Sorry for the long wait! My muse ran out for a long while. Here goes.
Terms to know:
Mantou: buns made of flour, kind of like a round biscuit sort of thing
Chang An: the capital of the country
Fubai: corrupted. Can be usually used to describe government related things
Daren: address similiar to "sama"
Junzi: the old way of saying gentlemen.
Shusheng: an educated man that reads loads and lives off by things of literature
Guzhen: a traditional Chinese instrument with many strings, usually for girls. For more info search it up
Huang Xiong: older brother between princes
Duanxiu: gay men
Naruto wakes up with a dash of warm sunshine in his eyes.
Apparently Iruka-niang has already opened the window above his bed. He heard the "blop blop" noise of water dropping from the edge of the roofs. It rained last night, probably. He rubs his eyes and yawned, stretching himself out. His eyes wanders over the other side of the room, where Kakashi was still in bed, turning and tossing every of often. Iruka-niang was getting ready for breakfast.
"Mornin', Iruka-niang." Naruto jumped off his bed, feeling sort of energetic already.
"Good morning." Iruka said pleasantly. Naruto couldn't help but noticed it wasn't exactly all cheerful and awake. He didn't find it too worrying. After all, everyone has their own dilemmas. He stumbles over to Kakashi, whose eyes, or more accurately, eye, is still closed. His left eye was covered by a black cloth, wounded a long time ago. From the day he met him, it's always been covered. When he asks, Kakashi just do the I-am-totally-lying smile and give the Once upon a time I was fighting a bad guy, the bad guy by luck took out one of my eyes but I fiercely fought back and defeated him! A ridiculous story that Naruto so believed when he was a child, and admire Kakashi a long time for it. He always asked him to take off the cloth, Kakashi would wiggle his finger and shake his head. Iruka-niang never says much about it, either. Sure, there were times when he was so curious he did go sneak around to see it. He was always caught before he tried. His curiosity was cut off when a wounded man came wandering about the countryside one day. Kiba came up to the man and dragged Naruto along. The man was whimpering, his face hidden by a rag. Kiba's dog sniffed him and snagged off the rag.
A hole.
A hole where the eye is suppose to be. An empty hole, eye gauged out, bleeding the crimson color of sticky blood.
Naruto ran.
He didn't know why. He needed to get away, wipe off that image from his head. Is Kakashi's eye like that? Was it bleeding? Was the blood flowing from an empty hole?
He never asked or wondered about it that day on.
But afar from that unpleasant thought.
Naruto poked Kakashi's face. Didn't budge. Pulled Kakashi's hair. No reaction. Yelled in Kakashi's ear. Not awake yet.
"Iruka-niang, I think Kakashi is died." Naruto said as he sat down in the wood chair next to the round table.
"Do not say such unlucky thing!" Iruka knuckled Naruto's head lightly. After a pause, he spoke. "Kakashi-san is very tired."
"Wot di' he du?" Naruto's voice was muffled by the food in his mouth. Hungry in the morning.
"Don't be imprudent." Iruka snapped. Naruto kept quiet. They never spoke much about Kakashi's job, as it is said to be "top secret". Feeling a little disgruntled and left out, Naruto stuffed an extra mantou in his mouth.
"I'm going to Sakura's today." Naruto announced, looking at Iruka-niang for approval.
"If he's there, come back immediately." Iruka replied automatically.
"Don't worry, I know." Naruto jumped up and grabbed an orange shirt he favored so much. "I will eat lunch there, probably. Granny Tsunade hired a new cook too." Before leaving, the child threw his arms around Iruka. "Thanks for breakfast, Iruka-niang!"
And he's out the door in the bright shower of sunshine.
* * *
Naruto waved the usual good morning and hello to the gate watchers. They smile and wave back. He likes to keep good relationship with the guards, after all, it is a wise thing to do, living in the outskirts and coming in town every so often. This is the capital city of Chang An, after all.
