The Opera
Naruto's eyes widened as he stepped into the opera house. Except for the occasions when Iruka had taken him shopping in the neighboring town, it was the first time Naruto had been out of the sheltered valley where he had been born, the first time he had been to the city. He couldn't help staring at the women and men, as beautiful as butterflies in their flamboyantly colored gowns and tuxedos of silk and satin.
Naruto lifted his chin defiantly, trying to pretend he was one of them, that he belonged there. His outfit was just as fashionable as any man, just as costly. The sapphire hanging on a gold chain around his neck was fit for royalty. But,try as he might, he couldn't help feeling like a servant playing dress up.
Once the initial awe wore off, Naruto realized people were staring at Sasuke. He heard snatches of conversation as Sasuke escorted him up the stairs to a private box.
"It's Sasuke …”
"Haven't seen him here in years.."
“Is that a new partner..."
“The blond boy is so young…”
"Such lovely blond hair…”
“... odd ...Sasuke never changes..."
Naruto was certain his cheeks were red with embarrassment by the time they reached their box. Sitting there, he hid his face behind a program.
"Pay them no mind, sweet Naruto," Sasuke said. Taking the seat beside the blond, he settled back in his chair. A bored look on his face.
"They're talking about us."
"Let them. Did I tell you how handsome you look in your suit?" And indeed, he did. The deep blue dress shirt with the black coat and slacks complemented the smoothness of tanned skin and made Naruto’s eyes seem darker and more prominent.
Naruto nodded, wishing he could just disappear. Never before had he been the object of so much discussion, so much speculation. He hadn't had to hear the words to know they thought Naruto was Sasuke's newest ‘toy’.
Naruto risked a glance at the box across from theirs, shrank back as he recognized a tall, dark haired man. He had been at Shushu-ya’s the night Chiyo had auctioned him to the highest bidder.
He obviously had seen him. Smiling, he inclined his head in Naruto’s direction and then blew a kiss.
He heard Sasuke mutter something under his breath and then, to his relief, the curtain parted and the opera began.
Naruto had never seen or heard anything like it—the costumes, the actors, the music, the dancing. Even though he couldn't understand the language, Naruto had no trouble following the story of a rich young man in love with a peasant girl.
At intermission, Lord Hyuuga appeared in their box. He sketched a bow in Sasuke's direction, then bowed over Naruto's hand. “Good evening,” he said and Naruto could hear the hint of a smile in his voice. “How well you look."
"Thank you."
Hyuuga dropped into one of the chairs, his long legs stretched negligently before him. "Can't remember the last time I saw Sasuke at the opera," he remarked. "You must be a good influence on him."
"I..." Naruto shook his head. "It was Lord Sasuke’s idea, not mine." He smiled. "But it is wonderful, isn't it?"
"You're enjoying it, then?"
"Oh, yes, it's a wonderful play. I've never seen anything like it."
Sasuke sat back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, as Hyuuga conversed with Naruto. His detachment rapidly turned to anger as Hyuuga began flirting with Naruto, complimenting his blond hair, comparing the blue of his eyes to the sapphire piece he wore. Sasuke fumed when Naruto's cheeks turned scarlet as he murmured a polite thank you at Hyuuga. His hands clenched into tight fists, the mild anger he'd felt quickly turning to fury when Naruto giggled at something Hyuuga said.
"Enough." The word, softly spoken, cut across Hyuuga’s flowery compliments like a knife through butter.
With lazy grace, Hyuuga stood up, murmuring his farewells as he bent over Naruto's hand once more, then turned to Sasuke. "Will we see you at Shushu-ya’s later, my lord?"
"No," Sasuke clipped.
Hyuuga looked at Sasuke with what could only be called a smirk. "A foolish question, indeed," he said. "Good night, my lord."
"Hyuuga,” Sasuke dismissed with a nod.
Naruto nibbled his bottom lip, his fingers wringing at each other in his lap and he dared not to meet Sasuke's gaze. He certainly had not missed the hint of anger in Sasuke’s voice, though the reason for it eluded him. He was grateful when the performance resumed.
Sasuke had seen the opera many times, and it was Naruto's face he watched during the last act. As he had suspected, the blond sniffled when the heroine killed herself rather than face life without the hero, though why a woman would want a weak willed man like the hero was quite beyond him.
When the curtain came down, he handed over his handkerchief. "Dry your eyes, sweet Naruto. It was only make believe, after all."
"But it was so sad! They loved each other so much."
"Rubbish! If he'd loved her, he would have disobeyed his father and married her instead of shackling himself to a woman he didn't love."
"Yes," Naruto murmured, "I suppose he would have."
Gaining his feet, Sasuke draped Naruto’s jacket over his shoulders. "Ready?"
With a nod, Naruto stood up and slipped his arms in the warm jacket. He held his head high as they left the box and made their way outside.
It was a beautiful moonlit night. A bright yellow moon hung low in the sky. Naruto stood beside Sasuke, conscious of the people nearby, aware of their curious stares, their whispered words as they speculated on his relationship with Castle Uchiha’s dark lord.
