Slaves to Love

Gaara sighs. He had never seen his friend so distraught. The blonde had searched for days without resting, trying to find the brothers. Alas, his efforts had proved futile. No one had seen hide, nor hair of the brothers.

"My friend, please sit. Have a drink. Exhausting yourself in this manner isn't going to bring them back." He offers the blonde a glass of wine, which Naruto takes and downs in one shot.

"Thanks." He mutters.

The Senator shakes his head. What Naruto had done was extremely stupid. Why on in the name of the Gods and Goddesses had he confronted Kabuto in such a manner? That was only ever going to make things worse for everyone involved.

"I hope you realize what you did was very stupid." The red head shakes his head as he eats some grapes.

Naruto sighs. He knew it was, but Sasuke had just been so scared. He'd been so terrified, that it had enraged Naruto. He wanted to protect him and had lashed out. In hindsight, he had been very foolish and now he had probably lost his beautiful Nymph forever because of one dumb decision.

"I know. I just…you didn't see him. He was so frightened Gaara." Naruto tries to explain.

"He's a slave Naruto. He'd be rather foolish not to be frightened, especially after receiving a beating alike that." Gaara replies.

Naruto knew that his friend was right. Still he just hadn't been able to bare it. That look in his eyes. Sasuke had been so afraid. The blonde had just wanted to whisk his Nymph away and hide him away from the cruel world. That's all. He just hadn't been thinking clearly.

"I know." He admits.

"At least you got to be with him, even if it was only for a short time. You held him. Itachi doesn't even know who I am." He states bitterly.

The blonde did wonder about that. Why hadn't the wealthy Roman spoken to the object of his desires before? It did seem strange. Gaara was many things, but shy certainly had never been one of them.

"Why didn't you ever approach him?" Naruto asks.

"I wanted to buy him first. I didn't want to get attached to him, if I knew I couldn't have him with me always. Leaving him each day would have been torture. Kabuto just wouldn't sell him to me. I would have bought Sasuke as well. It would have made him happy. Maybe if I had done that, he would have loved me." The red head sighs wistfully.

"Do you regret it? Not approaching him?" The blue eyed man asks.

"I do and I don't. I can only imagine the heartbreak you are enduring now. I hate to say this Naruto, but you need to be prepared for the worst. Sasuke had received a severe beating the day before he escaped. That's going to slow them down. Kabuto is going to send trackers after them. If they're found, they will likely be killed for running away." Gaara tells him.

"He wouldn't! Kabuto was terrified that even selling them would upset the Emperor. That coward wouldn't dare kill them." Naruto says desperately, trying to convince himself as much as the red head.

"Perhaps not. But even if they aren't killed, the beatings will be brutal. He may not want anything to do with you afterwards. I'm sorry, my friend." He whispers consolingly.

"Maybe…they got away though. There's a chance right?" The other man asks hopefully.

"It's possible. But if they did, our odds of finding them are very slim." Gaara replies.

"I helped us keep Gaul. Now those were slim odds. Finding them should be easy compared to that." The blonde says and Gaara hoped that his friend was right.

Elsewhere, Itachi and Sasuke woke up. Itachi had done some scavenging. Truthfully, he felt guilty over stealing. Still, they were so hungry and the harvest had been bountiful this year. It was highly unlikely the owner of the vineyard would even notice.

"Sasuke, I found us a feast." Itachi says and shows him some of the tomatoes he'd plucked while his brother had slumbered. (Sasuke needed the sleep to recovery from his injuries.)

"Those look good. This will be our first meal as free men." Sasuke muses and takes one of the tomatoes, biting into it gratefully.

"Yes, to our freedom." Itachi says with a smile and also begins eating.

Sasuke had never tasted anything so delicious in his life. He knew they were fresh tomatoes. But to him, from that moment on…tomatoes would be associated with freedom.

"We could stay here for a few days. Someone can always keep watch. You need time to recover from your injuries and there is plenty of food and water here. I doubt they will think to look for us in a vineyard." Itachi says and Sasuke nods.

Maybe they could stay here for few days. It was beautiful. Like Itachi said, there was plenty of food and water. Sasuke also really didn't relish the idea of trying to walk again anytime soon. The adrenaline had worn off and now he was feeling the pain of his injuries again.

"Yes, a few days." Sasuke agrees.

"Good. Now eat. I'll go get us some water. Rest, brother. You'll need your strength if we are to make it to the forest." He tells him.

"Itachi, what are you going to put the water in?" Sasuke asks curiously.

