Hey Everyone,

I hope you've all enjoyed Leap Year. I think, really, February 29th is a gift from God. Many of us always complain that there aren't enough hours in a day, and well here's an extra day for you to enjoy. Of course I spent it at school, but it's special... Because I said so. :P Anyways, I hope you've all had a wonderful winter break, and now that school has started, for I think everyone, I just want to remind you all that hard work always counts. It may not seem like it counts right now, but it'll build up, kind of like credit. :D Always be patient with your classmates and/or teachers and professors, and try not to work too late into the night. It is really bad for you. You won't feel the effects of it now, but it'll catch up to you when you're 50, or so my mom says.

Quoting from Steve Jobs, "Stay young, stay foolish." (I don't know why I put this here.)

RueLin

Third movement, Part 1

"Welcome, welcome, Shinpi-san," the old inn keeper and his wife greeted Mayuri at the front desk as she entered. "You're early this year, how miraculous!"

Mayuri closed her umbrella and set it aside to dry. "I know. For once, we weren't delayed by blizzards. I have a feeling this year's Spring Festival will be littered even more with flower petals, since there has been so much more rain than snow."

"Well, there'll still be the last bit of winter before spring comes around. It's only the end of December." The inn keeper's wife came around with a thick towel and wrapped it around Mayuri's soaked clothes and smiled at Kurochi sitting on her shoulder. "That should keep you warm for now. If you had given some prior notice, we would have your room prepared for you to accommodate."

"Oh that's fine. If the room has been booked, I can stay in another, even if it's the stable. I will not be a patron at any other inn."

They both laughed with mouths opened wide and with teeth gleaming.

"What an honor."

Mayuri laughed along with them until the other customers present started turning their heads to see what the commotion was all about. The innkeeper signaled an apology.

"Ah, can I have someone help out with unloading the instruments. You know I would usually do it myself, but with all the rain and water, I'm afraid of the damage there might be. So I would like to have them unloaded quickly."

"Not a problem. I'll have my son and myself help me. Wife, have the minstrel's usual readied and prepared a hot bath. The girl's chilled to the bone."

"Thank you."

After everything was settled, the instruments safe and dry, Mayuri took her time with a long soak in Amegakure's famous mineral baths. The hot water pushed out the cold and eased her over used muscles. She washed her fingers thoroughly and massaged them afterwards. They were going to be very busy in the following weeks.

Since they had arrived early, Masamoto was not letting the chance to reap more money go.

"'It means money,' that's what all business men say," he said when they entered the village. "And we're going to make good use of it. We'll have two days before we get busy. I trust you'll all be prepared."

"I'm not really looking forward to be overworked like a slave," Mayuri said as she stretched in the bath, the hot water sloshing from the sides. "But it's not like I have a choice in my current circumstances." She had only become aware of the binding contract Kaimu had with Masamoto two years ago that made her a slave to the tribe.

Pushing that depressing though aside, Mayuri thought about all the business she was going to reap. The New Year was only two day away. That meant parties, lots and lots of parties, which also meant there was a need to supply entertainment, which would be Mayuri. At least she wouldn't be bored out of her mind when Itachi leaves like last year.

Mayuri walked out of the bath, steaming water sliding down her glowing white body, and wrapped herself in a towel the innkeeper's wife gave her. Just then, Kurochi, who had been sleeping in a far off corner, flew over to Mayuri with a piece of paper between his black beaks. She took it from him and rolled the note opened. After a few seconds of reading, an uncontainable smile spread across her face and her tired eyes lit up. She giggled and held the note to the place above her heart.

He was coming to town in two days, just in time for new years. She sighed and hummed as she dried off and got dressed. She left her hair, turned amber from the water, hanging damply down her back to air dry before she left to go to her room.

She needed to sleep early. She knew she would be terribly busy the next two days, and the extra rest will help a little. She needed to work, and work fast in order to meet up with Itachi.

But she was busier than she had thought she would be. Requests poured in New Years Eve. One after another, Mayuri ran to her next appointment, changed into a new costume if it was requests, and played for hours without end.

Finally, when it was nearly midnight, she finished her last performance for the day, received her payment, and fled out of the building. Anxious to see Itachi, Mayuri drove her small horse cart that held her instruments out of the city and up the hill until she saw his lonely silhouette under the light of the full moon.

He sensed her and turned toward her direction and saw her ride up on a horse pulled cart. With her hair flowing in the wind and still wearing her junihote kimono, she looked like an ironic mix between a princess and a pauper.

"I'm sorry for the wait." She nearly leapt off the seat of the cart as she stopped the horse just a few meters away. She scrambled over, her small frame completely enveloped in layers of vibrant silk; she looked as if she were floating just above the surface of the ground. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year." He ran his fingers through her hair, entangling long strands with long fingers. "You're so beautiful."