Few steps in comes the rush of people: salesmen yelling loudly for their bargains, women chattering of gossips they heard lately, children running wild and around, shops open with swarms of people. It's fun being in Chang An because you can see all kinds of citizens, lower class or higher class. Often there will be carriages running around or people that just hold their head up high in fancy clothes, and you immediately know to keep your own head down and out of trouble. It is common of course, for Fubai Dachens, it is a sport and entertainment to torture the poor. You have to watch out for yourself. Power and status means everything.
Naruto don't like to think much about these kind of things. He preferably like to stay simple minded. Smiling as he ran the familiar route to Faeries Landing, the same direction had also a rush of men going through. He didn't like to be near them. The way they looked at women -- it was a word he couldn't exactly think of, but it was disturbing and somewhat intimidating. He ran pass them, careful not to bump into anyone. The sun is nice and warm on his skin.
"Bushybrow!"
You really can't miss that tight green outfit anywhere. Lee as usual stand firmly and respectfully on his ground, as if he is not standing guard for a brothel but the grand palace. That pride he has, so naive. Most laughs at it as stupidity, but Naruto being Naruto, he wouldn't notice or care. All he thought was that Lee is a good guy, and he's content with that.
"That's Lee for you, Naruto." Same stern voice and seriousness. "It's all clear today." A thumb up, and the same shiny teeth smile. Naruto gave back a thumb up and ran inside.
"Thanks a lot, Bushybrow!" One look back and gave a wave and a smile.
There is no apparent pattern of when the Huang Tai Zi will visit, and therefore it could be a whole week that he wouldn't come or vice versa. It's somewhat inconvenient, but with Lee and Neji and Hinata it can definitely work. Naruto melts into the crowds of people rushing by, women in fancy dresses and thick make ups, men picking out their companions for their enjoyment. He went straight to the back hallway, where the cooks and workers stayed. Usually it's the girls that's not so stand out that worked behind the scenes. Most do not know this part of the brothel, which is why vicious talks of how bad the owner of the brothel, Tsunade, was a cruel hearted women that treated the girls she owned harshly. And speak of the devil, Naruto see her turn around the corner.
"Naruto! Your hands off that chicken or I will cut it off for you!"
Same shrilling voice and aggravated tone, Tsunade walked in the same way she always has. The same unmistakenly elegance and bossy attitude, same face, same body. She was always the same as Naruto remembered. Never a wrinkle on her skin, never a string of white hair found. Tsunade is said to be one of the most beautiful women alive, and some even said she could be from sinister birth, since she never had the hint of growing old. Her sun colored robe hugged her body just right, her hair to one side of her shoulder.
"Granny Tsunade!" Naruto waved a hello and stuffed the piece of chicken quickly in his mouth. He calls her granny, because probably if he did known her true age it will be old enough to be his granny anyways. It started long ago, as if the beginning of time he always called Tsunade granny. Perhaps the reason he addressed as so was to annoy her. Perhaps just a simple longing of family. Words become habit, and it's been like this ever since. Strangely, she never really mind it.
"Why you little brat...!" The monstrous strength never changed either. A hard smack across the forehead, and even as he always expected it coming, he never could be able to dodge it.
"Oww!" Naruto held his head. "I'm going to turn stupid if you keep on hitting me!" But the chicken tasted good.
"Damn right there's nothing but empty space in your head! Steal food again I will never allow you to come back--"
Same empty threat, too.
All those ugly rumors of Tsunade, her cruelty and her torments -- beneath those webs of lies is truth only few knows. Naruto know. Knew. Perhaps the first time they met or maybe it sank in.
She is kind. Too kind. Kind enough to take any girls, beautiful or plain, dazzling or ugly, to her brothel. Any women that needed work, any men that needed shelter, she accepted them in, and this is their home. She takes sales from kidnappers, too, though usually returning the girls to their original family. But many stayed, many beautiful girls stayed. They saw a heart of beauty too, underneath Tsunade's glares and growls. Naruto knew too well to be hurt by her words. The time he came back to the brothel afterwards, she said that too. But he came back, again and again. Though everytime he met Tsunade's sighs and yells and screams, she never did anymore then talking.
She could have just pitied him. A love never returned. Or really understood him. He takes her yelling as affection.
