Chapter 7: Confusion

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.

I apologize for not updating as much, I graduate college in May so I've been busy with that. Once summer hits I can do more.

Sasuke stared at his brother like he was insane. Lifting himself up from under his brother, Sasuke scooted away from him and held the blankets to his chest as if he were defending himself. Itachi didn't move from his spot as he regarded Sasuke evenly.

"Marry me," Itachi repeated, much bolder. Sasuke swallowed and tried to keep the shakiness out from his voice.

"You're joking," Sasuke said with a critical eye. Itachi shook his head.

"No, I'm not, Sasuke," He said in all seriousness. The younger raven gaped for a moment before he ran a hand through his sweaty hair.

"Itachi, we have no future," Was the first thing from the other's mouth. Itachi sat up on the bed, letting the sheets pool at his waist.

"Yes we do. Someday I will become King, Sasuke. I want you there, by my side. You're the only one I can trust. Who better fit to rule beside me?" Itachi asked him sternly.

"A woman? A future Queen perhaps?" Sasuke mentioned heatedly. Itachi though didn't seem phased.

"No one has the effect on me that you do," He stated.

"Maybe, but I can't give birth Itachi!" The younger shouted like it was the obvious.

"I don't need an heir," Itachi said, sitting up and cracking his back.

"Yes you do; it's the law," Sasuke hissed.

"Laws were meant to be broken," Itachi said back. Sasuke began to grow angry with his brother.

"What, I give you a blow job, and you think you own me? Forget it. I won't be coerced into this only to get my heart broken. I know how royalty works Itachi. People get married but go behind their spouse's backs with other lovers all the time! It will only be a matter of time before you give in and want a child with a woman!" Sasuke yelled at him.

Itachi narrowed his eyes at the other. Sasuke made to get out of bed when a hand grasped him harshly by the wrist. Sasuke fell back onto the bed as he was forced once again to look deep into his brother's eyes.

"I've killed for you. What do I have to do to convince you Sasuke that I want no other? Do I have to burn a village to the ground? Do I have to slaughter hundreds of innocents? Hell, I'd even kill mother if you asked me too. . . Especially after all the hell she put us through," Itachi said lowly, eyes wide and insane. Sasuke remained quiet, carefully judging his brother's mood. His heart pounded in both excitement and fear at the other's words. His mind spun with the complications and the problems he knew he would face at this arrangement.

"Killing others won't convince me. If I do this, I don't become tied down. I don't become your whore, and if you stay devoted to me, I'll stay loyal to you. However, if I get even a suspicion that another was in our bed. . . I'll abandon you in a heart beat," Sasuke said just as deadly back. It was a dangerous staring match for a few moments. Slowly, Itachi calmed and raised a hand and ran it through Sasuke's hair.

"It can only be you," Itachi told him, for once sounding vulnerable. Sasuke calmed himself just to be replaced emotionally with apprehension and fear.

"Do you swear this on your life? Hurting me could kill me," He asked his brother. Itachi instead of answering he lifted them both up to sit. He leaned forward and kissed Sasuke softly but deeply.

"You'll never want for anything. If I ever hurt you, I think I'd kill myself," Itachi breathed. Hesitantly, Sasuke kissed back and pulled away to stare at Itachi. The boy knew this would be a mistake, and the biggest he could ever make.

"Fine . . . I'll marry you. Nevertheless, this will turn out for the worst, you know that don't you?" Sasuke asked him. Itachi shook his head as he pulled Sasuke back to him.

"Then let's make it together."

Agreeing to marry Itachi had felt like a villain's plan that had come to fruition. As if it was something that Sasuke had no control over whatsoever. He didn't know why he said yes, but Sasuke couldn't deny what he felt for the other any longer. Some small part of him loved Itachi more than he would ever admit. That childhood respect that Sasuke held for his brother never died.

Sitting in his room, Sasuke leaned back slightly on his bed. His hair fell down past his eyes as he raised a hand to clear it away. He was fully dressed currently, wearing a nice dark purple vest complimented by silver lining. He crossed his legs, at present sporting a pair of black riding pants. His boot clad feet tapped on the floor as he remained deep in thought. His fingers clasped in his bed sheets as he vaguely recalled what he and his older brother had been doing this very morning in this current bedroom. Sasuke's pale cheeks blushed as he looked to the side. He felt a small tingle go down his spine at the thought of. . .

Being Prince Itachi's fiancee. . .

Sasuke groaned and slapped the side of his face in embarrassment.

"What have I gotten myself into?" He whispered to his room.

Itachi, however, was having the exact opposite train of thought. He marched proudly through the hallway, not wearing his armor, but his best dress shirt and robes. He nearly skipped down the hallway as his hair hung loose down his back. He hummed under his breath as he walked past whispering servants and confused butlers. Making his way to the main gate, Itachi spied a caravan approaching. Out in front, riding on the same horse front to back, Pain cantered up to him with a Deidara holding him around the middle. The blond poked his head from around his lover and looked worriedly at Itachi.

