Slaves to Love

"You think that you're sneaky." Kakashi hears a woman say.

He raises an eyebrow. The silver haired man was still dressed as Manda. It was rare for a woman to have the nerve to approach him, who wasn't employed at the brothel. He was perhaps the most well known assassin in Rome, after all.

"I beg your pardon, Miss?" He asks.

"I was at the battle with Orochimaru. I know that you took the kill shot and ran off. You ran off without taking any credit for what you did. The Emperor and Prince owe you. I don't see why you don't let them know this. Of course, if you are too scared to do so, I could do it for you." She says with a sly smile.

Kakashi slams her against the wall. He had his hand wrapped around her pretty throat almost faster than she could blink. He was surprised when the brunette didn't flinch.

"You're rather brave to threaten an assassin so boldly. That or perhaps you wish to die. So which is it?" He demands.

He glanced at her. There was no denying the woman was beautiful. Long brown hair, warm eyes that were a lighter shade of the same color, and purple makeup across her cheeks. She was wearing a lavender toga that she filled out rather well with her womanly curves.

The dress was too clean to be that of a "working woman." It was far too elegant to belong to a slave, but not nearly as fine as that of a noblewoman. If he had to guess, he would say she was likely either a merchant's daughter or married to one.

"I suppose it's a little of both. My name is Rin. It occurs to me that you are in a position to curry favor with the brothers. You could use it to get a ship. You could become a pirate for the crown. I could go with you. It was my idea after all. Unless you would prefer to spend the rest of your days at this brothel. Most men would be fine with that, but I don't think you are one of them." She says.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow. The woman spoke as if she knew him. It was likely she had been watching him for awhile. He was a bit disturbed that someone had been observing him, without his knowledge. Still her boldness amused him.

"Well Rin, I have to admit that is an intriguing idea. But why would a woman such as yourself want to become a pirate? Do you not know what happens to the only women on pirate ships? If anything, your fate would be even worse than if you were to become employed at this brothel. Your clothing denotes you as being someone with a fairly comfortable lifestyle, why would you desire to take such a gamble?" He inquires.

Rin bites her lower lip. He hadn't outright dismissed her. That was a good sign. Still she knew this was a make or break moment. She hoped he would listen and not just laugh at her.

"My father wishes to marry me off to a man that I find detestable. I would rather be a pirate than his wife. If you do not agree, I will simply run away. If he catches me, I'll take my own life. I will never willingly marry that man." She practically growls.

"How old are you? Surely at least 25 summers, maybe 30? How are you not already married?" The assassin asks, generally curious.

It was not unusual to see women married by their 16th summer. Sometimes they were married even before that. It was almost unheard of for a woman not to be married by the time she hit twenty, especially not one as beautiful as Rin.

"I'm 29 summers. I'm also a widow. I have been married before. This would be my second marriage. I didn't care for my last husband either. He was…not a very kind man. I was his third wife. The other wives never made it to 29 summers." She informs him.

Kakashi considers this. Rin hadn't come out directly and said it, but it was implied. She had killed him before he could kill her. This was a very dangerous woman. She didn't have the eyes of a killer, so he knew it had been self-defense. Still he wasn't certain how wise going into such a partnership with her would be.

He didn't really have to indulge her. There was a very good chance if she went to the Emperor or the High Prince with her accusations, they would dismiss them as the rantings of a madwoman. Even if they didn't, he would make sure the brothers would have an extremely difficult time finding him. And yet, he couldn't deny that it was an intriguing offer. He'd never met a woman who was outrageous bold in a way that wasn't sexual before.

"I know that I will likely come to regret this, but I shall accept your business proposal." He tells says as he releases her and Rin smiles.

It was at that moment that Kakashi knew that he was in trouble. Her smile was even more brilliant than the Sun itself. Damn it. What had he just gotten himself into?

Back in the castle, Gaara was visiting with his sister and her husband. It had been a long time since he last saw them. He couldn't deny that it brought his heart great joy to see both of them. It truly did.

"Well it looks like the Gods and Goddesses most certainly favor you all. It's truly a fantastic tale. I still can naught believe you managed to defeat Orochimaru and your lover is the Emperor." Shikamaru observes with open astonishment.

"Yes, I have a hard time believing it as well. But it is true. Sure as the Sun rises, it is true." The red head says.

His sister's belly was round with her first child. He was going to be an uncle soon. Idly, he wonder if it would be a boy or a girl. Gaara knew that a male would be considered the most advantageous, an heir. But his brother-in-law and sister claimed they would be overjoyed as long as the child was healthy.