Her heart ran a long unending race in her chest. He had never been so tender to her before. Always, he always keeps a distance with her, no matter how close they seem, there was always a distance between. But tonight, there wasn't that cold wall, but she didn't care to wonder why. She was just so overwhelmed with all of him.

He held her hands and ran his thumbs over the backs. They felt smoother than he had dreamed and he wondered what that pearl-like skin would taste like on his tongue. He loved her so much, and he hoped with all his heart that she would say, "yes," to his question, even if he knew it would be a bad idea for her to anymore involved with him.

"Listen, Mayuri." His was voice tight with anticipation, nervousness. Interesting, he thought. He couldn't remember ever being nervous in his life. "You're the only person I've ever told about my past. And more importantly you're the only person that knows the real me, the human that hurts rather than the machine that kills. I really appreciate that."

His gaze left hers and went down to their joined hands. It was faint, but she saw the hint of a blush across his cheeks.

He's going to ask, was all she thought, and she knew it in her brain and heart, with every nerve, muscle, and cell in her body she knew he was going to propose, and she was ready with an answer. More ready than she had ever been for anything.

When he hesitated, her heart tripped and skipped a beat. Her muscles went numb and color drained from her face.

Maybe he's not going to ask, she thought in panic.

"Go on," she commanded more than encouraged. He must go on!

Itachi licked his dried lips. "I want to you understand that if you accept you will be permanently entering a world of violence and bloodshed. I don't want that for you, but I want you too much."

Her hands left his and he thought she was going to leave him. But her hands came up to his face and cupped them gently. "And I want you the same."

He closed his eyes. "I know you do. I've known all along, but I can't risk it. I can't risk you getting hurt in my world where people kill as easily as you pluck your strings. You're too precious."

"Then love me less." She all but begged, her heart felt like something was wrapped tight around it and her skin was hot and prickly.

"I think I might have to," he said and got down on his knees. He looked back into her eyes, those large, round, eyes of amethysts. "Mayuri, will you marry me?"

"Oh, I thought you'd never ask!" she exclaimed with a loud sign of relief as she threw herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, of course I will!"

He curled his strong arms around her like a vise and twirled her around as giggles exploded in the air. When she was out of breath, he set her back down and dug into the pocket that held the ring. Quickly, he slipped it onto her finger. It fit as if it were made for her.

She looked at it and was appalled. She remembered two years ago, when he ventured into the town with her in disguise. They had gone to a stall selling trinkets and jewelry. She had wanted a specific ring, one with a thin silver band with a small ruby set at the center. It wasn't luxurious, but she thought it was gorgeous.

"But, I didn't even tell you that I wanted it. How did you know?"

He lifted that hand and kissed the knuckle where the ring sat next to. "I know you just as you know me. Are you pleased?"

"No, more than pleased, I'm so … I don't know a word that can describe what I feel right now. Elation, ecstasy, delight, bliss, none of those words work."

"I know something that'll make you even more," he said smoothly and reached again into a pocket and pulled out some documents. "We can get married right here, after all a marriage is only between two people. I hope you don't mind, we're not going to have a wedding."

"Well, aren't you prepared?" She took the documents from him and saw that his part was already filled out and signed. "Let me grab a pen."

With the forms filled and complete, Mayuri folded it up. "We'll register them first thing in the morning."

"Sure, but before that," he said and took her fingers again. "This woman that I marry, I will love, in sickness or in health. I will respect her, I will console her, and I will help her until death do us part, protecting fidelity. I swear."

"This man that I marry," Mayuri repeated, "I will love, in sickness or in health. I will respect him, I will console him, and I will help him until death do us part, protecting fidelity. I swear."

Itachi pulled her closer to him. "And now you're mine," he said before he trapped her lips with his.

When they finally let go of each other, Mayuri set her hands against his broad chest.

"You know there's still one more thing we need to do before this marriage is official."

Itachi thought for a second. "And what is that?"

Mayuri wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down as she tiptoed to reach his ear. "We need to consummate it."

"Hm," Itachi murmured as she retreated, with a bright red flush. "I agree. That, we must do."

"I have a room," Mayuri suggested, her blush deepening until he thought that the color might stain her cheeks.

They made their way to her room on the horse cart. It took only twenty minutes, but it was a very long and tedious twenty minutes to Mayuri. Meanwhile, Itachi sat beside her, guiding the horse, with her hand in his, their finger entwined. As they rode, he played idly with her fingers as if they were the most fascinating things in the world.

When they reached it inn, the door was left unlocked for Mayuri's return, and not a soul was awake. They put the horse in the stall and he helped her carry the instruments back in. He had never seen her room, although he knew exactly which room she was always a board at every year. It was small, enough for one traveler, but he didn't mind the lack of space.

When the instruments were dealt with, Mayuri quickly slipped into the bedroom side of the little room.

