Chapter 3
Pregnancy of the alpha female has a pronounced effect upon the subordinates of a Jinchuuriki pack, a phenomenon widely observed and, as of yet, poorly understood. Whether an effect of pheromones or an accessory effect of the Jinchuuriki's own emotion via the psychosomatic effects of the thrall, noticeable behavioral changes are widely recognized. While female subordinates often exhibit a marked increase in nurturing behavior and general agreeability, males are more socially problematic. Obsessively vigilant, the subordinates of a male Jinchuuriki sleep little and exhibit increasingly aggressive territorial behavior. The hyper-protective response of male subordinates is known as the "Fire Sleep" in some parts of the world and is largely understood to be a time of great uncertainty. Villagers mainly seek to avoid the holdings of Jinchuuriki and approach the female with care and delicacy, some even going as far as to leave offerings to her as peace tokens. The fire sleep is recognized by all as an un-ideal time for the addition of new members to the pack as violence among male subordinates is not uncommon.
Koumyuo Sanzo, Lives and Habits of Far Eastern Demons
Sasuke walked through the silent woods, the snow falling softly like a shroud around him, the gray of dawn barely painting the sky with light. Snow fell, covering the forest in a numbing white curtain, muffling all noises. Sasuke's breath plumed before him and he was trying to move quickly, but his leg seemed lost amongst the snow. He slipped, fell, rose and continued on. A deep and awful sense of urgency nagged at his soul, but he could only move one step, one step in a breath, so slow. The light was glowing purple in the east and with each agonizingly slow step, Sasuke felt as though the drifts were only dragging him down further. The snow was deep, chest deep now and moving through it was so slow, too slow. There was a clearing ahead and Sasuke groaned with the effort. He had to reach the place between the trees, he had to get there before…before… The trees arched, naked and dark towards the sky like mourners at a funeral as he moved, almost crawling, toward the place between the trees. The skeletal branches tortuous and sharp, dragged at his clothing. Sasuke struggled, snarling in frustration as he watched a cloud of black crows rise from the clearing. They wheeled, stark against the morning sky.
"No…" He whispered.
"Yes. Of course." Itachi said from behind him.
The elder Uchiha was dressed in his black and red Akatsuki robe, his long tail of ebony hair flowing languidly in the snow. The deadly red sharingan eyes were half lidded and lazy even as they bled crimson onto the pallor of his cheeks. Itachi rested on top of the snow, pointed chin cupped arrogantly in his palms, one black nail held idly between his teeth. Lovely and mad and malicious, he surveyed Sasuke with twisted fraternal affection.
"You killed them…No…" Sasuke gasped, choking back a desperate sob.
"I had to, brother, you loved them too much. You loved them more than you loved me, naughty…" Itachi chuckled, waging one black tipped finger haughtily in front of Sasuke's face.
"I…I'm sorry…please…Ni-san…don't do it." Sasuke sobbed, his eyes wet with tears and sticky with blood.
"It's better Sasuke, now you have your vengeance, that is what matters…" Itachi said, smiling darkly.
"I don't want it! It don't want it! Please! Stop! Don't hurt them!" Sasuke begged.
"Too late little brother, too late. Come and see, it's gorgeous…" Itachi purred.
Suddenly Sasuke knelt in the clearing, the crows wheeling around him, the corpses black and grey in the icy morning light. There was blood everywhere, old blood, frozen now. Naruto's body lay, broken and torn, bound in the leather straps used for a demon extraction. His wrists were broken, the bones puncturing the grey skin, sharp and ugly. His face had been partly eaten by the birds, mauled and gory red, his blue eyes white and rotting in death. Sasuke whimpered and felt a cold sweat break over his skin. Sakura lay draped over Naruto's body, she was naked and her lovely hair had all been hacked away for jealousy or pure malice, an act too awful to comprehend. Sasuke shook his head, terrified. Frozen blood long past flowing coated her belly. The baby, oh god, the baby! Sasuke choked, feeling hot and cold at once, eyes bleeding. There were bruises on her throat, on her breasts, on her hips…
"No!" Sasuke shrieked. Itachi laughed.