His older brother smiles. He simply holds up the wine bottle. Sasuke ohs and nods. Itachi darted off to fill the bottle and Sasuke goes back to eating.

Seeing the wine bottle, just reminded him of Naruto. He told himself that he was being stupid. Naruto might have been kind to him, but he still viewed Sasuke as a slave. Granted that he seemed to view him as a most prized one, but facts were facts.

"How can I blame him for that though? Is that not how I viewed myself?" He asks and bites into another tomato.

Most days, he forgot who he truly was. He was the youngest son of Emperor Fugaku and Empress Mikoto. He was a crowned prince of Rome. The mightiest empire that the world had ever known. Yet, every day he was treated as just another servant. It should have outraged him. But he had just accepted it because not to do so, would have meant certain death.

Itachi and he were both men now. If they could convince the public that they were really the long lost princes, Itachi would be crowned Emperor. There was one easy way to do this. Every Uchiha had The Royal Mark.

"Here, Sasuke. Have some water." Itachi says and hands the bottle back to him.

It was a birthmark that was on every member of the royal family somewhere. Sasuke's was on his back. Itachi's was on his left wrist, which is why he always wore such long sleeves. In Sasuke's case though, that meant exposing his bare back long enough to display the Mark. He'd be cut down instantly. Maybe Itachi would be able to show his though and then Sasuke could. It would be quite the gamble though.

"Thank you." Sasuke says and he drinks greedily.

"I know what you are thinking about. It would be nothing short of suicide. They'd kill us both long before we exposed our Marks." Itachi says.

Sasuke sighs. He knew that Itachi was only being logical. But now that he had had a brief taste of freedom again, he longed to return to his rightful place. Itachi would be a magnificent Emperor. Sasuke would be the High Prince. Everything would be as it should be. But there was that whole matter of not getting killed first. That was the tricky part.

"I know it would be a gamble, but don't we owe it to mother and father to at least try? What about the people of Rome? You know how horrible Orochimaru is. He's cruel and a deviant." Sasuke insists.

Itachi certainly couldn't argue with either label. Gods and Goddesses above knew that Orochimaru was both of those things. Perhaps more so than any previous Emperor. Still they were no good to their people if they got themselves killed.

"We can think on this matter later. For now, you need to focus on getting well. If you even tried to go to the castle in this condition and he recognized you, you'd be dead before you took three steps. We both know that ." Itachi replies and Sasuke nods.

"Alright. We'll wait. Do you have anymore of those tomatoes?" He asks.

"The vineyard is full of food. Of course, I do. I'm half tempted to just stay here, honestly." Itachi hands him some tomatoes.

Sasuke and eats some more. He could certainly see the appeal. The vineyard was large enough, they could easily hide unnoticed. They had food, water, and their freedom. What more could they possibly want, short of their crowns back?

So why did a pair of blue eyes keep flashing in his mind? Naruto had been kind to him. Far kinder than anyone should reasonably expect a Master to be. But at the end of the day, he still wanted Sasuke to be his slave. He shouldn't miss him, but he did and that pissed him off.

"I see some fire in your eyes again, Sasuke. It does my heart good to see your spirit returning to you." Itachi murmurs.

"Thank you. I can't believe that I…almost let him." Sasuke mutters.

"Almost let who do what?" The eldest prince asks in confusion.

Sasuke sighs. It was humiliating to admit, but he had almost hoped that Naruto would buy them. He had actually enjoyed the blonde's touch. The Roman couldn't believe he had sunk so low as to WANT to be a love slave.

"I almost let him buy us. I almost let him make me into his damn pet!" Sasuke snarls enraged at himself.

"Sasuke there is no need to feel shame in it. He is a very attractive man and as far as I could tell, he showed you nothing but kindness. We've been slaves for so long, no one has been kind to us save for each other and Kisame. It's only natural that you would respond." Itachi caresses his brother's cheek affectionately.

Sasuke nods. Maybe he was being too harsh with himself. But still, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He actually had desires for someone who wanted him to be their slave. And as angry as he was with himself, there was a part of him that still hoped somehow, Naruto would find them.

"He wanted me to be his lover. He wanted me to be his slave." Sasuke mutters.

"You and I both know how common that is. We had slaves at the palace ourselves and were never cruel to them. Slavery is a reality of the world. If we tried to abolish the practice, it would cripple the economy and we would have a revolt on our hands. We'd be assassinated in our beds. But perhaps there could be some way, to encourage people to free their slaves. We'll have to think on the matter." Itachi says.