"Just give me a minute to get ready," she said and slipped behind the paper door, closing it with only the sound of a light tap.

He looked around the room and found a clean white bathrobe to change into. It was better, he thought, that making love to her in his cloak and clothes stained with blood.

Soon the door opened against, just a crack.

"You can come in now."

Silently, he slipped into the room like a shadow. She was kneeling at the center of the two-person futon wearing an identical robe. Her hair was combed and her face was red.

He knelt down before her held her face with his calloused and tender hands, so gently, so lovingly. Finally, he thought, as he lowered his head towards hers. Finally, those lips where his. She was his to taste, to feast on. As his mouth ravaged hers, his hands slid slowly down her neck, setting every nerve in her body on fire. He pushed the light robe away from her shoulders and his hands continued down the smooth length of her arm to the tie around her waist.

He made no move to untie the sash as he teased the corners of her mouth with his teeth. Her body already burning, Mayuri struggled with clumsy fingers as she whipped off the silk sash and worked at his.

He smiled at her impatience. She was his, and will only ever feel this way for him; she will only ever hunger this way for him. The revelation made his heart soar. He wanted to pleasure her, treasure her.

With his robe untied, Mayuri ran her hands along the smooth, muscular surface of his chest and abdomen, so strong and robust. He wasn't used to people touching him and he caught her hands when her finger touched a particularly sensitive place. Slowly, he let her go.

"I'm sorry," he said, shamed by his own actions.

"Shh," she whispered into his ears. "Let me," she urged and wrapped his arms low around her waist and his hands started to stroke her back. She shrugged the robe off, letting it drop to the floor, surrendering her body to the magic of his hands as she kissed him.

He lowered her to the futon on the floor and eased her into the mattress before he took possession of her mouth again. Their tongues wrestled and finally they broke free of each other, gasping for breath, but it was still not enough.

He touched his forehead with hers. "Open your eyes, Mayuri," he said activating his Sharingan.

She obeyed and looked straight into those crimson eyes and was spirited away into another place. He took her to a green meadow under the light of a full moon, without any shelter in sight, they laid there naked on top of each other.

She felt the artificial wind against her body, and the prickling of her grass against her skin. "Where are we-"

"It doesn't matter," he said, hushing her with another fiery kiss. "I'm with you now."

The next time he opened his eyes, it was almost noon. He had never slept till this late before. It came with a strange satisfaction as he looked down at Mayuri's sleeping face as her head rested on his arm. Slowly, he untangled their legs, without waking her and pulled the blanket further over her bare shoulders. The sun was up, but the days were still cool.

He found his trousers nearby and pulled them on and crept back onto the mattress with arm propped up to support his head, he watched the love of his life in blissful slumber. How can anyone be so beautiful?

Suddenly, an urge erupted from his chest. He was no stranger to the discomforting invasion of his illness, and he quickly fled the room as a coughs threw a fit from his chest and throat. A warm, salty liquid was spat out. He moved his hand from his mouth to find his own blood. He closed it as he heard footsteps approach. It was the innkeeper's son.

He looked at the half naked stranger sitting in front of the well-known minstrel's room and got the idea. A crooked smile crept across his face.

"Had a tumble with the minstrel, did ya?" he asked. Itachi glared up at the young man, who was oblivious to the threat in his eyes. "How was she? Come on; don't keep it all to yerself. Share a little with your fellow man. Was she as sweet as a pomegranate like they say she is?"

This time, Itachi made sure his murderous glare didn't go unnoticed. The young man stumbled back a few steps at Itachi's demonic red eyes and trembled with fear.

"Watch your tongue. That is my wife you are talking about." Itachi stood up and towered over the man by several centimeters.

"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't know," the young man cowered.

"Scram," Itach said softly and headed back in the room as the man ran back in the direction he came from.

Before going to the kitchen area, Itachi glanced back into the adjoining bedroom to make sure Mayuri was still sleeping. He wanted to keep any sign of his illness a secret to her. Seeing that she was still soundly asleep, he went on to wash the blood off his hands and rinsed his mouth of the coopery taste.

From behind him, Mayuri watched with worry in her eyes. She had been so happy when he called her his wife in the hall, but the explosive coughing dampened all the happiness in her heart. She had been suspicious of him being sick, but she would have never guessed it was this bad. Still, without any words of communication, she knew he wanted to keep this from her, as if to protect her of their eminent separation.

Until death do us part, she thought. It was too soon. And she knew even though those were the words they had said, and it was the vow they had took, she could never stop loving him, even if he were to perish from her world forever.

Mayuri closed her eyes again and waited for him to coax her out of her slumber, and then everything will be right again in his eyes.

PS. I know, I know. Leave a review. Oh, by the way, the wedding vows are the translated version of the Japanese vows, just in case you are wondering why it's different than the ones couples make in the US.

RueLin