"You're too late. They never even knew you loved them." Itachi said triumphantly.
"Our baby…?" Sasuke whispered.
"Hmmm…food for crows." Itachi replied.
"No…you didn't…I…I…killed you!"
"You were too late…" Itachi laughed merrily, like they were playing a game.
"I HATE you!" Sasuke shouted.
"You love me! You have to! Too late little brother…too late…"
"No! No! Naruto! Sakura! Please! No! No! NO! NOOOOOOOOOO!" Sasuke screamed.
He shrieked and thrashed, screaming, but something was being held over his mouth. Panicked and terrified, Sasuke shrieked, scratched, bit, but the hand was steady over his lips. Steady, but not tight. The fingers were not cruel, not cold like Itachi's would be. The hand against his face was calloused, warm and very familiar.
"Shhhhh! Shhhh! It's okay, it's just a dream, Teme. Just a dream. Shhhh! You're okay!" Naruto whispered urgently, trying to soothe him.
Sasuke slowed his struggling, allowing his surroundings to come into focus. The room was very dark and he was shaking and sweaty and cold, his heart racing so fast that his chest hurt. Naruto's fingers were gentle over his mouth, the warmth of the jinchuuriki's skin close and real. Sasuke sobbed, shaking. Naruto shushed some more and kissed his hair. Sasuke inhaled a deep breath filled with the warm, musky scent of Naruto. The jinchuuriki held him, blue eyes bright and alive and only an inch from his own.
"Hmmm…Sasuke, are you okay love?" Sakura asked sleepily, resting a hand against his shoulder.
Sasuke could barely breathe for sobbing he was so relieved. They were alive! Both of them, alive! He shook and let Naruto hold him together, let Sakura stroke his skin and hum and comfort him. Her hands were so soft, how was it that any ninja's fingers could be so soft? Sasuke pressed a desperate kiss against Naruto's throat to hear his alpha rumble and everything was real.
"Go back to sleep, baby, I know you're tired." Naruto whispered to Sakura.
"M' not, not really…" She mumbled.
"Uh huh, sure. Sleep now. Sasuke and I are going to sit up awhile." Naruto said, but Sasuke was fairly sure that Sakura had already fallen back asleep. She was exhausted.
"Come on, Teme. Let's have a bath." Naruto whispered cheerfully.
Sasuke didn't say anything, he didn't have to. Naruto picked him up as easily as one would a satchel of vegetables and carried him out into the hall in a quivering heap of limbs and blankets. Sasuke was still sobbing softly and fighting the urge not to scream simply because all of it had seemed so real and for a moment he had thought, was convinced, that they were dead. Naruto was making gentle, rumbling noises under his breath and Sasuke felt his tense muscles begin to relax. By Kami, was he so weak? Sasuke shuddered. The jinchuuriki held him as one would a frightened child and for once Sasuke had no objection, letting himself be pressed against the warm muscle of Naruto's chest. Weakness and strength were meaningless, so long as he had them, so long as his mates were alive, he could survive. They walked towards the bath and Sasuke finally felt the chill of the snow from that day, now years ago, begin to ease.
OoOoOoO
Naruto brushed his lips over the flushed skin of Sasuke's shoulders, feeling the other tremble against him in the hot water. The bath was hot and misty, intimate in a way the room never was in day time. Even though Sasuke had shared his bed for nearly three years, seeing the raven haired ninja so obviously agitated was rare. Sasuke Uchiha was a hard person, in many ways too hard, and he kept pain private if he could. Now he sat uneasily against Naruto's chest, startling at every sound, fingers nervously twitching beneath the water for a weapon. The jinchuuriki had not asked about the nightmare, but he could guess its content. The worst dreams were about his brother, Itachi, the brother Sasuke could not decide if he loved or loathed. Kakashi had said once that it was equal parts of both. Even in death, Itachi punished Sasuke for…something, some unseen sin committed in childhood, if the crime even existed at all. Naruto sighed, feeling stressed.