"Your highness, un! Are you all right? How is Sasuke?" He asked right out. Pain stopped his horse and dismounted, helping his lover down from the large animal.

"Is all well?" Pain asked, eyes also looking worried. Itachi instead surprised them both and gave them his version of a smile. Deidara's jaw dropped, and Pain blinked in confusion.

"My Prince?" Pain asked carefully. Itachi only continued to smile.

"Everything went. . . Very well. In fact, you're looking at a newly engaged future King," The raven told them. Pain and Deidara looked at each other before their minds clicked.

"You got engaged?" They shouted together.

Itachi sat proper in his chair, taking tea with his two friends. Now out of armor and clean, Deidara and Pain sat across from him, holding their own cups. Deidara was looking much calmer and Pain was smiling for him.

"Itachi, this is great news! Sasuke said yes? Congratulations," Pain said to him, taking a sip from his tea. Deidara was practically bouncing in place in his seat. Dressed back into his stable uniform, he smiled widely for him.

"A wedding un! I love weddings!" He shouted in excitement.

"So how did you do it? Did you do the traditional thing and get on one knee?" Pain asked.

"No no! He swooped Sasuke up into his arms and proposed!" Deidara guessed. Itachi calmly sipped at his tea while Pain and Deidara kept discussing how he went into the proposal.

"No. . . Nothing like that. It didn't go exactly as I thought but . . . It was much more. . . Erotic. . . " The older raven purred. Deidara finished his tea and put it back on his saucer.

"E-Erotic?" he asked in confusion. Pain suddenly looked nervous.

"I-Itachi. . . What exactly happened when you arrived at the castle last night?" Pain asked carefully.

Sasuke paced his room like an animal in its cage. He ran his hands through his hair numerous times and shook his head back and forth.

"No, I can't do it! I can't marry my brother! It's exactly what he wants!" He said out loud to himself. Starting to pace again, Sasuke looked at his bed and reddened as memories flooded his mind. He mumbled to himself as he slapped his forehead.

"No, I can't do this. I definitely can't do this . . . " He kept telling giving up the pacing, Sasuke sat on his bed in defeat.

"What do I do?" He said quietly in the big room.

Itachi walked down the hallway as Deidara and Pain followed him. After retelling the gruesome story of returning to the castle, they had all decided to go to check up on the boy.

"That's horrible un!" Deidara gasped at his lover's side. Pain nodded in agreement as Itachi led them through the hallways.

"But what about. . . ?" Pain began to ask.

"I took care of it. However, I'll need someone trustworthy to clean out the fireplace," Was all Itachi said. Pain nodded carefully at his prince.

"I'll take care of it," Pain said. Itachi nodded and as they drew closer to Sasuke's door, Itachi's became more relaxed. The others watched as Itachi knocked loudly on the door and without waiting, went in. All three blinked at what they saw.

Sasuke looked like he had been sent through a wind tunnel. His hair was mussed, and his clothing was undone in some places. The bed sheets were tossed around as if someone had just grabbed them and pulled. Pillows were on the floor, and some of the tapestry was pulled from the top of the bed. Itachi frowned in concern at Sasuke and turned to address his two comrades.

"Maybe we should postpone the visit for a while," He asked of them. They both nodded and gave Sasuke worried looks.

"Yeah un. . . We'll try again some other time," The blond said in uncertainty. Both men left, and Itachi turned to face his disgruntled brother. Sasuke didn't look at him as he appeared to be trying to catch his breath as he sat on the bed. The older walked over and gently sat beside his fiancee, taking his hand.

"Sasuke, what is wrong with you? You're a mess," Itachi said carefully. Sasuke didn't respond right away as he only shrugged.

"Nothing. . . Everything, I don't know, don't ask!" He seemed to say breathlessly and hiss at the same time. Itachi frowned as Sasuke snatched his hand back from him. Taking the boy's chin, Itachi forced Sasuke to face him. The boy was a sweaty mess, looking nervous and scared and pale. Itachi looked down at Sasuke's lower lip to see it bleeding slightly, meaning the boy had been chewing at it. He frowned in concern and ran an affectionate thumb across Sasuke's cheek bone.

"Do I really make you this nervous?" He asked the younger. Sasuke swallowed, and Itachi felt it against his hand. The boy leaned back from him and set his shaking hands on his knees.

"I think this is all a mistake," He answered honestly in a small voice. Itachi narrowed his eyes.

"Meaning?" He asked with a tilted head. Sasuke looked up at him with wide eyes full of fear at future words.

"I think. . . I changed my mind. . Itachi, I don't want to marry you!"

TBC