Naruto stuck out his tongue. "Whatever. Where is Sakura jiejie?" He gave his question straightforwardly.
"You know better to ask. In her room, and now get out of the kitchen and steal no more food! And all of you get to work!" Tsunade pointed to everyone that was in the kitchen, and Naruto snickered.
"Thanks granny!" He flashed a smile and ran through the kitchen and went up the stairs.
Sakura is always here when he comes. No one is stupid enough or dare to touch the woman that the Huang Tai Zi takes fancy in. But no one knows that Naruto visits her, either. The Tai Zi's only pattern is that he comes early morning. Besides, Naruto is no customer. Never will he do anything she does not wish for. He climbs up that same polished wooden stair, the people's noise ceased as he walked up further. He gulps a little bit, don't know how messy or spiky his hair is today or if he has bags under his eyes. He tries to smooth out his clothing a little, making himself more presentable, though it would be all be pointless, considered who he is going against. The Huang Tai Zi that every women, even many men, had admired and fallen for in the first sight. Sakura was no less.
The familiar door. He knocked quietly and gently, not daring to disturb, but to inform.
"Come in."
The soft, ethereal voice rose within the room. He gently pushed open the door, the creaking sound making his palm sweat.
There was the mirror, and in front of it sat the woman he known and liked, or loved, since childhood.
Sakura sat in front of the mirror, smiling soothingly. Her fingers slender and and soft, holding the delectable wooden comb, running it through her waterfall of cherry blossomed hair. Her skin shone under the sunlight, full, round red lips curved. Her features are delicate, her eyes bright jade green with calmed beauty. The red morning gown slicked to her body's curve. She was not mistaken to be called one of the head of this brothel. To him, she has always been beautiful. When she smiled and held his hand and told him stories. But a woman's secret of beauty is not just the things she is born with, but love that will nourish her soul and reach her heart. He knew that didn't come from him, but Uchia Sasuke. Even when that man didn't love her, she would still be gorgeous, because she loves him. Naruto can be alright with it. At least she is within his reach, at this moment.
"Good morning, Sakura jiejie." He smiled again, blushing a little this time. Half of because of who he is talking to, half of the warm fragrance of perfume running up his nostrils. He didn't really liked the smell, or all the make up she puts on afterwards, but she is Sakura, so he's alright.
"Well hello there." She smiled and continued brushing her hair. Now that she did seen it's him, she relaxed the demure look and slouched a little. "I thought you were Tsunade-sama or..." She stopped and blushed a little. That little so called secret that Naruto know so well, the only other person she will be beautiful for. "Next time you don't have to knock, that way I know it's you."
"If you say so." He ran to her bed and lay down, the mattress was soft. She never showed this playful, even kind of mean side to anyone else but her close friends, like Ino or Lee. All the others see this demure, respectful if not her bad birth, and beautiful girl. He should feel honored that he knows the true Sakura, but sometimes he did wish she would try to act like a great lady to please him and delight him, like she does to Uchia Sasuke. As he turns and turns on the bed like a little child, and Sakura shook her head and chuckled. Maybe to her he was just a little brother. Maybe he should just be content with that.
"Ino got a new dress again. It's one of those high quality silk too. I honestly don't know why those perverts would even come back for someone like her." She sighed and gossiped her way through all the things that's been happening lately.
Naruto didn't really like hearing all the spiteful comments and opinions, but it was Sakura, so he didn't be rude to argue back, but gave some comments like "It's not like that" or "She probably didn't mean it". But he also knew even though Sakura spoke of Ino badly, they were always friends anyways.
She talked away, and Naruto chimed with some non-commental comments.
From the corner of his eye he watched Sakura combing through her hair, again and again, tirelessly. Such painstaking job to keep all that hair on one person's head, and not to say to maintain it to be smooth and silky.
"Why do you always comb your hair?"
"I have to look good. Flawlessly good." Sakura smiled as she said this. "It's not easy keeping up with this hair."
"Then why grow it so long?" Naruto sat up and ruffled his own hair unconsciously. Short and choppy.