"Do you want to talk about it?" The jinchuuriki offered.
"Fuck off." Sasuke hissed softly.
"Don't be mean." Naruto chided, kissing the tense flesh of Sasuke's shoulders once again.
There was a private understanding between the three of them, a truth both he and Sakura had come to accept long ago, that Sasuke's words meant almost nothing. When the raven felt vulnerable, or frightened or embarrassed or almost any powerful emotion, he usually expressed the feeling with cruelty and anger. Naruto knew that it was a kind of defense, like a dog beaten too often that will bite even when stroked. Because Sasuke's touch and breathing and posture spoke of fear, Naruto ignored the barbs and continued his gentle kisses. The dark haired man made a noise half between a sob and a sigh, moving to grip Naruto's knee beneath the water. Despite his words, the darksome ninja made no effort to move out of Naruto's grasp, instead leaning into the affection.
Sensing that he wouldn't resist, Naruto moved Sasuke fully onto his lap and began stroking his hands down the smooth alabaster planes of the other ninja's chest. Like most Konoha ninja, Sasuke had very little body hair and his chest was nude and very white in the dim lights of the bath. His nipples, dusky pink, were soft in the heat and Naruto gently stroked the edge of his thumb over the tender peaks. Sasuke moaned a little and arched against the touch. The beauty of him took Naruto's breath away and he only regretted that Sakura was too tired to join them. His mates were lovelier together, but Sasuke needed him now, needed his entire attention. Naruto set his teeth gently against the trembling pulse point of Sasuke's pale throat, feeling his body swell with arousal at the half choked sound of Sasuke's submission. Naruto moved his hands lower, circling the raven's still flaccid penis, stroking his testicles gently.
There was something so intense and erotic about having his subordinate alone this way, spread over his thighs, quiet and totally absorbed in the love play. Having to break down deep psychological walls of mistrust and insecurity was something the jinchuuriki had come to take for granted. Making love to Sasuke while the man actually concentrated his ever meticulous mind on the sex was wholly new. Naruto felt his breath catch as Sasuke began fully responding to his caresses. The dark haired ninja trembled, the sculpted muscles of his belly growing taught as his body hardened. Sasuke gasped, his nervous fingers finally settling like bands of steel around the jinchuuriki's wrists. Naruto sighed in satisfaction and continued to stroke him, feeling the rigid column of his arousal grow beneath the water. The sight, smell, feel of him was intoxicating. Naruto licked the sensitive place behind Sasuke's left ear, nipping gently along the crest, breathing hard.
To his utter shock, Sasuke reversed his grip on Naruto's arms and turned completely to face him. The blond had a moment to stare into the black depths of his lover's eyes before Sasuke was kissing him hungrily. For a breath and then another, there was only nails and teeth and the muscular clashing of fevered bodies against one another. Naruto gasped, taken aback by the raven's boldness, before Sasuke's tongue surged awkwardly into his mouth. Unused to the receptive position in their love play, Naruto struggled to return the kiss and not to choke. The position was strange, startling and almost too forceful. Although Sasuke was still straddling his hips, the raven's greater height gave him greater maneuverability, allowing him to trap Naruto within the cage of his arms. Despite the initial spike of pointedly uncomfortable emotion in his chest, the jinchuuriki tried to relax and allow Sasuke to express his needs. Obviously, tonight he needed both affection and control. They had been lovers for years, but Sasuke had never quite acted this way before. His subordinate was not one to initiate any kind of erotic action, preferring to be taken and at least given the pretense of dignified resistance. After a few more rough kisses, frantic with some unspoken urgency, Sasuke retreated a fraction.
