I was woefully ill prepared for the journey that took us across the city and over the border to Lumen. I'd have thought after spending a few days over a month recuperating in the comfort of home that I would be comfortable traveling. My nerves, mind, and gut all disagreed, and they disagreed powerfully. I was nauseous and dizzy all in one go, and I could see from the corner of my eye that Alex was faring no better. Itachi's arm kept Alex tucked close against his side, a promise of protection that I couldn't offer. Not out here, not when I needed protection, myself. Sasuke's hand on my leg kept it from tapping, a nervous habit he had noticed some time ago. It didn't soothe my bouncing nerves. Sasuke and Itachi could spout off all the reassurances and promises in the words and it would do little to mollify my nor Alex's racing nerves.
We didn't want to be here. Lumen was a place of broken memories, shattered like a mirror and leaving us with years of horrid luck and strife. What little either of us could remember of our parents and our lives before we lost them were nothing but hot coals that burned us inside out. I feared that, but more than that, I feared someone taking me away. The idea of losing Sasuke, the chance of losing Alex or our new home, it all terrified me. I couldn't fathom giving any of my life up, not when I was only just getting it back. But, I wouldn't allow myself to be a sitting duck, either. If taking such a brazen risk meant I could have even a slim chance of freedom, a chance to protect myself and Alex from those who sought to claim us, I would fucking take it every time.
"We're arriving at the grand court, you can see the tower from here, take a look." Sasuke's voice broke me from my storming internal panic. I spared a reluctant glance out the window, only to get drawn back by the shimmering gold of the watch tower that adorned the court. My jaw dropped as we drew closer, the rest of the stunning building looming into view like a scene popping out of a book. Sunlight shimmered off of gold and silver, blindingly bright and proving that the city had earned its name. I swallowed dryly and almost thought I could taste my anxiety.
A hand squeezed mine and when I glanced down, I knew it belonged to Alex. I squeezed in return and took a deep breath, I had to remind myself to be strong not only for myself but for my brother. It was a special comfort only we could offer to each other, for only we understood our fears.
As the car rolled to a stop outside the court, a pair of guards stood near the door, their swords strapped to their hips. I had no doubt that one slice could take someone's head clean off, but whether I found it comforting or horrifying was what I was dubious about. The car stopped, but I still felt like the world was moving. My legs trembled as I stepped out of the car, accepting Sasuke's hand as he helped me out. He hooked an arm around my waist as we ascended the stairs, where I couldn't bring myself to look anywhere near the guards. "I've got you," he whispered only for me to hear. I knew he did, it didn't make it any easier. Physical healing was nothing compared to the mental reparation I needed. I was working so hard for it, and I felt like I had nothing to show for it. I was still skittish and couldn't even look a strange man in the eye.
I would never forgive Orochimaru for what he'd taken from me. I was damn sure going to move on, but I had every right to be angry. I had every right to hate, and I wasn't going to "be stronger" by forgiving and forgetting.
Inside the building the air was bitingly cold and tense. It felt like walking into a room full of dozens of stares that have just turned to you, only there was no one there. Once we had walked in, Itachi took the lead. I was content to follow, because for all the focus I had, I would have gotten permanently lost in the several corridors he led us through. All the way up to a waiting room, which was too florid for its simple purpose, we were all silent. The plush chairs we took seat in reminded me of palace furnishings, not of a courthouse.
It was a mild distraction to glance between Sasuke and Itachi and notice the stark difference between them. Though they were brothers, they behaved and handled things in vastly different manners. Itachi's calm and composed demeanor, with his arm draped across Alex's shoulders, was the picture of regal. Sasuke's arm was tight around me, his eyes narrowed and jaw set in an expression of suspicion and warning, as if he thought someone might pull me away from him. He was no less patrician, but far less relaxed. It was my turn to place a hand on his thigh, reminding him I wasn't going anywhere and that we were meant to be in good hands here.
"A doctor is going to see you both first, Lady Tsunade's assistant warned us of that," Itachi said. Alex leaned his head back with a groan—doctors tended to mean needles, something he wasn't fond of.
Sasuke sighed, adding to the explanation. "Neither of you have had a true checkup in some time, and they want to ensure your health and take a permanent record. It's protocol, Tsunade's advisors would only sway so much."
"They've been lenient as it is, considering how much trouble the elders' have caused. Though it has been untimely." Itachi's voice took on a disapproving tone. I couldn't say how long Itachi and Sasuke had been working towards this or towards the treaty as a whole. Several months had passed since Alex and I first came to live with the Uchiha family, enough that I had lost track, though I was at least certain it hadn't been a full year. The seasons had yet to come full circle.