Sasuke shakes his head. That was Itachi's response to almost any serious question. "We'll have to think on the matter." He knew it was logical to weigh the consequences of your actions. Damn it all though, sometimes Sasuke just wanted a real answer.

"It seems we have a lot to think about." Sasuke says.

"Yes, we do. How are your injuries feeling?" Itachi asks in concern and looks Sasuke over from head to toe.

They had to be ready to run at a moment's notice. Sasuke wasn't in the condition to do that. Itachi knew that he could never leave his beloved baby brother behind, if it came down to it. He'd have to fight for them both.

"Sore. But better. I'm in no condition to fight or run though." Sasuke admits and Itachi nods.

Meanwhile elsewhere in Italy, Kabuto sighs. He pens a letter. Orochimaru would not be pleased when he found out the princes had escaped. Quite honestly, he feared for his own life when the Emperor found out. But he knew that if the Emperor discovered that they had fled before Kabuto told him, it would be an agonizing death. At least this way, if Orochimaru decided to kill him…it might be a quick one.

Dear Emperor Orochimaru,

I have regrettable news to inform you of. It is a long story, but your two favorite jewels have gone missing. I know not where they have gone. Only that a certain General and I were discussing their value when they left.

I do not think they will be found at his home, but I believe it is necessary to search the General's home anyway. Just to be thorough. I doubt they have gotten very far. One is badly cracked.

Your Faithful Servant, Kabuto

Kabuto sighs. He sends the letter off with a messenger. That was likely a dead messenger. So he had chosen one that he didn't particularly care for. There was no sense sending someone you liked to their death, after all.

"I swear I will become a better man, if you spare my life." Kabuto kneels in the Temple of Jupiter.

Perhaps the King of the Gods would hear his prayer. He might even answer it. He was known to be more merciful than many other Gods. Perhaps because the King of the Gods was an Immortal who engaged in many less than virtuous behaviors himself?

Jupiter was a well known adulterer. While Kabuto's list of sins was long, that wasn't one that he had committed. He had never married. The silver haired man didn't see the need to. No one else would ever compare to the Emperor for him. He had dedicated his life in service to the man who had saved him from slavery and helped him rise to the very top of Roman Society.

Perhaps that was why he went so easy on the Uchiha brothers until now. They were a mirror image of him. Their situations were completely opposite. He could not imagine ever becoming a slave again, after he had known the sweet taste of freedom.

"Please, I beg of you to answer my prayer." He whispers and blows out the candle before returning to his room.

His bedchambers were nothing short of grand. Such luxury was enough to make even the most wealthy of nobles blush at the sheer vanity. But then again, the Emperor had always spoiled him.

He hoped that continued to be the case. Unfortunately, Sasuke and Itachi had just made life very difficult for him. His position was now extremely fragile. If anyone were to find out their true identities, it would not end well for his Lord.

"We'll simply have to catch them before that happens." He mutters.

Truly, Kabuto was at a loss for why Orochimaru hadn't killed the boys along with their parents. Orochimaru had once said because there was no greater insult that he could give his "dearly departed brother," than to make his sons slaves. The silver haired man had never questioned it again. Who was he to question the will of the Emperor?

He decides to retire for the night. It would take at least two days for that letter to get to Orochimaru and two days for him to give a response of any kind. For now, he decided to get his rest. It would only make things worse if he was exhausted while he faced the Emperor's wrath.

The next morning, Temari was going for a stroll in her husband's vineyard. She blinks when she came across an unusual sight. Two handsome men were laying next to each other, slumbering or perhaps dead.

"The Gods and Goddesses choose to send me two handsome men, AFTER I marry? That's not very fair!" She looks up at the sky as if expecting them to respond to her declaration, hearing nothing she checks to see if they had a heartbeat. She sighs in relief when she discovered they did.

"HUSBAND!" Temari calls out and soon Shikamaru races towards her.

"What is it? Why are you yelling at this hour, woman? The birds aren't even up yet." He mutters.

She points to the brothers. Shikamaru's eyes widen. He'd never seen them before, but the younger one looked to be in pretty bad shape.

"Is the smaller one still alive?" He asks.

"Yes, their hearts still beat true." The blonde answers him.

"Well let's get them inside. It's probably not a good idea to leave them lying out here in the hot Sun like this all day." He says and calls for some workers to carry the brothers inside their home.

The brothers wake a few minutes afterwards. Clearly, they recognized that they were no longer in side. Both faces were now adorned with panic.

"Relax. We aren't going to hurt you. I assume from your clothes and the beating you took, that you are both runaway slaves." Temari says, addressing Sasuke first.