"Because," She paused and blushed a little. "Huang Tai Zi dianxia likes long hair. Or so a rumor said."
Naruto freeze. Sakura always had long hair, always wanted to take care of it, always want it smoothy.
In the end it all comes back to Uchia Sasuke.
Naruto reached up to his own hair. Not long and not silky.
"One more reason why he wouldn't like me." His voice muffled under his breath with slight sourness and disdain.
"Oh come on." Sakura rolled her eyes and put down her comb, turning to Naruto. "He does not hate you, Naruto. Iruka does have a reason to not let your face being seen by him, but it doesn't mean when he sees you he's just going to kill you. Besides, he probably don't even remember you anymore."
"Whatever." Naruto pouted and lay back on the bed. "I wouldn't want to be near him either way."
"Naruto!" Sakura smacked the table. The makeups shook. One of the other skill Tsunade taught her girls were self defense, used when needed against difficult customer. "That was very rude!"
Naruto wanted to say the things she says about Ino isn't every nice either, but he shuts his mouth and just turns around.
"Ohh lookie here, another episode of you two."
Ino pushed open the door and came in, already dressed in a purple gown with her hair up, falling behind her. She was too one of the most gorgeous of the brothel, light blue eyes and a more aristocracy sort of features, making you feel she shouldn't really belong in a brothel. High cheekbones and tall nose with an arrogant sort of smile, like she knows she's better and you know it too. Her voice was light and cheerful and a bit sarcastic, as usual.
"Oh shut up Ino. Don't come in without permission." Sakura said irritably, picking up her comb again and started combing.
"Yeah yeah, you could talk." Ino's long, pale cream hair swished as she walked. She sat down on the bed next to where Naruto lay.
"Heya squirt." She muffled his hair, Naruto groaned in complain. "But I have to give you some credit. You're growing taller everytime I see you."
And the one thing Naruto hates about being younger is treated like a little kid. He especially hates it when Sakura does it. He's only one year younger, almost 16, and can be just as much of a man as anyone. Though he is liking the fact that's he growing.
"Thanks but no thanks." He sat up this time, face to face to Ino with a challenging look. "I'm probably taller than you now."
"Taller than a girl is nothing to be proud of." Ino snickered. "Now cut the crap. I even brought you a lunch, see?" She held up a basket of food that Naruto didn't see when she first came in.
"You? Being nice and bringing Naruto a lunch? I don't think so." Sakura began putting on her make-up. "Probably Tsunade asked you to do it."
There they start arguing. Whether was Ino being nice or Tsunade made her carry it up here, it didn't matter much, since he's kind of hungry. He stuffed the piece of duck in his mouth and chewed loudly.
"...I honestly have no idea why Huang Tai Zi Dianxia would have any interest in you, but you know that Shikamaru Nara that came the other day? So. Frigging. Stiff. It's like he's allergic to women or something! Everytime I try to pour some wine or touched him accidentally he would shrink and back away! You would think if he's a noble class he could really get some Junzi manners!" Ino whined and Naruto don't know how or when, but the two women already made up and sat on the single sofa gossiping away.
"I heard he's very intelligent." Sakura sipped some tea. "And who says all aristocracies are Junzi?"
"Yeah yeah, well you're just satisfied with your Huang Tai Zi." Ino said with a slight jealousy hinted. "But really. No men can match up the Huang Tai Zi. That Nara guy is just like some shabby Shusheng compared to the Uchias."
"I met Shikamaru before." Naruto gulped the food down his throat, trying not to talk with his mouth full. "He seemed like a nice guy to me."
"You seen him before?" Ino asked in surprise. "Why I didn't know you were associated with upper class families other then Neji and them."
"You met one of his friend that's upper class before." Sakura started. "Remember Choji Akimichi? That sort of chub---"
"Don't say the forbidden word!" Naruto interrupted alarmingly.
"He's not here to hear it." Sakura waved it off with her hands.
"The Akimichis are close friends with the Naras, aren't they?" Ino sipped some tea too. "Though they're not that well known, but it's enough. Maybe I should have befriended him.."
