AN: Song: 100 Years… I swear, there's been some shit in my life that really screwed with me, school hasn't been easy either, so here's to this song, which sums up my life in a sweet nutshell. Also, I usually like Sakura, she's a bitch in this story tho. ^.^' Also, the notions of the country as snubby and such… yeah, that is a part of the story, in no way do I think that personally! Love em UKs ;)

They made it to their apartments safely, Naruto only breathed a relieved sigh when the large, heavy doors were shut behind them with a bow form the butler. He flounced into a maroon gilded and heavily patterned couch and looked around with disgust. "Do they not have rooms that are more suited for actual living in? I fear going blind from this incessant shine!"

Kakashi was already at the bar, pouring himself and Naruto port. The blonde watched the heavy red liquid darken the small crystal glass. Kakashi sat near him and passed him the drink.

Naruto took it and dipped his head back while the silver haired man sipped his.

"So how does it feel to have your life flipped inside out and backwards?" The man mused, smiling slightly when Naruto leveled him with his blue eyes. "I feel no different to be honest." He sighed. "I have a feeling…" he looked at Kakashi again. He was unsure if he should voice what he was thinking about for the past hour. "Do you think maybe Father knew that this moment would come? Why would he put me through all this training and schools when he knew how these people would treat me?" He watched the empty glass in his hand and let it slip between his fingers, it fell to the floor and with a tinkling laughter broke into dusty diamonds. Kakashi watched its progress too, not speaking.

"What is it exactly that you know?" he asked, "I don't know the details." He laughed apologetically.

"Well, He wanted me to learn a lot when it comes to languages; Father drilled me with teachers, so… French, Latin, and Hindi I guess…" He scrunched his eyes. "I'm shit at French though, never liked it much."

Kakashi was wide eyed. "You learned all that?" he sounded stunned.

"I had to practice with his army friends in my swordsmanship and shooting, not to mention physical fitness." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Horsemanship was what I took to though, and hunting."

"Not too shabby…" Kakashi whistled in appreciation, "I think Minato rather wanted to prepare you to leave though, don't you think?" He rose, sipped again while Naruto pondered this. It sounded eerily correct.

"I guess you're right then." He smiled. "I guess I was meant to leave this place, and he knew."

"Precisely my boy." The grey eye closed in a smile. "I believe you are getting it!"

A sharp knock on the door startled them both. Naruto stood up to open it. That act proved needless as the butler gently opened the doors and slipped inside, bowing deeply. "An invitation for your Lordship and your companion." He drawled in an overelegant tone that had Naruto bristling and Kakashi chuckling.

The man stepped forward and plucked the letter form his gloved fingers. "Thank you" he inclined his head and the man was about to step out.

"A word?" Naruto raised his hand, and the man froze in his steps, turning to him, he bowed again. "Would his lordship require anything elese?"

"I would require you to not barge in without either being asked or allowed in." He growled. A cloud of displeasure hovered over him. The butler looked scared before throwing another, deeper bow. "Of course."

"I would slit my wrists if I had to bow to anyone like that." Naruto hissed as Kakashi sat back down grinning from ear to ear. "Oh come now, he works here, it's not like he does this as a full time thing. Besides, He isn't wealthy Naruto, and has no chance of ever being wealthy. So I'd cut him some slack."

"I'm just like them aren't I?" Naruto smiled sadly, "I don't really see those around me."

"You're being too hard on yourself Naruto." Kakashi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder as he stepped behind him. They were facing the window, the view faced into the gardens around which the hotel was built. The fountain had a flock of birds surrounding it, bathing. Naruto wished he was one of them.

"What does the note say?" he asked, hoping for a distraction from his somber thoughts.

"Its an invitation, as promised." Kakashi responded. "I told you we'd get invited. It would be a lsap in the face should your rank be overlooked at such a gathering."

"I cannot wait to leave." Naruto sighed and walked into the room. "Can we not snub them and get out of here?"

"No" Kakashi protested, they must see you, and I'll be right along with you so no worries." He winked and pushed the blonde into the bedroom. "Take a bath now, freshen up and we shall see what can be done for our evening attire."