He was relieved when Iruka arrived with the carriage.
As Sasuke helped him inside, he was aware of the dark lord's hand on his arm. His touch was firm, cool. Naruto settled into his seat as Sasuke entered the other door and took the seat beside him. There was something vastly intimate about being alone with the other in a closed carriage. Sasuke's hard muscled thigh brushed against him as Sasuke shifted in the seat. The scent of his cologne tinged the air.
Sasuke rapped on the roof, and the carriage lurched forward. They drove in silence for several minutes. Naruto glanced out the window, admiring the moonlit countryside.
"Hyuuga finds you quite attractive."
Naruto turned to look at the other, surprised by his blunt remark. "My lord?"
"Don't play coy with me. I saw the way he looked at you. The way you looked at him," Sasuke accused.
"I don't know what you mean.”
"Don't you?"
Naruto met his gaze, confused by the carefully masked anger in those dark black eyes, by the hard edge of jealousy in his voice.
"If you have any plans for meeting him on the sly, put them out of your mind.”
“My lord you misjudge me!” Naruto exclaimed, shocked that Sasuke would even think such a thing. “I have no interest in Lord Hyuuga!”
“No?”
"No."
"Forgive me then, sweet Naruto," Sasuke murmured, astonished by his reaction to the thought of Naruto with another. Never before had he been possessive of the anyone he brought home, but then, none had been as lovely, or as innocent, as Naruto Uzumaki.
"Please don't be angry with me, my lord." Naruto gnawed his bottom lip, his hands wringing in his lap.
Sasuke blew out a long breath, then reached for Naruto’s hands, kissing first one and then the other. "I could never be angry with you. Nor Hyuuga, either, I suppose. One can hardly blame the man for being attracted to you."
He kissed the back of Naruto’s right hand again; and then, ever so slowly, he brought Naruto’s hand to his lips and licked the palm.
Naruto gasped as a rush of potent heat shot up his arm. Heart now pounding, he met Sasuke’s gaze, felt the fire burning in his eyes engulf him. "My lord…” Naruto managed to whisper out.
Slowly, inexorably, Sasuke drew the blond into his arms until blue eyes, tanned skin blotted everything else from his sight. Slanting his mouth over the other, he kissed the blond’s plump pink lips, his teeth grazing the sensual lips, his tongue exploring the soft inner flesh of the mouth, until Naruto was breathless, almost dizzy from the tumult of emotions. Naruto’s skin felt tingly, every nerve ending vitally alive.
Hardly aware of what he was doing, Naruto leaned into Sasuke, a soft moan rising in his throat as he felt his body molding into the other’s chest.
"Naruto, ah, Naruto." Sasuke groaned softly. "Do you know what you're doing to me?" His hands slid up and down the blond’s smooth back, erratic as the beating of the blond’s heart beat.
He drew Naruto more fully against him, his lips raining kisses on those blue eyes, the tip of his nose, the curve of a warm smooth cheek. His tongue lapped at the smooth curve of neck, his teeth nibbled at the tender earlobe hidden by blond hair, then grazed the tender flesh beneath the ear. A low groan rumbled deep in his throat and then, abruptly, he pushed the blond away.
Dazed, Naruto blinked at him, then leaned toward him, wanting Sasuke to kiss him again, to continue the strange magic his touch wrought upon his senses.
"Don't." The tone of Sasuke’s voice had the effect of a slap.
With a muffled gasp, Naruto scooted into the corner, his heart pounding wildly—not with desire, but trepidation. What had he done? Why was Sasuke looking at him like that, his eyes burning yet cold?
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
Naruto kept his gaze downcast, his hands tightly folded in his lap.
When they reached home, Sasuke practically flew out of the carriage. Naruto stared after him, wanting to call him back, but the dark lord was swallowed up by the darkness so fast it was almost as if he had vanished completely.
Iruka assisted him from the carriage, then preceded Naruto into the castle, lighting the lamps in the downstairs rooms.
"Would you care for a cup of tea, young master?" Iruka asked, "or some cocoa, perhaps?"
"Cocoa, please. I'll take it in the parlor."
"As you wish, young master."
Removing his jacket, Naruto went into the parlor and sat down on the sofa, trying to comprehend what had happened in the carriage. He was new to desire, but certainly he had not been mistaken in thinking Sasuke wanted him. Heavens knew Naruto had wanted him, would have surrendered his virtue right then and there, in the carriage, had Sasuke not thrust him away. Had he done something to displease the lord, and if so, what?
"Would you care for a fire, young master?" Iruka asked while handing him a cup of hot chocolate.
"Yes, please. It's quite chilly in here."
Iruka nodded, then turned away to see to the fire.
"Has Lord Sasuke come in yet?" Naruto asked.
"No, young master. I shouldn't wait up for him if I were you.”
"Do you know where he's gone?"
Iruka hesitated. "No, young master. Will that be all?"
"Yes, Iruka. Thank you."
"Good night, then,” Iruka said with a slight bow.
"Good night."