"You are here, with me, and you want to be?" He asked softly.
"Yes…" Naruto replied, confused.
"Never leave me." Sasuke hissed, lunging in and biting his lower lip hard.
Naruto winced, but accepted the violence for what it was, a savage attempt at seduction. Under the raven's sharp teeth, his lip flared bright and hot with pain and bled generously. Sasuke bit when he no longer knew what else to do, when the sensual emotion overcame his experience. The pain usually excited Naruto and he often wondered if there was something fundamentally wrong with his own mind or if Sasuke's strange habits had somehow trained him into a masochist. Tonight, however, the action frightened the blond and made little rivulets of chilly panic course down his spine. Despite his growing discomfort, Naruto pulled Sasuke closer, moving slightly to bare his throat. The gesture was not lost on his subordinate, whose dark eyes widened with surprise.
"Never." Naruto promised, as Sasuke moved to softly lick the blood from his face.
"Don't die."
"You know I can't promise that, Teme. We're ninja." Naruto whispered, stroking his face softly.
"I…I love you. I want you to know, I do." Sasuke whispered, moving suddenly to press his lips against Naruto's exposed neck.
"Sasuke…" Naruto breathed, eyes wide with shock.
"I do. I never said it…but I…I want you to know. I love you." Sasuke whispered against the flesh of Naruto's throat, so soft he was barely audible.
"I love you too, bastard. I always have." Naruto chuckled.
"You trust me. You do. How…how can you trust me?" Sasuke asked, voice rough with emotion.
"I know you." Naruto said simply.
"You know I'm dangerous."
"You are many things…many good things and some bad, but I love them all." Naruto whispered, shrugging.
Sasuke sighed and the sound was very close to a sob. The jinchuuriki moved his hands through Sasuke's ebony hair, rubbing comforting circles into the raven's scalp. Naruto let him take the time, the space to go through whatever it was he was feeling. Sasuke had never been very good with his emotions, either trying to bury the feelings or badly misinterpreting them. A long moment passed and Sasuke moved to grip Naruto's arms and kiss him again, this time less aggressively. For once, the raven was slow and gentle as he explored the inside of his alpha's mouth. Though very much against his nature, Naruto made his lips soft and submissive, trying to lean back and giving Sasuke his surrender. The behavior was hard, unnatural, but he made himself reverse their usual dynamic. If it was trust that Sasuke needed to be assured of, there was really nothing else he could do.
Lower lip caught hard and bleeding between his teeth, Sasuke released Naruto's arms and moved his hands in appreciative strokes over the blond's muscular chest. Gently, Naruto tipped his head up and licked at the blood dripping from Sasuke's mouth. Sasuke grunted, almost too soft to hear, and bent to kiss Naruto's nipples. The raven's lips were gentle and stimulating, though unpracticed, against the sensitive flesh. Naruto trembled, letting out a slow breath and moving his hands to rest on Sasuke's sculpted hips. Hands fitted over the perfect muscular globes of his subordinate's ass, Naruto felt heat return to his blood, chasing the strangeness away. Sasuke's eyes were warm pools of ink, fathomless behind the sooty curtain of his lashes as he met Naruto's gaze and moved against him. The feeling of Sasuke's hardened arousal against his own was deep and viscerally pleasurable, sensual in a way that action had never been before.
Sasuke writhed against him, shameless and assertive, pausing only press himself closer or to kiss Naruto's mouth. The kyuubi vessel groaned, unable to bite back the sound as Sasuke gripped his shoulder in order to achieve even greater leverage to grind against him. The dark haired ninja's hand moved around their erections beneath the water, pressing the rigid flesh together and achieving startlingly intense intimate friction. Naruto gasped, hands kneading the firm flesh of Sasuke's hips, mind a hot white blank filled with the wintery scent of his subordinate and nothing else. The raven straddled him, all white skin and soft black hair stuck in damp strands to his face in the misty humidity. The jinchuuriki had never seen anything so seductive and his jaw ached, tight with the effort of not releasing himself against the sheer perfection of Sasuke's undulating body.