Naruto walked in with a sigh that was a clear statement of his irritation at the pomp.

xXx

Sasuke stepped into the glittering hall with a strange mixture of relief and sorrow. He had not seen Naruto in days, and the bloody man was on his mind constantly. He had ran from him, and Sasuke couldn't ignore his responsibilities for long. Going into town, he had set up residence at "The Gorge" a top class hotel in the area. His affairs now in order, all paperwork completed and signed for, he knew the hardest part came after all that was finished. He had to somehow fit into this strict and snobby society. He knew Naruto had hated these people one and all, but truth be told, he had been groomed to feel comfortable here, and he did, much to his dismay, rather like what he was seeing as he entered the ballroom of the hotel. His invitation had come a day previous, when he bumped into a young, pink haired lady in the hall. She took one look at him and purred in appreciation.

It was her coming out, she had said, and her parents were throwing a ball for anyone that mattered and had anything to say about where they lived. She asked him to accompany her to the restaurant downstairs. She was meeting a couple of friends for breakfast. He obliged her because he too, was onhis way out and didn't want to seem rude, though her snotty attitude and the way she clung to him had him gritting his teeth. He finished his mission with a smile however, and quickly made his apologies, leaving her at the double doors of the rather large hall. He had planned to get a nip to eat, but that was out of the question presently, he made his mind up to grab something on the way to the office in which he had to finish taking care of the paperwork his Father had sent from overseas. He was sure it would be utter crap, just a bunch of flimsy stocks that provided him with an excuse to bully Sasuke into getting rid of the estate and everything on it and to return to America. He was sure his Father wanted to dabble in the sizeable foruten that this sale would make. He himself however, had no intentions of doing any such thing. He had his eyes set on staying, since it provided him with more than enough money to comfortably start a business of his own, on his own terms.

As to the other problem, he could only hope they would all get the hint and that it would all blow over.

Upon his return from his uneventful day, he was met with a note from Miss. Sakura Haruno, the very pink horror he had met previously. He had no doubt he was invited so that she could gloat to her friends about meeting him.

He had just relaxed with a good book and a glass of sweet wine when a quiet knock came to his ears. He wondered, since he hadn't sent for anything; who it could have been possibly?

He had dim hopes of it being Naruto, although the very thought had his pulse beating harder and his thoughts skipping wildly as he made his way to open the door.

It was not in his nature to sneak around, he opened the door all the way and looked out into the rather dim hallway.

A small shadow slipped into the room and he followed it with his eyes, unmoving. The door was still ajar, his hand still on the knob. "Who are you?" He asked loudly, not bothering to keep his voice down. He knew it wasn't Naruto, for one, the man wouldn't be slinking around, and was much bigger. So who could it have possibly….. ?

His jaw dropped as the covering fell to reveal Miss Haruno herself. She was clad scantily, only in her nightgown, and that too, was sheer and translucent. Her hair was down and the glimmer in her eyes was hellish. "I've come to check whether you decided to come to the ball." She giggled, placing a small hand on his and closing the door quietly. He was so stunned he didn't even stop her.

"This isn't the right time to be making calls or inquiries." He stumbled stupidly, still disbelieving that she would be as stupid as all that.

"My parents have someone on their mind for me to marry, and I am so unhappy about it." She sounded tear-filled and sad. Sasuke could see her looking at him, assessing how much her plight had affected her.

It didn't at all, and she could clearly see that.

"Ill ask you to leave now miss," he put on a cold expression and a slight sneer. That just exited her more.

"I like a man who doesn't run after any woman." She whispered eyes heavy lidded. "It shows class." She smirked, coming closer to him, stalking.

She was right up against his chest, hand daintily poised on his hip. He could feel her breasts through the flimsy muslin and his thin linen shirt. He didn't move.

She took that as a go ahead, because she tried to slip her slim thigh between his legs, leaning on him all the more. Her lips didn't even reach his neck, dropping instead to his collar bone.