"Once they complete the tests and physical for your records, we'll see Lady Tsunade." Itachi leaned down and pressed a kiss to Alex's temple. I suspected the tests would take a while, but I had no experience to conceive an estimate. The doctors at the laboratory when I was a child hardly counted.
The squeak of doors opening made my ears prick up. All four of us turned towards the pair of double doors as they opened, revealing an older brunette. Her hair was shorn short and she was carrying a stack of papers that she was struggling to hold onto. "Uchiha?" she called, offering a tight smile. "Right this way, please! I'm Shizune. Sorry for the delay, there was some…tension, nothing to worry about!"
I doubt the woman believed herself any more than I did. We all stood to follow the woman, Itachi and Alex taking the lead. Sasuke's hand took its place on the small of my back as he coaxed me forward. The scent of antiseptic and latex triggered an awful bout of nausea. I stiffened and froze, my "fight or flight" reflex was blaring an alarm and telling me to escape and get away. Sasuke paused behind me, both of his hands coming to rest on my shoulders and squeezing. "It's all right, we're all here with you," he whispered, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't overhear. Fortunately, the brunette appeared to be talking to Itachi and none of them had noticed. I sucked in a short breath, hoping to convince my lungs to accept it.
"You're safe here, no one is going to hurt you. I'll stay beside you throughout it." I nodded my head jerkily, but it took me several seconds to get myself back under control. In those moments, Sasuke rubbed my back, never losing patience, or rushing me. Once I was breathing normally again, I straightened and exhaled a slow breath. I was good—I was okay. "Amaya? You with me, now?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I guess it's muscle memory," I whispered. Sasuke leaned down and kissed the back of my neck.
"Don't apologize for something you can't help. Let's go, we'll get this out of the way." I was all too happy at the thought of that. We caught up with the others, who either hadn't noticed our brief separation or had enough tact not to point it out. Either or, I was grateful.
"All right, I'm assuming you both would like your respective mates in the room?" Our escort asked.
"Yeah," Alex answered.
"Yes, please," I said at the exact same time. We exchanged a glance with each other, smiling fondly. The brunette nodded her understanding and opened a door on the left, ushering Itachi and Alex inside.
"One of our doctors will see you shortly, please strip completely and put on the gown," she told them as she shut the door. She took us a short way down the hall, where she opened a door to a room with cream-colored walls. She repeated the same words she'd given to Itachi and Alex before she left us to prepare. A hospital gown sat on the cushioned medical exam table, where thin sheet paper covered the leather. I changed into the thin, drafty gown while Sasuke took my clothes and folded them to set them on the counter. It was uncomfortable being entirely nude under the gown, and I was beginning to worry it wouldn't even serve much of a purpose but for faux modesty.
"Take a seat," Sasuke said, nudging me towards the exam table. "Try to relax while you can, it'll be over before you know it."
"We could change places," I suggested, wily. He snickered as I got settled atop the table, crinkling the paper. I was about to say I wasn't kidding, but a knock sounded at the door before I could. My mouth snapped shut and Sasuke called to the doctor to come in.
It was a woman, her dark hair pinned up in a bun and her glasses set low on her nose. She looked stern and professional, but on her lips sat a kind smile. "Hello, Miss Amaya? I'm Dr. Song. I'll be performing your tests and physical today."
I smiled tightly and hoped she couldn't smell fear. She took the spinning chair away from the counter and took a seat, placing a thick set of papers down on the counter. "Now, I'll be asking questions throughout this process. I'll try to be quick, but there are several mandatory tests and exams," she explained, right to the point and without mincing words. "First, I'll get to the typical physical exam, and we'll follow from there. Will you stand, please? I'll take your height and weight."
I followed her instructions, all the while she didn't press me for small talk. She ordered me where to go, how to move, and asked me questions only pertaining to my health. Some questions I had answers to, such as past medical history (of which was none, aside from the awful experiments and blood work done when I was at the labs) and current health concerns. She took simple answers, such as my basic appearance, like the height and weight along with hair and eye color. I couldn't answer her questions about family history, even about my own parents. A part of me felt ashamed of that, and the entire thing felt embarrassing. But, the doctor remained strictly professional, all while wearing her reassuring smile whenever I stumbled over my uncertain answers.
A few tubes of blood got drawn from my arm and she sent them away, all while explaining different bugs and things they would test for, and that they would find out my blood type. There was a lot more poking, prodding, and questions as she filled out the sheets. You couldn't find a spot on me she didn't check; my eyes, ears, nose, mouth and teeth, my vitals, my lungs, and heart. Literally all of me, including a rather uncomfortable and intimate couple of exams. When she asked if I was sexually active and I mumbled an embarrassed reply, she offered a comforting, "been where you're at and done what you're doing" type of smile.