"Don't want to try Choji. He's not into the whole girl thing." Naruto commented again. It if far beyond his imagination to see Choji with a girl. Especially a girl like Ino.
"Well he can lose some weight before anything happens either way." Ino stated. "Say, you heard the rumors about the country of the Earth's new Tai Zi?"
"Yeah? The really young one that's just accepted?" Sakura chimed in and the subject changed by just one sentence.
"That one." Ino snapped and pointed her fingers in an very unladylike way. Naruto wonder how people will think if they saw them like this. "This is top secret news too. I just got it from one of the visitors from the country of Earth. Few drinks down and he spoils everything."
"That kid can't be that bad." Sakura shrugged. "I haven't heard much yet, but a long time ago it's said that he's locked up by his father in LengGong since birth. Pretty cold hearted for a father, and the whole country hated him too."
"That's what I'm saying. The guy that ran here said he couldn't handle the pressure of some young Tai Zi that's like inhuman, so he ran away. I mean, the kid has bags under his eyes, he never sleeps, his stares are maliciously horrid, like he wants to kill you. I heard he already killed a servant that was the only one that served him for all those years." Ino shook her head. "What a monster kid, really."
"But you can't really say that without meeting him." Naruto said. The part about the hate from others, it was almost familiar, those screams of demon and hits and knives thrown flashed before him, and he felt a little heavier. "Love could change him." Like Iruka to him.
"And you say that, pretty ironic." Ino gave a nasty laugh. "When he was born, his mother asked someone to tattoo the character "love" on his forehead. And that's for someone that never gets loved."
Sakura shook her head and laughed a little too. Naruto felt the rush of words coming to him.
"Anyone can have love. He can have love too. He just needs someone to love him. Who cares if his forehead has some love character on it? Maybe it's attractive." He defended the unknown boy for some unknown reason.
"Haha." Ino chuckled. "You talk like you're going to love him--"
"INO!" The door crashed open, and Tsunade didn't have a very happy look on her face. "I told you to bring up a damn basket of lunch, not to chatter your mouth off with Sakura! Get your butt to work and serve some customers!"
"Y-yes ma'am!" Ino shot off from her chair and quickly bolted away from the room, giving a bow before she left.
"Sakura! You think you can slack off? Either go help in the kitchen or practice on your Guzhen already!"
"Yes ma'am!" Sakura quickly replied with docility.
"Naruto, eat your lunch and do not interrupt her, you hear me?!" Tsunade pointed her finger on him.
"You got me granny." Naruto gives a thumbs-up, seemingly the only not very scared of Tsunade's fits.
Tsunade slam the door close, and without another word Sakura jumped to her instrument that lay aside and started practicing. It was a beautiful thing, the Guzhen. The wood are the most fine with careful carvings of complex patterns. Naruto lay back on bed again, chomping on his rice and listened quietly to Sakura jiejie's playing. He liked this part of the visit. He knew she played for that man, played many, many songs. It's this time that he can feel equal to the Huang Tai Zi. He watches as she set the instrument on her lap on the other side of the room behind the gauze curtain, only the figure of her body seen. Her fingers dancing through the strings, making melodies with each note connected together. The music was soothing, calming. Naruto does not know much about music, but he liked to listen, trying to web out the feels of the song.
He shut his eye and lay on the soft bed. His ears filled with melodies, high and low, sorrow and joy. Maybe he could take a nap...
He turned and tossed a little to make himself comfortable. Then he felt something under him.
Naruto sat up and sat on the same spot again. Something is under there. He reached his hand under the blankets, nothing. He reached down the mattress and found something cool and hard. He withdraws his hand.
A piece of jade about the size of his palm, wrapped in red strings.
It was carefully carved and shone under the light brightly. The light green gem under the sun was almost see through, and the shade of the green tells of it's quality. He couldn't read the characters carved into jade, but his fingers traced through the words, and he memorized the pattern.
助皇君桃缘
A piece of jade in red tied strings. Does it belong to Sakura? He doesn't understand why it's left under the mattress. Was it meant to be hidden? Does Sakura not want anyone to know she has this..?
