Lady Mikoto tells Sasuke to always be dressed properly while in Uzushio. He's never been in a hakama for so long before, not that he dislikes it. He actually looks sharp. He'd rather relax in something that's less layered, though.
Lords Dan and Minato aren't in hakama, but suits most of the time. He doesn't have one of those since his father prefers the hakama and he'd have no opportunity to wear them often anyway.
After breakfast, he wanders the grounds, but is told by his mother not to leave the grounds since they have an important matter to discuss with the queen later in the morning. In the Nishi Kaigain Palace, he stumbles upon the library and looks carefully at all the paintings—Naruto's painting catches his interest fully. He looks like a perfect blend of his parents, dressed in one of the most gorgeous kimonos he's ever seen. The painting must've been commissioned and finished recently.
When Miyo-san told him to avoid the restricted areas, he thought they were halls or rooms behind stanchions and velvet ropes, not sealed to heaven and back. Sasuke knew Uzushio shinobi were masters of sealing, but this is another kind of work. If the best seal master Konoha can offer were here, they'd never be able to unravel whatever monster of a seal is on the doors, even if he had all the time to study it.
After exploring Nishi Kaigan Palace, he ventures out onto the grounds, to the expansive gardens. He guesses this is how the royal family keeps their privacy and sanity, with high walls and large gardens. He starts to think this is how he kept his own sanity, too, by just taking long walks around his base, sleeping near the river, and writing in his journal.
"Fix yourself, darling," said Lady Mikoto that morning as he dressed into his hakama. "We'll meet the Queen and then we can prepare to meet your betrothed,"
He received a half-glare from his father as if daring him to argue. He didn't argue. He was about to ask if his betrothed is a citizen of this country but decided against it.
It is your duty to marry the omega promised to you as a son of a noble line.
Sasuke scoffs. Duty. He's been doing nothing but his duty since he was a child.
Promised to him? As if an omega is something to give away.
He makes his way through the gardens, just following the stone path through the perfectly manicured lawns and the pond large enough to look like it could hold all Uzushio's secrets. He passes by massive bonsai, shady trees, rounded shrubs, decorative hedges, soribashi over smaller bodies of water, yatsuhashi over bigger ones, and stone steps leading to islands in the middle of the bigger ponds. (9)
He's a spare, admittedly not a good one since he prefers his job as a shinobi over whatever administrative drivel his father and brother do on top of their usual duties as high-level shinobi, not that he hates that kind of work, not that he doesn't know how important it is. He's sure Lord Dan and Lord Minato have more work for them as supportive husbands to their heads of state, then again Naruto did mention that his father does still have his duties in defending their country.
He goes deeper into the gardens. Sasuke then sees Naruto by the pond, kneeling on a pillow at the edge of the yatsuhashi, feeding the koi.
"Hime-sama," Sasuke says, getting the princess's attention before he steps onto the wooden planks.
"Sasuke-san!" Naruto smiles at the sight of him. The weight in his heart lightens. "Come feed the koi with me,"
Sasuke puts himself next to Naruto and accepts the feed he's handed.
"Lady Mikoto is so pretty, you look just like her! No wonder you're so handsome!" says Naruto with a small snicker, throwing a pellet into the water. A fish surfaces from the murky depths and eats the pellet.
The captain feels his cheeks heat, flustered but appreciative of the compliment. "Thank you," he throws the pellets in the water. Sasuke wants to say something to return the compliment, but the words are stuck in his throat. The painting in the palace does no justice to the beauty Naruto holds.
Naruto must be meeting his betrothed today, since Sasuke notices how… dressed up he looks, even more from the excessively formal dress he wore in Konoha. The blue furisode brings out his eyes, his lips are stained pink, and his long, loose hair pinned back by the ear with even more elaborate kanzashi of his signature plum blossoms. (10)
He's wearing the same perfume as when Sasuke joined him in the carriage, the same scent on the letter he received that Sasuke keeps in a locked chest together with the pin given to him; the handkerchief he keeps in his breast pocket. He considers not returning it, to keep something so personal of the princess to himself.
"She and my mother seem to have connected well. Kaa-chan moved anything not too urgent to spend time with her,"
"Mother was in high spirits when she returned last night," says Sasuke. "I didn't get to thank you yesterday for the gifts you sent me and my company. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can adjust my style to the katana. It's a gorgeous piece of work, Your Highness. I like it very much,"
"I'm glad!"
Sasuke doesn't think Naruto is as glad as he says he is. "You're okay, right?"
Naruto sighs, throwing more pellets into the water. "As I can be. I must be,"
Sasuke expects Naruto to say something about duty, about having so many people counting on him for their future, their lives, their jobs, health, everything. But he doesn't. "It's okay not to be okay,"
"I know," Naruto throws the last of the pellets. "Come," he stands, Sasuke follows and throws the entire hand of pellets into the water, disturbing the koi and the water's surface. "It's almost time,"
"Time?" Sasuke repeats as they step off the yatsuhashi and make their way through the garden, back to the palace.