"I can prescribe a birth control today, if you'd like. Do you have any allergies you're aware of?" the doctor asked. I numbly shook my head, feeling very much like a doll after all that was finally finished. Once she finished her records and exams, she deemed me healthy aside from a few complications. The tests they ran had gotten sent away at the beginning, and by a couple of hours, once everything was complete, the doctor had received results. The advanced medical care was enough to fascinate me despite how done I was with all of it right then.
She said I was cleared of anything dangerous, but I was a touch anemic. Aside from that, there were a few issues from past experimentation that might affect me when I grew older, but I had decades before that time came. Neither Sasuke nor I were human, so we would have ages, if problems even presented. Relieved, I sagged into Sasuke's arms once the doctor left to allow me to get dressed.
"You did great," Sasuke praised, his lips turned in a proud smirk. I pulled my shirt down as I finished dressing, forming a weak smile of my own.
"I don't know, I panicked a little doing that CAT scan," I said. I didn't like being in the room alone. He pulled me close as we prepared to leave the room.
"You got through it, now it's all over. Come on, I'm sure the others are done by now, too." Sasuke held the door for me as we left. Right, I had to make sure Alex was all right after having blood drawn and receiving the vaccinations. On our way back to the waiting room, Sasuke hung back for a second to talk to the woman who'd escorted us earlier.
I trailed off without him, spotting Itachi and Alex, the latter of which looked a tad hostile. I took a seat beside my brother and rested a hand over his. "You okay? Did they hurt you?" I asked, still a bit shaken, myself.
Alex shook his head. "It was just a bunch of bullshit, I'm glad to be done with it."
Well, yeah, until a year or so later when we'd need annual checkups. That thought was a bright one, actually, to have access to good care.
There was another family in the waiting room that I hadn't paid any attention to; a mother and her young daughter. The little girl was staring at the three of us, bouncing from one foot to another. I offered her a warm smile, and that appeared invitation enough for her to bound over. Her mom reached out to stop her, but I held up a hand to show her I was all right with it.
"Hi!" the little girl exclaimed once she was close enough. Her mother glanced nervously at Itachi, who gave her a polite nod and smile. I couldn't fault the mother for being anxious with Itachi and Sasuke around. Both were revered and infamous with different people, but they were renowned to be dangerous and powerful. I returned my attention to the child, her bouncing blonde curls making me grin with her contagious bubbliness. "Your eyes are pretty!"
I chuckled and tilted her chin up, "so are yours, little princess." I smiled. She gasped and clapped her hands together, her brown eyes glimmering with glee. She hugged me in thanks before darting off, perhaps to tell her mother what had transpired.
"You're good with kids," Itachi commented.
I shrugged a little. "I practically raised one," I snickered, patting Alex's leg. He snorted, bouncing his knee beneath my hand. "They're not that hard to get on with, usually." I glanced up as Sasuke came back to us and took his seat.
"Tsunade will see us in a few minutes, we're almost out of the dark," he sighed, leaning his head back. "After she finalizes it, they'll be free people." I nodded, twiddling my fingers in some anxiety.
"Would you want children of your own?" Itachi asked me, picking up where we had left off before Sasuke returned. Sasuke raised his head, brows furrowed in confusion at what he'd missed. I smirked at his bewilderment, but Itachi's question prompted me to swallow nervously. I think I did, I always wanted something to care for and raise, to love and hope they did their very best out in the world. But, I was terrified of the thought. What if I hurt them by mistake? Scarred them?
"Someday, maybe. It's some ways off, I think." I answered evasively. "But a kid or two sounds like it might be in my future," I finished, sharing a smile with Sasuke's look of surprise.
"I'll get to be a vodka uncle," Alex snickered. I slapped his thigh for the joke.
"You're still a kid yourself," I spouted off the teasing line. Alex looked ready to snap something in reply, but my little friend came bounding back over, placing her hand on my knee as I leaned down to listen to her.
"Is that your boyfriend?" she whispered rather loudly, looking pointedly at Sasuke.
Smiling, I nodded. "Yes, this is Sasuke and I'm Amaya. What's your name, little one?" I asked her. She beamed at me and straightened up.
"Lyra!" she exclaimed, all proud and cheerful. Her ebullience was spreading, making it hard for me to focus on my anxiety. "Are you going to marry him?" she asked me, "my mommy says when a boy marries a girl, he makes her a princess!"
I burst out in a laugh at that, and I heard Sasuke give a chuckle of his own. Leaning down like I was about to share a secret with her, I whispered into her ear, "I think that girls are already princesses, just like you are."