"Naruto! Come here! Quicky!" Ino was by the door again, waving her hand anxiously. Sakura glared at her but couldn't stop playing, in case Tsunade was still listening. Naruto in panic stuffed the jade in his pocket, fearing someone might see it. The cold gem was somewhat heavy. He ran to the door.
"What?" He asked.
"Lower your voice!" Ino hissed. "The Huang Tai Zi is here!"
Naruto's palm sweated and his eyes enlarged.
"What? Why right now? He only comes only morning or he doesn't come at all!"
"I don't know why! Hurry up and go through the kitchen to the back door and run. Tsunade is trying to hold him! GO!" Ino pushed him, and without another word he bolted away, sweat streaking down his face with no chance to look back, except the footsteps creaking up the stairs, and that same dreadful pressure that arrogant Huang Tai Zi will give off everywhere he goes.
Naruto walks out of the door and runs. He doesn't realize there were sweats dripping from his forehead. He felt his chest heaving up and down, and as if the Huang Tai Zi is really coming after him, he ran like mad, like an animal running when they know the predator is near. The crowd was busy but he still ran, bumping into people, making them drop their groceries, curses came behind him. It suddenly felt like the time where survival and working through a day without getting killed was the only goal of life.
The warm sun suddenly seemed boiling hot, melting every pieces of him. Naruto dread the very thought to see the Huang Tai Zi, yet that one part of him yearned to him after all those years. What is he like now? Is he taller? Is he still really pale? Does he still never smiles? Is his temper still horrible? Does he really love Sakura?
After he was past the gate he felt a little stupid, running for his life like that. His stomach hurts from eating so much then running so hard, and his breaths heaved. Maybe Sakura jiejie is right. Maybe Uchia Sasuke doesn't hate him. Why would he even remember a little brat like himself anyways? After all, he was nothing but an annoying peasant that Sasuke met on one of his visits to the brothel. But then if they did met again, all they're ever going to be is enemies with the most pitiful rivalry over a woman, the one where the winner is decided since birth.
His feet are blistered by his cheap sandals. He walked slowly, slowly. His mind is like a black hole, devouring everything that came.
The bed sheets that lingered of the smell of cologne when he came. A smell not of Sakura jiejie's perfume. The bed set in every one of the brothel's room. The nasty talks of prostitutes. The way Sakura smiled so widely one day, and told him, she loves that man, and he loved her too, with a proof that is made on her body.
It is one of those truths that resides beside you, just there, and you know it's there, yet you did not want to recognize it, to take it, to admit it until the time you really have to.
He falls down to the plain of flowers, just lying there. The sun was so bright in his eyes, the sky is vibrant blue and cloudless. It was a beautiful day. He felt tired, confused, and more then ever feared if one day Sakura will really be gone from his reach.
Naruto rises his arm to the sky, as if trying to grasp something. Something he cannot have.
"I...."
Don't know how to finish a sentence.
He feel something in his eyes. It was so hot it burned his skin as the tear went across his face. It's like those sorrow you store for so long, for so many years, and in just this random moment it explodes and falls apart.
The woman he loved since childhood who will never, ever love him back. She loves of that man that is the opposite of him. She gave her heart and soul, and body to him.
His other arm covered his eyes, and he choked on his tears. So weak. So weak. So weak to tear over something he cannot have. So weak to tear over something he cannot help. So pathetic that he cannot accept the fact that Sakura was never meant to be his over all those years. So pathetic. So pathetic to know that she knows exactly how she feels and yet she didn't care. What was he compared to the all mighty Huang Tai Zi? The most handsome, the most intelligent, the one that every men and women loved so much.
Like a wounded animal he cried. He whimpered. He doesn't remember the last time he has done this. He doesn't hate tears, but he doesn't want them if he can help it. The liquids rushing out of his eyes, his lips quivering. It is hard to breath. He wants to just become one giant tear and evaporate to thin air.
And then that softness fall to his hand that's still in the air, grasping for something.
He opens his eyes, his hand near his face.