The Senator had always considered that a cop out. Everyone had a preference. They were lying, if they said they didn't. But he allowed them to get away with what he viewed as a white lie.

"Where is the Emperor?" Temari asks.

"Oh he's meeting with another Senator. He should be along shortly. Temari, you should sit. You are due soon. You don't want to overexert yourself." Gaara says and she nods, sitting down.

Shikamaru just gapes at them. How did he do that? Every time that he told his beloved wife to take easy, she protested. Yet when Gaara asked the very same thing, she sat down without compliant.

Honestly, women could be very troublesome and maddening sometimes! He would never understand them. Shikamaru knew he could live to be 100 summers and still never understand them. He swore it by the Gods and Goddesses.

"Of course. I suppose an Emperor's duties are never done. Are things still going well between you and your lover?" Temari asks.

"Very well. His presence in my life is a blessing from the Gods and Goddesses. Naruto also seems deliriously happy with Sasuke. Though they fight like cats and dogs half the time. I begin to suspect that it is a very strange form of foreplay honestly." He muses.

Shikamaru rubs the back of his head sheepishly. He really didn't need to think of the High Prince and Naruto in such compromising positions. The lazy Roman much preferred women to men when it came to who he took to his bed. Shikamaru supposed that mattered little though. Since marrying Temari, she was his only lover. He loved her and he knew that if he even looked at another woman, she would likely cut off his manhood. As he very much would like to keep his manhood intact, he didn't take any chances.

"Have you discovered what happened to Danzo?" Shikamaru asks and Gaara shakes his head.

"Itachi is going to declare him dead soon. I am just tying a few loose ends in the Senate before he does so." The red head admits.

Temari nods. She knew enough about the inner workings of the Senate to realize that Danzo's death would leave an opening. The other Senators would jockey for a chance to increase their influence. Bad things happened when power struggles happened in the Senate. It was wise to make sure everything was settled before telling them the truth.

Well at least they thought it was the truth. No one had actually found a body yet. Without a body, there was still a chance he was alive. It was a slim chance, but still possible. After all, the princes had come back from the "dead" after being gone for ten years. Anything was possible.

Elsewhere in Rome, Sasuke and Naruto were at the Arena. Both of them were sitting in the stands and watching a fight. The younger Uchiha knew that it was important the public see him and Itachi out amongst them as often. Public opinion could be their greatest weapon, if a power struggle broke out in the Senate.

That and Naruto did enjoy the matches. He supposed that you could take the soldier off of the battlefield, but you couldn't take the battlefield out of the soldier. Sasuke didn't mind indulging his blonde in this fashion. He smiles as he watches Naruto enjoy the match.

"They fight well." Sasuke observes, knowing that he was expected to make some sort of comment on the match.

"Are you even watching the fight?" Naruto asks.

"Do you want me to speak truly?" The Prince replies and avoids the blonde's piercing gaze.

Naruto shakes his head in amusement. Well Sasuke was Sasuke. If he wasn't involved in the fight, apparently he had very little interest in it. He knew that he had a killer instinct, but he didn't seem to enjoy the sport fighting. Well at least not when he wasn't the one trading blows.

"Yes, I do prefer you to speak truly. There's not much point in you talking, if you are only going to lie." He states.

"I've barely done more than glance at them. Your reactions to their fight is far more entertaining than the actual battle." Sasuke says and squeezes his lover's hand.

The crowd was far more interested in the match than them at the moment. Sasuke thought he could get away with the display of affection. While homosexuality was largely accepted, it was something that was more of a private thing. There had certainly been Emperors who had male lovers, but they hadn't made an effort to throw it in the faces of the public.

It was something that was whispered about, not something that was shown outside of the palace walls or the privacy of intimate gatherings. He supposed it was for the best. If he let Naruto kiss him, he'd probably try to ravish him with the entire Arena watching them. It was Naruto.

"Bad Nymph. What is the point of you taking me to a match, if you aren't even going to pay attention?" He asks.

"It's important to be seen in the public and I know you enjoy such things. I don't really understand why. Don't you get enough of fighting on the battlefield?" Sasuke requires.

"It's fun. It's exciting. Look how the crowd enjoys it." The blue eyed Roman argues.

"I'm glad they enjoy it. I don't dislike it. It just doesn't hold my attention nearly as much as you do." Sasuke says with a shrug.