Naruto's control over his own flesh was almost absolute, but with each graceful thrust Sasuke was testing his alpha's limits. The other ninja was practically climbing him, hips rocking in a needy rhythm against Naruto's sex, one hand braced on his shoulder and the other around his cock. The blond felt his teeth grow long and sharp as he strove to hold back, to avoid tangling his fingers in Sasuke's hair and taking his subordinate just as they were. They panted and trembled together, each balancing on a razor's edge of control. There was steel in Sasuke's touch and fire in his eyes and the combination was both glorious and terrifying at once.
Naruto brought a finger down to circle the tender pucker of Sasuke's anus and the raven moaned low and hungry at the touch. For once, Sasuke simply allowed the sound to roll into the misty air and there was no resistance in his body. The sound sent hot shivers through Naruto's flesh and for a breathless moment he could not hold back any more. Naruto clenched the hand poised at Sasuke's entrance into a fist to feel the prick of his own claws deep into the flesh of his palm, fighting hard for control. Naruto growled or whimpered, he was not sure which, trying to clear the scarlet haze from his vision. Sasuke settled into his lap, the raven's breath warm and sensual against his cheek. He wrapped an arm around Naruto's neck, cupping the blond's skull in his powerful fingers, pressing just enough to bruise. It was a killer's caress, startling and very dangerous, but the jinchuuriki held himself relaxed and tried to remain calm. With his other hand, Sasuke caught Naruto's fist and brought it to his lips, licking the captive digits and peeling them open one by one.
Naruto groaned, panting low into the warm vapor of the bath, eyes closed tight as Sasuke lathed his tongue over his fingers. The pale ninja's tongue was soft, patient, lapping wetly against the sensitive pads of the jinchuuriki's fingers, sucking up and down, up and down. The action was maddening. Naruto's heart was pounding and he knew that if he opened his eyes and looked into the smoldering depths of Sasuke's gaze, that his will would shatter. He could feel Sasuke smile smugly against his palm, nuzzling his hand affectionately and nipping the edge of his thumb. Naruto gasped.
"I want it. Do it." Sasuke whispered.
"You're ready?" Naruto asked softly, opening his eyes.
"You never asked before." Sasuke teased.
"Well…you're kinda freaking me out." Naruto admitted.
"Idiot."
Naruto sighed and finally allowed himself to take control, looping his arm around Sasuke's waist, pulling him close. He kissed Sasuke hungrily, hand moving to grip the other ninja's damp ebony locks tightly, pulling his subordinate's head to the side and exposing his neck. Sasuke shivered and made a teasing sound, a bit like a snarl and a laugh combined. Naruto moaned and sunk his teeth deeply into the juncture of the raven's neck and shoulder, pressing nearly hard enough to break the skin. Sasuke moaned, grinding hard against him. With his free hand, still warm from the sensual furnace of Sasuke's mouth, Naruto reached to the side of the tub and gathered a handful of Sakura's conditioner.
He spread the lubricant generously over the skin of Sasuke's entrance, holding the raven tightly in his arms as he moaned and thrashed against him. Naruto pressed a finger against the tight flesh, rubbing gently, the heat and water making Sasuke soft. By the gods, his body was so stimulating! Naruto's belly was tight and trembling with tension, his erection rigid and aching against the hard shaft of Sasuke's arousal. Sasuke sighed and relaxed against his fingers, his body trained by years of careful lovemaking, the muscles wise and responsive. Naruto groaned, eagerly slipping a slickened finger into the tight opening. He rubbed in a widening circle, strong and intentional, relishing the feeling of Sasuke's satiny, intimate skin against his finger. The raven groaned, panting hard and Naruto added another finger, kissing a searing line across his subordinate's chest.
