, he could finally mourn for his father. As of now though, he will have to retrieve Naruto and Sasuke now from the Cloud Kingdom, already knowing where they were hours after their "escape". He should announce the death of the King to the council first.
He sent one of the dukes to have an emergency meeting in the royal court and by the time he arrived everyone, dukes and representative were standing, waiting to be seated. Itachi took a seat and everyone else bowed and took a seat after him.
"My father has passed away," Itachi announced. There were slight whispers, but they died down quickly.
Itachi continued, "My mother could not attend the meeting for she is still mourning. I am now king of the Uchiha Kingdom, but the crowning ceremony will be combined with the wedding, which will be in the next two months instead of next year as originally planned. I am going to the Cloud Kingdom to do some business until then any affairs will be handled by Shishui until I get back. Court dismissed."
Itachi left right away and had Kakashi, his right hand guard, follow behind him towards one of the Uchiha's royal private ship. Itachi was thoroughly pissed beyond belief. While yes, Naruto was twelve and Sasuke thirteen, they weren't seven and for him to go all the way down to the Cloud Kingdom during all this mess was setting him back. Itachi wrote a letter to the king of the Cloud Kingdom, letting him know ahead of time of his arrival and his reasons for coming, reminding him to keep it confidential. The King of the Cloud Kingdom's name was A. Yes, just A. Itachi rolled up the letter and tied a black silk and lace ribbon around it and gave it to one of his scarecrows. The letter should arrive to King A before his arrival.
It was the fifth day of Naruto and Sasuke's escape and the third day of working at the little restaurant. The old lady and old man were rushing around the kitchen getting stuff prepared and taking out really nice dinnerware.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked. Sasuke was brushing his teeth downstairs.
"A famous—rich person is coming to our restaurant,"
"Who?"
"Well, we don't know, he reserved a table ahead of time and gave us 300 euros!"
"What for?" Naruto was curious now.
The old man shrugged. "How should we know? All I know is I'm going gambling tonight,"
Sasuke arrived upstairs to the middle floor, staring at the old man. "Where did you get that money?" Sasuke questioned.
"Some rich guy must be famous or something had one of his men come here and reserve a table and gave us 300 euros in advance!" the old guy answered happily.
"Do rich famous people normally come here to this small town?"
It was the old lady who answered this time, "From time to time, but they never come to our little restaurant. I guess some people finally have good taste now days,"
Naruto smiled, happy to see the old couple get something nice.
"Sasuke," the old lady said, "Why don't you go upstairs with my husband, he needs help with something and Naruto, come help me set up the table. This rich guy should be here in a couple minutes by now," she said gleefully.
"Ok, granny," Naruto responded. During these last few days, that had become Naruto's nickname for her.
Naruto was finished set up the table and put on his apron ready to greet this new person that everyone was so excited for until Sasuke called his name from upstairs. The old lady ended up getting the door and calling Naruto down.
Naruto rushed down stairs, very anxious to meet this new customer since he ordered the most expensive wine, 250 euros! He grabbed his notepad and the wine bottle and went towards the table.
But once Naruto saw who the person was…
"Hello Naruto," his deep voice resonated throughout the whole room.
Naruto dropped the wine bottle, upon hearing the glass shatter, Sasuke rushes to the scene.
"Itachi!" Sasuke growled. "I should have known it was you!"
Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the waist towards him and screamed, "Leave us alone! Naruto doesn't want to be with you!"
Itachi stood up this time. "Frankly, I don't care what Naruto wants, it's what is best for the Kingdom. Don't be selfish Sasuke. And you," Itachi continued, staring at Naruto this time "should come back now,"
Naruto shook his head frightened and tried to run out back only to see 20 guards in the back of the restaurant outside. He turned around slowly, seeing Itachi standing.
"Now, Naruto, you shouldn't be foolish. " Itachi let out his hand for Naruto to grab it.
Five minutes passed and Naruto didn't budge to make any movement to go with Itachi. He just stood still. "Fine," Itachi resolved, turning around heading out the door. Kakashi came up behind Naruto and grabbed him by his waist and put hand over his mouth, throwing him into the carriage with Itachi.
Sasuke stared at the old couple who now watching astonished. "Aren't you going to help us?" Sasuke asked frantically.
"You lied to us!"
Sasuke bit his lip, but before he could say another word, he was knocked out.
"How could I thank you enough," Itachi said to King A.
"No, No, the pleasure is mine. Ever since you saved my little brother, bee, three years ago, I am indebted to you. You and your fiancée may stay in my best guest room and if there is anything you need you may ring this bell and one of the maids will come right away,"
"Thank You," Itachi expressed politely.
"No, thank you. I am forever in your service,"
Itachi bowed his head and shut the door. This room was nice. The bed head was made out of gold and there were famous statues carved by some of the world's best artists. There was a humongous bathroom and the bathtub looked like the size of a roman bath! There was so much space for this one bedroom; it was almost the size of a home. Itachi turns his attention to Naruto. "You can't run away from me. I was bound to find you,"
Naruto turns his head away from Itachi.
"It's late. You should go to sleep," Itachi suggested.
"You should go to hell," Naruto replied back.
Itachi slapped Naruto. "Don't speak to me that way," Itachi said sternly, never raising his voice.
"Why are you such an evil person? You just had to come in and ruin my life didn't you?"
Itachi ignored Naruto this time and threw Naruto a pair of sleep wear. "I'm not going to repeat myself twice. Go to sleep"
"What happened to Sasuke?"
"Don't worry about my foolish little brother; he is not too far from us,"
Naruto went to the bathroom to change and came out.
"Naruto, you will go to sleep while I go to talk to the King of the Cloud Kingdom to discuss some business. I will join you later on. Don't think about escaping, Kakashi is right outside that door. " Itachi stated, pointing to it.
Naruto heard the door shut. His face felt wet…was he crying? He felt so stupid. Here he is again back to the way things were.
A/N: Hey! Sorry this is not 10 pages, it is 8. I really wanted to add more, but I have voice and piano lessons in a two hours and I need to practice before I go. This story is a stepping stone for what I really wanted to happen so, sorry if it seemed rushed. I just wanted to get this chapter over with. I spent 4 hours typing this up. I will update sometime after June 3rd and before June 19th. (Maybe earlier, but not likely)I'm going to Germany on the 20th and I have Japanese classes every Saturday so, I have been really busy. Still, it is no excuse for not updating in almost a year. Sorry for any mistakes. Thank you for reading, it is well appreciated.