Suddenly the crowd was calling out. Sasuke mentally gulps. Damn it. Itachi wasn't here. So it fell to him to decide whether the loser lived or died. He hadn't been paying attention to know if he had put up a good fight or not.

The shouts of the crowd were too loud to really decipher. It was impossible for him to tell if more of the crowd wanted him to be spared or killed. He looks at Naruto helplessly.

"Spare him." Naruto whispers and Sasuke nods, holding his thumb up.

The man was spared and he snuck off with his favorite blonde. That was the last match of the evening. After that, the lions would be brought out. Their presence wasn't required for that.

"You know next time, maybe I won't let you know what you should do. You really should pay more attention." Naruto says as they walk off.

"Your beauty distracted me." Sasuke says with a smirk and darts off.

That worked like a charm. Naruto took off after him. Damn Naruto was as fast as one of the lions that were now being brought out into the Arena. Amazing really.

"That's hypocritical considering how much you protest when I call you beautiful, My Nymph." He says as he pushes him against the wall.

"How do you like it when the sandal is on the other foot?" Sasuke demands with a smirk.

"I really should take you back to our bedchambers and smack that ass of yours for being a naughty nymph." Naruot warns him.

"Promises. Promises." Sasuke says with a smile and wraps his arms around the other man's neck, kissing him.

Naruto smiles and kisses back. Gods and Goddesses, he loved this man. He loved him more than anything. Though he knew that if he wanted to steal more than a kiss, he was going to have to take his Nymph somewhere more private.

Meanwhile back in the castle, Itachi was speaking with Sai. He blinks in surprise. Well he certainly hadn't expected this.

"You want my blessing to marry Ino?" The Emperor asks curiously and the former gladiator nods.

"Well I don't see why not. If you wish to marry a servant girl, that is your concern. It doesn't impact me in the slightest and you did help us win the battle. Very well. You have my blessing." Itachi replies.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sai says with a creepy smile and bows before the true Emperor of Rome.

Itachi nods. He still didn't know what Sai's game was. He doubted that the other man had helped them for purely benevolent reasons. Still he hadn't actually done anything wrong since the final battle, he would indulge him and bless the marriage.

"She is quite pretty. You are fortunate to have won her hand in marriage. May the Gods and Goddesses bless your union with much happiness and many children." Itachi offers.

It was a standard congratulations when you became engaged in Rome. He might not fully trust Sai, but there was no reason to be rude to the man. After all, he had helped them defeat Orochimaru.

"Thank you. May the Gods and Goddesses protect you and your brother and bless your reign." The dark haired man replies.

"You're welcome. Well I expect you shall be wanting to depart to inform her of the good news. You are dismissed." Itachi tells him and Sai darts off.

Itachi chuckles. He heads off to find his own lover. He smiles when he found his favorite red head speaking with his sister and brother-in-law.

"Emperor." Temari and Shikamaru greet him and bow deeply to show respect to their ruler.

"Lord Shikamaru, Lady Temari, Gaara. You are glowing, My Lady. I do hope your pregnancy has been an easy one." He greets them all and reaches out his hand for his lover.

"As easy as one can ever be." Temari informs him and Itachi nods sympathetically.

He did sincerely hope it. Gaara was rather excited about becoming an uncle. Mostly though, he wanted to get his favorite Senator alone.

"It's late, my love. I have finished all my obligations for the day. Come and lay with me?" He asks and extends his hand for Gaara to take.

"I would be honored. Good night, sister. Good night, Shikamaru." The wealthy Roman says, takes Itachi's hand, and walks off with him.

Gaara smiles as they walk down the halls. It was a miracle. Every day was a miracle. By all rights, they should both be dead. Yet, here they were walking the castle halls together, hand in hand.

"What did the Senator want?" He asks curiously.

"He wanted my blessing for his marriage. Sai desires to marry Ino. I saw no reason to deny it." Itachi states offhandedly.

Gaara got the impression that the request had mattered little to the Emperor. It probably did. Sai had settled into his position of a Senator rather well. No one wanted to argue with a man who smiled in such a creepy way. (The fact that he was a train killer, probably also played a role.)

"Oh good. I wish them happiness." He says politely.

"I suppose so. It is an unusual match. But then again, Sai is an unusual man. So it's likely a good one." Itachi observes.

"OWE! Damn you, woman!" Suigetsu hisses down the hall.

The Emperor and Senator sigh. Karin and Suigetsu certainly fought worse than Romans and Barbarians sometimes. Idly, they wandered what the spat was about this time.