Sasuke was eager, thrusting wantonly against his fingers and Naruto was on the edge again, aroused nearly beyond control. He added a third and Sasuke whimpered as his body accepted the larger invasion. Naruto found the electric place deep within and stroked the sensitive tissue, crying out along with his subordinate as Sasuke hissed in ecstasy. The jinchuuriki pressed hard, massaging Sasuke's prostate strongly. The raven arched his back, tears slipping unheeded from his eyes, lip tight in his teeth. He rode the ecstasy, trembling in its wake, and rose onto his knees.
Sasuke gripped Naruto's penis, positioning his hips carefully over the shaft, before sinking down. Naruto screamed, digging his claws hard into Sasuke's ass as the perfect, velvet vice of his lover's body closed over his own. For a moment, Naruto couldn't breathe around the heat, the molten pleasure of being inside him. Sasuke was pale with the pain, the sweat on his face shining in the dull lights. The water rippled as he quivered, trying to adjust to Naruto's size. Naruto panted hard, muscles cramping with the effort of remaining still. When Sasuke finally moved, there was no hesitancy, only the muscular surging of his hips and the sharp, exquisite pleasure of friction.
The water roared around them as Naruto surged up in maddened ecstasy and Sasuke fell against him, shrieking as the intimate ache was consumed by pleasure. Sasuke found a rhythm, moving up and down, hugging Naruto's face to his chest. Naruto kissed the flesh, cupping Sasuke's ass as they moved, letting the pleasure erase everything except his lover and the electric passion between them. The blond held the raven's hips, moving hard, but Sasuke used the leverage to gain control once again. He moved strongly, squeezing with his thighs and Naruto roared in frustration. They fought and loved in equal measure, pounding and screaming and once half drowning with the passion of it. Having Sasuke on top was new and intoxicating and confrontational in a way that wrung every ounce of passion from Naruto's soul. When he came it was with Sasuke's hands hard in his hair and his subordinate's teeth closed against his throat.
OoOoOoO
Hiashi sat uneasily on the wide wooden deck that surrounded the main house, staring at the moon as the glowing orb moved behind the clouds. The hour was late and once again he was forced to use the deepest part of the night to shield his family from the unfortunate and dark machinations of his position. Being a clan head meant making ruthless decisions, decisions that his soft hearted daughter would not understand. Regardless, something had to be done to gain control of the situation. Hinata had won the right to marry Kiba and the oni clan had begun to procreate. Hiashi had no delusions as to the quality of the foreign brat's offspring, even with his dirty blood. The sharingan would be passed to the child along with the considerable power of the fallen Uchihas and the Kyuubi itself. Such a catastrophe had to be prevented, especially if Hinata insisted upon weakening their own bloodline with a mating to Inuzuka.
Obviously the use of spies was no longer an option and, even worse, the Hyuuga clan was indebted to Uzumaki for Neji's life. Hiashi was grateful that his nephew had survived, but now circumstances had become delicate. The hokage would stay out of clan affairs, but she might intercede on Naruto's behalf if a debt was not repaid. Tsunade, the old bitch, would not hesitate to the problem to protect her pet monster. Once he had sought to use the malice of an old enemy to deal with the spawning nest of foreign demons festering in Konoha, but Madara had been too proud. Hiashi could not afford to make the same mistake. He had to be clever and, most of all, careful.
The shadows shifted and Hiashi was able to barely discern another presence beside him on the deck. He narrowed his eyes and listened, but heard nothing. The Hyuuga clan head smiled and gestured even as Suki melted from the shadows, her lithe body willowy and graceful.
"You are subtle as ever, Suki. Truly, you are my finest assassin." Hiashi whispered.
"Your praise is generous as ever, my lord." Suki replied, bowing low.
"We have a problem." Hiashi said, folding his arms.
"Uzumaki. He is now not only an enemy, but the holder of a considerable debt." Suki replied softly.