Staring into the flames, Naruto sipped the cocoa, feeling it relax him. Funny how life turned out, he mused. Naruto had been afraid to come to this place, afraid to leave home, afraid of Sasuke, yet all his fears had proven groundless. There was nothing to fear in the castle. He had food to eat and beautiful clothes to wear. He had learned to read and write, to appreciate poetry, to play the piano, to paint. Even his fear of Sasuke had been unjustified. Until the last few weeks, Naruto had hardly seen him at all. Sometimes, it seemed as though the dark haired man was afraid of him.
Putting the cup aside, he tucked his feet beneath him. Why had Sasuke brought him here? If Sasuke didn't want him as a play toy or stable boy, what did he want him for? So far, he had done nothing to earn the money Sasuke had paid for him.
Sasuke. Why wasn't he married? He was rich. He was handsome. Even the scar on his shoulder couldn't detract from his roguish good looks. Just being near him made Naruto come alive, made his blood run hot and his stomach quiver with longing. Surely bedding him would not be a hardship in spite of what people whispered and gossiped about.
Heat that had nothing to do with the warmth of the flames suffused his cheeks at his wayward thoughts. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, summoning Sasuke’s image to mind, black locks falling gently on his forehead, the finely shaped nose, his beautiful dark eyes that could burn with a look, his full lips...
Naruto felt his body tingle in every place where the dark lord had touched him. If only he hadn't pushed him away…
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Sasuke stood at the foot of the sofa, watching Naruto sleep. His hair splayed over the small pillow like a river of gold silk. The blond sighed in his sleep, his sweet pink lips curving into a smile that was both sweet and seductive. Of what, or of whom, was the blond dreaming?
Unable to resist, Sasuke knelt beside the blond, staring at the slow steady beat of the pulse at the base of his throat. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of sunshine. Naruto smelled of soap and powder, of the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding he had eaten for dinner, of cocoa. He placed his fingertip over the pulse on his throat, felt the blood thrumming through the blond’s veins, felt his mouth water as he remembered the warm, sweet, coppery taste.
Even before Sasuke opened his eyes, he knew the blond was awake and watching him. He heard the change in his breathing, the escalation of his heartbeat.
"My lord," Naruto murmured. "I'm sorry if I did something to offend you."
"Offend me?"
"In the carriage."
“You did nothing amiss, sweet Naruto.”
"Then why…” Naruto asked quietly.
"It is not my wish to hurt you, Naruto."
"You weren't hurting me." Heat climbed up Naruto’s neck and into his cheeks. "Quite the opposite, my lord."
"Ah, child," Sasuke murmured, stroking Naruto’s cheek. "If you only knew."
"Knew what?"
"Nothing. I would not frighten you with my past, or bore you with the present.”
“I don’t understand.” Naruto’s brows furrowed and he shook his head.
"There is no need for you to understand. All you need know is that you please me very well."
"Then won't you kiss me again?" Naruto saw the refusal in Sasuke’s eyes and pressed his fingertips over Sasuke’s lips before he could speak. "Just one kiss, my lord."
Taking Naruto’s smaller hand from his mouth, he kissed the blond’s palm. When he looked up at those blue eyes again, there was a glint of amusement in his dark eyes. "Would it please you so much?"
"Oh, yes."
"One kiss, and then you must go to bed." Naruto nodded, his eyelids fluttering down as Sasuke’s lips pressed gently against his. There was such sweetness in Sasuke’s kiss, such longing. Unwilling for him to leave, Naruto wrapped his arms around the dark lord’s neck and deepened the kiss, hoping Sasuke would know how much he wanted him.
Sasuke’s arms tightened around him, lifting him off the sofa and onto his lap, his mouth ravishing him in a most delightful way.
Naruto was drowning in pleasure, melting with desire, and then, into his mind came a vision of darkness, and yet it wasn't darkness as he knew it, but a total absence of light, and interwoven with the darkness was an awareness of pain and anguish so vivid it felt like his own pain and anguish.
Naruto then squirmed in Sasuke’s embrace, but Sasuke’s arms only tightened tighter around him. He tried to open his eyes, but the darkness increased, and he felt himself being engulfed in that horrible blackness...
"Naruto?" Sasuke whispered in slight panic.
"No. No, no... please."
"Naruto, open your eyes. There's nothing to fear."
Naruto blinked his eyes open, feeling as though he had just emerged from a waking nightmare. "What happened?"
"Nothing,” Sasuke responded softly.
"But…”
"It was only a dream, my sweet, nothing more."
"But I was awake!" Naruto snapped back.
"No. You fell asleep in my arms." Sasuke looked down at the brilliant blue eyes, his smile strained, his eyes dark and compelling. "To bed with you, I think," he said, and stood up, carrying the blond with him as though he weighed nothing at all.
"I can walk, my lord," Naruto protested tiredly.
"No need."
Effortlessly, he carried Naruto up the long flight of stairs to his room. "Rest well, sweet Naruto."
"Good night, my lord."
He bowed his head, then left the room, his long black cloak swirling around his ankles like smoke.