He closed his eyes and leaned back onto the wall, shivering. She couldn't see what he could, it wasn't her lips leaving kisses, or her thigh wedging between his. It was not her hand that slowly made its way to rub against his straining erection. He gasped out a plea for help, but it was lost in translation. The hand emboldened, began to unbutton.

Here his eyes drew opened, his hand quick on hers and steel grip against her slim wrist, twisting it until she moaned. "Don't!" he whispered hoarsely out and she caught his lips in a sloppy and altogether rather unsatisfying kiss. He wanted demanding, hot, strong and knowing. This was mediocre at best, he couldn't even pretend.

When her tongue tried to pry his teeth apart he growled and nipped at her, so that she stumbled back surprised. His eyes shone with rage. "Get out woman, before I hurt you in a way you will not like." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. She looked bewildered, gasping for air. She squealed and scurried out of the room, he shut it behind her quietly and fell to the floor barricading them. His breathing was uneven, slightly whimpering. The only thing on his mind was that bastard.

But that was done, and as he stepped into the light and observed the wave of bejeweled ladies, gaudy youth and sniffed in the fine odour of perfume and cigar, he felt a bit better. They announced his name loudly, "The Right honorable Earlof Konoha, Uchiha Sasuke!" There were a few people who looked to him at that. He was a novelty, accepting the title his uncle had no choice but to pass on. He thought of Naruto again, how it should have been him.

But what was going to be done by beating himself up over it? It was not his fault. He was only grateful to be let out of the cage he called home. How ironic, he thought was that in a country that boasted freedom, he had been little more than his Father's puppet, here… In this snubby country where power and prestige mattered so much, perhaps here, he would be at least able to do things on his own terms.

He made his way to the floor and was assaulted by a group of young ladies, giggling and trying to nonchalantly dangle their dance cards in front of his noise. He smiled and crooned as was his due. They swooned and charmed him, as was theirs.

Then the floor parted and Lady haruno, in all her glittering glory flounced forth smiling brightly. She was the top predator here, the queen bee. And since it was her ball, she had the gall to feel that she could do anything she pleased. She hung herself on his arm and announced to the surrounding flock that there was a delightful punch served. He was tehn ceremoniously dragged in the general direction of the tables. Sasuke had to give her credit, she knew she could lead him by his nose and she was ready to use that at any opportunity. He cursed under his breath and smiled sweetly. Ready to be tormented until he could slip out and run run run…

"The Most honourable Marquis of Konoha, Naruto Namikaze and his Lordship Kakashi Hakate." That…. That name, brought the entire hall to a complete hush. And then it brought it into a jungle of whispers.

Sakura's arm actually slipped off his. Her eyes were wide and her mouth fell open in a comical surprise. Sasuke himself could not believe his eyes.

The blonde was making his way down the steps, chatting with Kakashi as if nothing in the world was the matter. The whispered title was making its rounds into the rooms further in, and people were actually making their way to the doors to see. Sasuke had a feeling most of these people knew him well.

But the title!

He didn't know if he was happy that Naruto was no longer in threat of being snubbed or hurt that he hadn't been told. Both, he supposed after a while; making his way closer to them both. He found it funny that although everyone wanted a good look, no one would actually approach them. There was in fact, a small empty space that surrounded them, Sasuke wasted no time in breaking out and going up to them.

"My Lord," he couldn't help but smiling lightly as he said this. Naruto's eyes flickering to him. "My Lord" was his answer, the eyes were not smiling however, they were already on the crowd and looking around.

"Well," Kakashi clapped him on the shoulder. "There you have it, who would have thought?" he joked, dragging them both into the crowd that parted at first and then was determined to act like it was all normal that it swallowed them up.

"I absolutely hate this." Naruto mumbled to him. "Kakashi dragged me into this, shouldn't have listened."

"Well, there are always the balconies." Sasuke suggested, "They are colder, but its also why they give a certain kind of privacy." Naruto nodded and gave him the first smile of the night. "Will his Lordship lead the way?"

AN: Ok…. Phew, done :D