A blue feather.
Of happiness and love.
His eyes are puffy and red. Through the mist of tears he sees that gentle feather lying on his hand, once again rejoiced him, as if reminding of something. A pair of butterflies are mating from not a far, dancing within the wind and the fragrance of the wild flowers.
Naruto smiles. However sourly, bitterly, unwillingly.
He closes his eyes and sleep in the field of flowers under the bright sun and vibrant blue sky.
To awake for a better day.
* * *
Befalls the night and the people slept. Except those few with the pouring lust in them, awake through that darkness, all time long.
The night of the grand palace is silent and dead. Empty routes and rooms, some lamps and candles lit, few guard patrolling through.
Itachi Uchia moved swiftly and quietly, unobtrusive, his black robe melted him into the night. He had a pleasant smile on his face, and ones would wonder why the elder of Huang Tai Zi is awake and walking so late.
Itachi strides up the paths to the section of the palace not so far away from his. It is another one of the biggest and most grand of the palace, other than the Emperor's place himself. He walks up the few steps and knock on the door slowly. Through the paper windows there was dim candle lights and rustling noises. A grin reaches up his handsome face. No one answers the door. In a considered rude manner, he pushed open the door, uninvited.
A dash of moonlight shine straight to the bed.
"And a wonderful evening to you too, Sasuke." Itachi's voice was playful and his smile resembled that of a sneer.
Sasuke Uchia resides in his bed with another woman in his arms, his face lit by the wavering candle light and the moon. He is, with no doubt, the one of the most beautiful man of all time. Features so set and perfect like carved ivory, skin paler than the moonlight that shined upon his naked body, well-built. His hair shone like the raven's feathers, his eyes darker and emptier than the night itself. Pale thin lips parted from the woman, he licked his lips in a seducing manner. Lust and thirst in his eyes was the only thing that was seen. That silver light made him even more perfect, as if the face and body itself already wasn't enough, the aura he gives off gave anyone a desire.
"And you're interrupting." Sasuke continued what he was doing. The woman had a feared look but did not dare or want to deny his hands over her body. "Get the hell out of here."
"Manners, Sasuke. And I would think you could do something... Say, more appropriate for someone that declared a clear relationship with a woman." Itachi's voice was still teasing. Their face resembled so much of each other's, yet the expression and the air they gave differ them to no end. "What was that fine young lady's name again... Sakura, I recall?"
"I never promised her anything." His eyes was of bore and empty, now slightly annoyed. "Give a lecture another time."
"And surely father will be glad to hear the inform of this?" Itachi leaned against the door, arms crossed and smiling even wilder.
Sasuke's eyebrows clashed together and grimaced. His eyes were threatening, but Itachi continued to smile. He back off from the woman and sat up straight, sighed and pulled a blanket on.
"Go." His voice was flat.
The woman seemed lost.
"I said." Sasuke's voice was irritated now, a tone was used to give the awe. "Go."
The woman's lips quivered and her body shook. She was mortified and shocked, such a cold and forceful order from the man that was just making love with her. She was brought from the brothel when a guard came in at night and requested a service for the Huang Tai Zi. Naturally she went, after all, he was all the women could ever dream of. But such change of attitude. A second ago was lusting man for desire of her body, and one moment later it is a different person. She tries to gather her clothing, but Sasuke gave a push this time.
"Woman, fucking GO."
The woman shivered, grabbed her clothing and ran from the door naked, the wind cold against her skin, tears flowing in her eyes.
Itachi watched the woman's figure melt into the darkness. He shook his head slightly and turned to Sasuke, who's face is nothing but boredom, yawning slightly.
"Rude and cold as usual, Sasuke." Itachi came in the room and shut the door behind him. He picked up a candle with fire and lit up more around the room. The warm dimmering light filled the room. "No less expected."
"Shut up." Sasuke moved with natural grace only the royal family can have. "What do you want?"
"To remind you to stay.. a bit more faithful." Itachi sat himself down by the red wood table and poured some cold tea into the ceramic cup. He took a small sip. It was bitter to the end, but he enjoyed it anyways. "The number of women that you sleep with is quite alarming."