"Yes. Neji has survived and is recovering, thank Kami."
"Hmmm…A debt not easily settled." Suki sighed.
"No, but perhaps this too can be turned to our advantage." Hiashi mused.
"How?"
"There are certain gifts that will give us eyes within the demon's holdings, allow us to plan an assault."
"The Oni will be wary of such things." Suki argued.
"The creature is too sentimental, it will be his downfall." Hiashi replied.
"What is your plan?"
"I will offer Neji to him as a subordinate. Naruto cannot refuse without causing grievous insult." Hiashi explained, voice tight and angry. Suki was wisely silent for a breath and then another.
"How can you know that Naruto will not simply confine Neji in isolation? The practice is not uncommon in political marriages, or so I am told."
"The demon is blinded by devotion to his friends. He has already risked his life to save Neji and obviously thinks highly of my nephew. Eventually, he will allow Neji access to the information we need." Hiashi replied.
"With that kind of intelligence, we can mount a perfect strike…" Suki mused, sounding excited.
"If Naruto refuses the marriage, we attack to reciprocate the insult. To decline a peace offering of marriage would be the same as declaring war. If he accepts…well, we will have the intelligence we need. Either way, we are given legitimate cause to kill him or a perfect vector for eliminating him later." Hiashi said, voice cold with rage.
"Your plan is perfect, but…you seem hesitant…"
"The plan makes sense, but I do not like using my Neji in this capacity. He is not just a weapon." Hiashi said quietly.
"You said they are friends. He would be luckier in that respect that most forced into an arranged marriage…" Suki argued, her voice soothing.
"My nephew is not a whore."
"Neji is a ninja and seduction for the purpose of intelligence retrieval is something almost all ninja must do at least once. This is the same." Suki replied.
"You are wise, my Suki. I suppose you are right." Hiashi sighed.
"It is an elegant solution to our problem…or one problem. What of Kiba? Will you disown Hinata?" Suki asked.
"No. I will not give the Byukugan over to Inuzuka so easily and, at last, Hinata has proven that she has the capacity to be ruthless. I have no choice. Hinata will remain in line for leadership and the addition of one worthless son in law is little sacrifice to protect the Byukugan." Hiashi said, frowning.
"Especially because worthless sons in law tend to be prone to accidents." Suki agreed.
"True, though I think Inuzuka may come down with an unfortunate illness instead." Hiashi muttered.
"Poison…risky, it could be recognized." Suki whispered.
"Not if done slowly, carefully. Not if a few of the servants also fall ill. No one will suspect anything until far too late and by then they will not be able to prove foul play. I cannot risk waiting for an appropriate moment for an accident and end up with weak-blooded grandchildren." Hiashi said tightly.
"I will begin immediately then."
"Excellent. I expect Inuzuka to be arriving here soon once the marriage agreement is finalized. Deal with him quietly, Suki. Hinata must never know." Hiashi ordered.
"Of course." Suki promised, melting again into the shadows.
OoOoOoO
Sai sipped his tea and idly drew in his sketchbook, letting the buzzing hum of conversation in the tea house soothe him. He had not been sleeping well and the mild caffeine provided by the green tea had only been enough to make him feel both jittery and exhausted. Sai had hoped that Tsunade-sama would have assigned him another mission by now, but the Hokage apparently thought he needed a rest. She had put him on leave for a period yet undetermined. He wondered if Shino might have had something to do with the Hokage's decision and felt a vague flicker of…something…at the thought. The bug loving ninja had as much as told him that he was a 'nervous wreck' and 'unfit for duty' but Sai had not really known what Shino meant and so largely ignored him. Perhaps ignoring his friend had been a mistake.