Sasuke couldn't really deny that. It was rather obvious what they were. At least she didn't seem to recognize them. They didn't seem angry. Maybe they could somehow survive this.

"Yes." He answers in a whisper.

"Slavery is such an horrid practice. Unfortunately, Rome is built on it. So I don't see it going away anytime in the near future. I take it your Master was rather cruel." Shikamaru observes.

Itachi watches the couple warily. So far they seemed friendly enough, but he had lived enough summers to know that looks could be very deceiving. Never judge a book by its cover.

"That wouldn't be an inaccurate description." Itachi concedes as that much was written all over Sasuke's skin.

"If you like you can stay here till you recover or even longer. You both look strong. Though he looks like he'll take a few days before he could even think about working in the fields." Temari says.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asks hesitantly.

"I am Temari and this is my husband, Shikamaru. We own this vineyard. Well we own several actually. But this is our primary home." She explains.

Shikamaru nods. That was indeed true. The vineyards were Temari's dowry. His family was made up primarily of wealthy merchants. The match had been advantageous and a love match. Not many people could truly say that these days. (Or at least this was Shikamaru's opinion.)

"I am Sasuke and this is Itachi." He tells them.

Itachi and Sasuke had become very popular Roman names after their birth. So Sasuke figured it was safe to use their real names. That way they'd be less likely to slip up and forget their fake ones.

"Well met. Do think on our offer. Will you be staying for the day and night at least?" Shikamaru asks.

"We will and look forward to repaying your kindness." Itachi answers smoothly.

Itachi would have made such a wonderful Emperor, Sasuke thought to himself. His manners had always been impeccable naturally. He had always excelled in his etiquette classes.

"There is no repayment necessary. Though we could always use more help in the fields. The vineyard is rather large. There is always so much work to be done. We were thinking about hiring more laborers anyway." She admits.

Sasuke tilts his head. Hiring laborers? That was odd. Most vineyards were tended to by slaves. It was certainly cheaper to pay a one time lump sum for a slave than to pay laborers.

"I can see you are wondering why we aren't just going to buy more slaves instead." Shikamaru notes in amusing.

"Far be it for me to question how you choose to run your household when you have shown us nothing but kindness." Sasuke murmurs respectfully.

"It's a logical question. In the long run, laborers are better. They are more loyal and healthier if you pay them well. Plus you don't have to worry about them trying to run away or kill you if bad blood develops, nearly as much." He adds with a chuckle.

Sasuke and Itachi look at each other. Well they couldn't argue with that logic. And why would they want to? They were free and being offered a place to stay. Things were finally looking up for the Uchiha brothers.

"Of course if you don't desire to work in the fields, with those handsome faces of yours, I'm certain my friends would quite enjoyed being served their meals by you." Temari says with a smile.

"That is a generous offer. I shall have to discuss it with my brother and then we can give you an answer." Itachi says with a smile.

Shikamaru tilts his head and looks at them. Yes, they did look similar. He was surprised he didn't notice it before. Brothers then, interesting. Well that implied a certain degree of loyalty. Likely they were a matching set.

"In any case, I imagine you could both due with a hot bath and a good meal." Shikamaru says.

"That is most generous and kind of you to offer. Yes, but we wouldn't want to burden you." Sasuke says.

"Oh it's not a burden. You are so sweet. Come I'll show you two where the baths are." Temari says, walking off, and the Uchiha brothers follow her curiously.

Sasuke notes that Temari and Shikamaru were certainly wealthy. While not as grand as the public baths of Rome, it was certainly close. He wondered what position Shikamaru had that merited a with who possessed such a glorious dowry. He decides it didn't matter. Though it did get him thinking, what would his wife have been like.

She would have had to come from royal or at least noble blood. He knew that much. Her family would be fabulously wealthy. That was also a given. She would have been educated. Likely she would have been extremely pampered and spoiled though. Probably beautiful and dreadfully dull.

"Naruto wasn't dull." He murmurs to himself.

Unbeknownst to him, Temari heard that. She blinks. The runaway slave knew Naruto? Well maybe it was a different Naruto. Still she decided she would have to ask the blonde Senator about this later.

"Well here you are. Please enjoy." She says with a smile.

"Thank you. We will repay you. I promise you that." Itachi says and the two brothers shut the door behind them, enjoying the comfort that the warm bath provided.

"I like it here." Sasuke says.

"Perhaps we should just stay." Itachi suggests.

"Perhaps. We'll think on it." He says with a smirk and splashes Itachi with the water and for the rest of the day, they played as they once did while they were children in the Royal Baths.