"You pervert! You tried to peek on the ladies bath again!" Karin growls at him.

Oh so that's what it was about. Gaara and Itachi try their best not to laulgh at the situation. It was difficult though. Jugo's exasperated head shaking, only added to the comedic aspect of the strange scene.

"How long have they been at it?" Gaara whispers to the large man.

"Several sundial turns now. They almost never stop, if they aren't asleep. I fear my ears will start bleeding soon." He sighs.

Itachi decides to take pity on the gentle giant. He walks over to the quarreling pair. Immediately, their fighting stops. Neither of them wanted to draw the ire of the new Emperor. (They weren't stupid.)

"Karin, I shall speak to Suigetsu about his voyeuristic habits. They are after all, most inappropriate. But please stop making such a spectacle of yourself and beating him. It is most unbecoming of a lady." Itachi says.

They both just nod dumbly. Jugo could only watch enviously. Itachi's ability to corral them was truly amazing. It must be a gift from the Gods and Godesses.

He had known the two of them for years. Yet, they would always continue to bicker despite his best efforts. Itachi barely had to say a word and they were suddenly well behaved children again.

"Excellent. Come, my love." Itachi says as he leads Gaara back to their room.

"You will make a wonderful father one day. You are very skilled at scolding, without sounding too angry." The red head muses.

Itachi chuckles. He shakes his head in amusement and kisses his lover. Gaara meant it as a compliment, but right now Itachi only wanted to spend time with his red head. Everything else was completely irrelevant.

"You are far too kind. How are things in the Senate?" He whispers and places gently kisses along the other man's collarbone.

Gaara sighs in contentment. He treasured these moments. The moments when they were alone and could just ignore the outside world completely. Here Itachi wasn't the Emperor and he wasn't a Senator. They were just two men very much in love.

"I'd rather not talk about the Senate now. Suffice to say that I don't believe Rome is any danger of burning down at the moment. Though I am in dire need of your touch." He says with a smile.

"You're right. No more talk of work." Itachi says with a smile and kisses the wealthy Roman.

Gaara returns the kiss happily. He wraps his legs around the other man's waist. They both moan at the contact.

He was sure that Venus herself had designed Itachi just for him. No one could tell Gaara differently. He was everything he wanted and more.

"I do love you. You know if I had my way, we would almost never leave these chambers." Itachi informs him and slides his hands underneath Gaara's toga.

"I know. I feel the same way. But Rome needs their Emperor too much for that too happen. I suppose I shall just have to learn to share you with the world. I dislike doing so, but I know it is the right thing to do." He muses.

Itachi smiles and glides his hands over the muscular planes of his lover's chest. He always reveled in the power he felt underneath his fingertips. His strength was exciting to him.

"You are rather generous. I'm sure that Rome thanks you for your great sacrifice." He states in a mock somber tone.

"As the empire should." Gaara agrees and flips them so that he was on top.

Their relationship was one of equals. Sometimes Itachi would take him. Other times the red head would ravish his lover until dawn's early light. It mattered little to them. Making love was glorious, no matter who was in charge.

Gaara laces his fingers with Itachi's. Their hands even fit together perfectly. Truly, they were made for each other.

"Don't tempt me to just lock the door and forget the rest of the world." Itachi warns him.

"Well Sasuke could always be Emperor if you did. I'm certain he would make a fine Emperor. Though Naruto would be rather cross with me. He wouldn't take kindly to having to share Sasuke with the rest of Rome so often." The red head observes.

Itachi chuckles. That much was true. He had never met a man more possessive than Naruto. He had thought Gaara was overprotective, but Naruto took it to a completely different level.

"Oh yes, I can see the conversation now. Brother, will you rule Rome in my stead? I would rather spend the rest of my days in bed with my lover. Yes, I knew that you would understand. Thank you." Itachi chuckles.

"That conversation sounds perfectly reasonable to me." The Senator states.

"What am I ever going to do with you? You tempt me far too much." Itachi asks.

Gaara had no problem showing Itachi exactly what he could do with him. .The rest of the night passed in a blissful haze of passion. Both men were rather impressed at how strong the bed was.

After another magnificent round of lovemaking, they collapsed in each other's arms. They soon fell asleep. When the morning came, both men were startled to learn that they weren't the only people in their room. A man wearing a mask and a rather cloak had slipped in.

"Good morning, Your Highness. I did not mean to startle you. I am just here to collect on the debt I am owed. You see, I was the one who shot the arrow that allowed you to defeat Orochimaru." Manda says.