"What's you point?" Sasuke lean against his bed. "It doesn't matter what women I sleep with."
"Then I guess I could say your skill in bed is increasingly alarming too... Since how you were then, 14 or 15?" Itachi gave a side glance of disapproval. "Orochimaru taught you nothing but rot, hm?"
"Past is the past. That corrupted man can go die for all the care I can give." Sasuke's voice becomes a little annoyed. "Nothing is to change it."
"True." Itachi sighed slightly. "Men who tries of to erase the past all become pathetic fools and accomplish nothing." His long, bony fingers played with the cup, stirring the tea in a childlike manner. "But future can change. You could certainly look to something more brighter in the future."
"Get the hell to your point. You want me to be with just her?"
"But you visit her almost everyday you could possibly find. What is the distance between you two?"
"Talk flat out or don't talk at all." Sasuke pulled up his blanket rather harshly.
"Never a woman you met you have kept. It's always a storm on the bed and you leave them to insanity. I honestly don't see anything more special about Sakura than all those others you have been with." Itachi's rested his chin on his hand, his voice flat, matter of fact tone.
"Is this jealousy, Huang Xiong?" Sasuke snorted sarcastically.
"Of course not." Itachi smiled pleasantly. "But I did like you to consider about your marriage soon. After all, you will be in adulthood by less than a year."
"You aren't setting up a great example, Huang Xiong." Sasuke's wasn't in the mood. "23 and never married. Should you be talking to me about this?"
"But certainly. No woman just catches my interest yet. And it seems like you might have caught one."
"And coming from the good boy who never even wanted to kiss another woman in his life." Sasuke eyes Itachi. "If I didn't know better, Huang Xiong, I would think you're a Duanxiu."
"How rude would of a comment." Itachi still smiled.
"You're sour."
"You're the one that is sour, Sasuke." Itachi's voice became colder. "You're clinging to something, and you refuse to ever see anything else."
Sasuke stopped messing with his blanket and his fist grew tight. "What the hell do you know about me?"
"You start going to the brothel everyday to see that girl, yet after you leave you always grab another to your bed. You act like a passionate man in love on bed, and you leave them empty after their bodies is used. You loved no one, cared for none of them, and you can't give a damn to look back once more to anyone. You do not love Sakura. You never did and you know you never will."
Silence stretched.
Itachi took another sip of the tea. He was not angry nor was trying to aggravate, but he was putting out what's been in his mind, what is been happening. Sasuke's eyes are empty, looking at something but sees nothing. He turned away his head and shut his eyes tightly.
"If you mean I have to prove something, I will marry her." His voice was even, no emotion behind it.
"Empty words, Sasuke." Itachi put down his tea gently on the table.
"I will do it tomorrow." He is not thinking, he is not talking. He is merely spilling words, words that he will have to take on to, words that he no longer gave a damn about. His words has always been a lie. Whether it's on the bed or to himself.
"You know I mean nothing of that." Itachi looked to Sasuke. He stood up facing him, Sasuke met his eyes.
"What do you truly desire?" Itachi's voice was barely audible. "It is there, deep inside your eyes. It's always been there. What do you truly love? What do you truly care about?"
Sasuke looked down. The candle's light went out, the darkness overtook. Sasuke was stoic by now, a facial expression that he did not even know the meaning of. Itachi studied Sasuke's face as he raises it, blank again. Their eyes met. He stared long and hard, and at last for the moments that seemed like eternity, he turned around and left the room.
Sasuke stare to the darkness. The moonlight is blocked by the clouds. The wind is chilling against his skin. He braces himself.
What I truly desire will never be known to you, and it will never be mine.
And on the note of that, brace yourselves. You have just read a 7,000 word chapter with an exceptionally bad ending. Sasuke makes his first entrance, and I had imagined him to be very stoic in this chapter, but it didn't work out so well for dialogue needs. The story is pushing forward. Wheel is turning... Please look forward to another chapter in a lot shorter wait than this.
Thank you for reading~