Her eyes widened comically, and she covered her mouth, as if I had truly just crowned her a princess. Then, she looked at Sasuke and beckoned him to lean down. He complied, but when she whispered into his ear, I couldn't make out what she said to him. He smiled, however. "Yes, I agree with you," he nodded. She threw her arms around him in a quick hug, and turned to me to do the same before she ran back off to her frazzled mother, who waved at us in thanks. I wasn't sure if I could handle my child running off to talk to strangers, but like I said, that was ages away.
"What did she tell you?" I asked Sasuke. He offered nothing but a shrug in return, making me puff my cheeks out in annoyance. "You're keeping secrets with a four-year-old?" I teased, hitting my shoulder against his.
"Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke? Lady Tsunade will you see you all now!" I jumped when Shizune called to us. When I looked up, she was holding open one side of a set of double doors. She wasn't holding a huge stack of papers any longer, but didn't look any less burdened. "Right through here," she said, beckoning us in. Itachi and Alex went first with Sasuke and I bringing up the back. Shizune led us down the corridor towards an entryway, where a brass plate was nailed to the wall with Tsunade's name engraved.
I felt awkward and out of place entering the room. Lady Tsunade was seated at a broad desk, on either side stood the elders of Lumen, an elderly woman and man. What surprised me was the person leaning over the desk, talking to Tsunade. When he stood straight, I looked at him, entirely perplexed. "Naruto?" I mouthed.
He grinned at me and gave me a sly wink. "About time you guys showed up," he teased.
"Sit down, brat," Tsunade's voice startled me, and I glanced at her as she waved her hand at Naruto in dismissal. He rolled his eyes at her as he pushed up off her desk and moved to the side. I hadn't realized Naruto played such a big role in all this mess.
Itachi inclined his head towards Lady Tsunade out of respect, and I followed suit, presuming Alex and Sasuke did the same. Tsunade clasped her hands in front of her as she looked the four of us over. "This was an interesting treaty to sign into," she began, her painted red lips curving up into a smile. It left me baffled how laid back her attitude was. Behind her, the elders' expressions looked pinched and irritated. "The black-market trading has always been frowned on and hush-hush, but overall legal. Seeking to banish it is progress both for all of us and in tradition. I don't know about you, but I think the old ways should go in the dirt!" Tsunade smacked her hand down on the desk, prompting near everyone in the room to jump, aside from Naruto. He stood off to the side, watching Tsunade with a vague smirk.
"Now then, onto business. Uchiha Itachi, of the City of Nox, is this young man, Alex, of the City of Lumen, your mate?" Tsunade's voice rose into a strong, clear tone. My muscles tensed at the severity at hand.
"Yes, he is." Itachi answered, his hands folded behind him. Tsunade's eyes turned to Sasuke as she repeated a similar question using my name, to which Sasuke answered her in an equally cool, collected tone.
When Tsunade turned her gaze onto me, I felt something in me freeze over. "Do you two accept these men as your mates, and do you wish to live among them as free people, and citizens of Nox?"
"Yes, we do," I replied, as Alex did the same. Tsunade nodded her head in understanding.
"Very good. All of you, step forward. You're each going to sign the papers in front of you." She pushed four papers across the desk, along with a pen for each of us. My hand shook as I scrawled my name, but I managed, and she accepted the four papers back. Carefully, she placed her seal on each, smirking all the while. I got the feeling she had won a long battle, here, as her elders looked none too pleased at all.
Once Tsunade had finished, she raised her head in triumph. "From this day forward, Amaya and Alex are free people. No one holds any control nor ownership of you, you are your own person. Give anyone who says otherwise complete hell."
The old woman behind Tsunade choked upon hearing the insult, but I was too busy shouting out in joy to notice. "Thank you, thank you so much!" I exclaimed, warm tears stinging my eyes. Tsunade merely grinned as she held out her hand for me to shake, which I did enthusiastically.
"I'll see you all back home soon, all right?" Naruto said as Sasuke and I started for the door. "Take care, tell me how independence feels!" the blond called as he waved goodbye to us.
I was vibrating with energy that left me wanting to run all the way outside. The sun beamed down, warm and comforting, and I couldn't contain myself as I turned towards Sasuke. On his face he wore a soft, loving smile, and I couldn't help myself. I smiled and threw my hands around Sasuke's shoulders, crushing my mouth against his in a kiss violent with love and relief. This was what freedom tasted like, this was my life now.
It was our lives.
/lying face down on the ground/ Finally finished this thing, guys. It took me a few months, but I did it, and it's a monster. I tried my best, but this is a very old story with an old premise and plot points. I didn't want to change too much, this story doesn't reflect some of my more current writing styles and views. I hope it's somewhat decent, anyway! Thank you for reading, whether you're an old or new visitor!