"Yes. It wouldn't do to be late to my own courtship, would it?"
"Must you?"
Naruto turns around. "Must I what?"
"Accept the courtship of someone you've never met, don't know, let alone like,"
"Yes,"
"Why? And don't say it's your duty,"
The princess shrugs. "Why not? I have no other answer,"
Sasuke's shoulders drop.
Naruto sighs a long, suffering sigh. "We are not common people, Sasuke-san. We are the ones who protect our people. Being in service is sacrifice. That includes everything,"
"We didn't choose to be born with noble blood," Sasuke tries to reason.
"You're right, we didn't. But these are the cards dealt to us, we must learn how to play them,"
"Can't you… decline?"
"I am a princess, Sasuke-san. My highest word is the queen much like how the word of the kage you serve as a shinobi is final. My grandmother didn't choose my mate for me. My queen did. If that is the best for the country, then that is the best for me. Always in the service of others, not the self,"
Sasuke doesn't have any more excuses or reasons to offer.
"Had I been farther in line to the throne," Naruto sighs again. "Or born common without title, we probably would probably have a bit more freedom,"
"I'm sorry,"
Naruto gives him a confused look. "What? Why?"
"I'm not… I'm too far from you in rank or class to—"
"No," Naruto cuts him off and runs a finger over Sasuke's cheek. He never wants Sasuke to think this is about their difference in class or rank. "We are just unlucky people, Sasuke-san. Maybe in another life, in another world, our hearts met without struggle,"
Sasuke brings his hand up to touch Naruto's and presses his lips against the pad of the princess's palm. "I hope so," he says against the skin. "But I can't accept that. I won't. Not without trying,"
"Naruto,"
Naruto stiffens, quickly withdraws his hand, and turns around and sees the queen. "Your Majesty," he says, "Forgive me. I know I'm not supposed to be alone with an alpha,"
Sasuke joins him in his deep bow. Some type of fear grips Sasuke by the neck and his heart is pounding. Had the queen seen them? His fear tightens around his body when he returns from his bow and sees that Naruto hasn't yet.
"Raise your head," says Tsunade.
Naruto straightens himself.
"Your betrothed is ready for you," she says.
Before Tsunade can say something else, Sasuke speaks. "Forgive me, Your Majesty," says Sasuke, "Is this… match," he pauses, "Vital to the monarchy?" he feels Naruto grab his sleeve, wordlessly begging him to stop.
"Of course," says Tsunade, "This match is a political as well as convenient and compatible,"
How? Sasuke thinks. How could she give away her own grandson's life for politics? He's terrified of the consequences of his actions, but he must try. "My voice may not be important nor have weight for I am a spare, but Your Majesty, please dissolve the Hime-sama's engagement,"
"What?" Tsunade is surprised but not taken aback by the request.
"Sasuke-san!" Naruto gasps.
Hearing Naruto say his name instead of his rank strengthens Sasuke's resolve further. It's worth a try to ask this, even if he must return the medal, or be banished from this country for disrespecting their queen and princess. "I wish to express my interest in entering courtship with Naruto-hime-sama,"
"Heika!" Your Majesty! Naruto half-exclaims, breathless and shaking in his dread, for his grandmother might not dismiss or excuse this disrespect. She's never accepted anything else but the respect she is due and owed. "Forgive him, please!"
She might ban Sasuke from the country, forbid Naruto from seeing him, ask his godfather to strip him of rank and dishonorably discharge him from his service, Lord Uchiha might remove him and his descendants from his inheritance, or even disown him from the shame.
The way Naruto calls her surprises Tsunade. Naruto has never been that good at separating their ranks and family relations, but never has Naruto addressed her as his queen in informal situations. It's always been Baa-chan because he's sweet that way. And he'll always be this adorable grandbaby she's been blessed with.
"Please, I beg you," Naruto is about to kneel and beg further, he'll do anything, he wants to say. Anything. "Forgive him,"
And Sasuke wants to take Naruto's hand and run away, summon Garuda, and take to the skies and take Naruto to see the world the way it's meant to be seen, with spontaneous abandon, not from behind invisible walls, strangled by his own safety. But the sight of Naruto, who's always had his head high, never been anything other than a pillar of regality and strength, about to kneel on the ground and beg for him, freezes his blood cold.
"Naruto," Tsunade says as gently as she can, taking Naruto's hands to keep him from kneeling, then gathers him into an embrace. "You're alright, oh, my beautiful child, you're alright,"
"Baa-chan, please," he whispers, still tense in his grandmother's arms.
"Shush," Tsunade coos at him. "You're okay. I don't like seeing you cry,"
"I'm sorry," Naruto gathers himself before more tears fall and ruin the maid's work, dabbing the few that tried to fall from his eyes with the handkerchief that Sasuke hands over to him before stepping back to stand by the alpha's side. He's surprised to see his own handkerchief in his hands, the very one he used to care for Sasuke.
"You two listen to me very carefully," says Tsunade, strictly but kindly. "Naruto, your fiancé was hidden from you and the world because you are in line to the throne. You are second in line, my child, and exposing someone else as young as yourself, chosen for you, is a danger to him and his family. You were hidden from him too, to give him a chance to grow on his own without the pressure of knowing he's betrothed to you. This secrecy is a burden your parents, his parents, and I carry, until today,"
"I understand," Naruto nods. He sees her point. Even though their strength is unparalleled, and they have the tailed beast on their side, there is no assurance they're always safe, that Naruto's betrothed is safe.
"And Captain Uchiha," Tsunade turns to the alpha, who bows his head. "I am impressed by your perseverance, determination, and reassured by how much you care for my Naruto. I'm glad to know you see past his rank and beauty and aren't prejudiced against an omega gifted and burdened with influence and power. But I'm afraid I can't grant you your request for the dissolution of his engagement,"
Naruto meets Sasuke's eyes for just a fraction of a moment. The princess steels himself again and returns his gaze to the queen, silently praying that he and Sasuke could part ways without too much pain between them.
"We will rejoin you momentarily," she says. "Excuse us, Captain,"
Naruto nods, gives Sasuke, who bows, one last look, and leaves the garden with his grandmother.
His parents and grandfather are waiting in the drawing room Naruto is brought to.
"Naruto, come here, my love," Tsunade pulls him in for a crushing hug, and presses her lips to his temple. "He may have been promised to you," she whispers, "but remember, I am always, always on your side. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't. You tell Baa-chan. Alright?"
Naruto grasps at her tomesode. "What if it means poorer relations?"
"Then it means poorer relations. Let his country try and slight us," she fondly pinches his cheek and lifts his chin to meet his eyes. "I personally will go to war for you, destroy everything, burn the world to the ground and reduce it to ashes, until I'm satisfied that they've received enough suffering for hurting my most precious grandchild,"
"Thank you," Naruto whispers and buries himself in the scent and safety of his grandmother's arms.
"Your Majesty," Shizune enters the drawing room about half an hour later, when tea has been served, drunk, and gotten cold.
She rushes to Tsunade's side, and whispers something in her ear.
They forget Naruto can choose to hear everything.
Shizune's report makes Naruto's heart fall and his anger boil immediately up to the surface.
"That is the alpha you promised me to!" he demands, the table rattles and teacups fall to the floor and break into pieces when he slams his fist onto table. "No!" he yells, tears falling from dulling blue eyes turning into bright red and pupils turning into slits in fury and outrage as his whiskers thicken. "I refuse!" he has enough control that no tails erupt from his back.
"Naruto—" Tsunade tries to say, but she's cut off by a strangled sob from her grandchild.
Naruto hides behind the sleeve of his furisode as he takes a breath to gather himself. His whiskers thin and eyes recede back to their usual clear blue. He stands and doesn't let his worried mother and father touch him as he takes some steps away from the table to keep himself from breaking anymore porcelain.
"I at least," Naruto shakily breathes out, back to his family and avoiding pity in their eyes. "Deserve enough respect," he starts to pull the kanzashi off his head, throwing it to the floor, and letting the hair loose from its bun and fall down his back. "As a person, if not a princess, for him to show up, tell me he is in love with someone else, and reject me to my face,"
"Naruto—" Tsunade tries again.
"NO!"
The queen watches as the princess runs out of the drawing room. She's sure nobody will try to stop him lest they want the grounds to be leveled by a hurting and livid jinchuuriki.
"Sage's sake," she sighs in frustration. "Why does he have to be so much like me?"
Dan chuckles and isn't intimidated by the glare his wife gives him. "What?"
"Well?" she huffs. "You and Minato go find him!"
"You know very well he won't want to be found," says Minato, picking up the broken pieces of porcelain from the floor. "Or won't want to be approached,"
"Let him cool off for a while," says Kushina, glancing over to the door with a worried look when she picks up the kanzashi. "He's been very upset the last few days,"
"You know yourself very well," Dan says to Tsunade, "What happens when you keep secrets,"
Chapter End Notes
(9) Soribashi 「反橋・そりばし」the red arched bridge. Yatsuhashi. Eight Bridges. 「八橋・やつはし」 is a design of Japanese bridge that consists of eight overlapping wooden or stone planks.
(10) Kanzashi (簪・かんざし) are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. The term kanzashi refers to a wide variety of accessories, including long, rigid hairpins, barrettes, fabric flowers and fabric hair ties.
i didn't expect this to grow this angsty lol honestly i thought i was gonna write smth cute but it seems i am incapable of just writing smth that doesn't include angst? im so sorry i hope you're still enjoying
申し訳ございません。
mou shiwake gozaimasen.
i am terribly sorry