Sai sighed and gazed down at the fine pad of paper beneath his hands to the drawing he had been sketching without looking. He had drawn her. Again. Sakura's smiling face, a sadly imperfect rendering at best, smiled up at him from the paper. Even a as a bare shadow of the actual person, the drawing was so very appealing. He loved drawing Sakura and Naruto, even more than he loved drawing the stars, though he tried to avoid the impulse because the act often made his chest hurt. The stars were safe and distant, but she was just as beautiful. Today he had drawn her with her hand half pulled through her long hair, her expression both gleeful and shy. If only he had brought paints, he might have given the portrait some color and color with Sakura was so very important. Sai had once called her ugly because Danzo had told him that she was, and he did not think to question him…but something had changed. One day Sai had discovered that her hair was a color he had never actually seen before, a color so rich and bright and glittery at once that he could not at first comprehend the sight.
The color was one he had never seen in nature and only once in a rare and shiny stone worn around the throat of a Daimyo's wife. The contrast of the shining, sparkly pink hair with her clear green eyes was striking, certainly not ugly. Poor Danzo must have been color blind, Sai mused. Though he had missed it too, her rare beauty, he had not been used to looking for color in a person before. In the monochromatic black and white of the graphite, Sakura was just a girl, but in real life…in true color…The paints would have been a waste, he never would have been able to replicate the shade anyway. Perhaps he should draw Naruto. The jinchuuriki was easier, though the smile was difficult. Naruto said so much with a smile. The jinchuuriki could smile and forgive or insult or apologize or even love…
Sai groaned. His chest hurt again, dammit. He raised his hand and ordered a cup of mint tea to soothe the ache. Sometimes it helped. The waiter nodded to him and rushed off to fill the order, leaving Sai alone with his smiling portrait. Then, almost like another waking dream, he heard her.
"I'm tired and it's too hot! I need a break! Let's have some tea." Sakura whined.
"You can't have tea. Caffeine is bad for the baby. Let's just go home." Sasuke said, sounding grouchy.
"Ahhh! Sasuke, come ooooonnnn! I'll just have some mint tea!" She groaned.
"We can stop for tea, what's the big hurry? Going out to the market was supposed to be fun!" Naruto laughed.
"It isn't safe out here." Sasuke hissed.
"We'll be fine, Teme. No one is planning an ambush at the tea house. We could all use some tea, you especially. You need to relax." Naruto said and Sasuke grumbled something unintelligible.
"Naruto! Sakura!" Sai shouted, waving wildly and startling several other customers.
"Hey Sai!" Naruto said, smiling in a way that said he was glad for an excuse to be done arguing with Sasuke.
"Hello, Sai. I haven't seen you in a while." Sakura said, looking hot and a little sick.
"Sasuke, you remember Sai…" Naruto said.
The raven haired ninja raised an eyebrow and looked at Sai as if he wished he were somewhere else. Sai smiled and extended his hand as Shino had shown him how to do when making a friend. Sasuke looked at the appendage like he wanted to break it and Sai smiled, because the other man was a little frightening and that emotion was at least easy to understand. Sai decided that he would draw Sasuke next. The black of his eyes and his hair against the smooth white skin was very interesting and he could probably do it in black and white. Sasuke had an interesting face, it was elegant and harmonious, much like the thin white china that they made in Suna. He was appealing too, though not like Naruto, not at all the same.
"Nice to see you again. You really are beautiful." Sai said, smiling.
"Excuse me?" Sasuke said, dark eyes becoming wide and red.
"Ah! Don't worry Sasuke, Sai didn't mean anything by it! He's just a little awkward around people…" Naruto hedged frantically, trying to simultaneously pull a chair out for Sakura to sit and head off violence from his subordinate.
"Oh. You are the retarded one then." Sasuke said, crossing his arms.
"No. I rank in the 98th percentile in intelligence." Sai replied, unperturbed.
"Clearly."
"Sasuke! Don't be nasty!" Sakura chided, smiling gratefully at Naruto.
"Tch. You have disturbing friends." Sasuke said, moving to sit beside Sakura.
"You are not one to judge." Sakura said, poking him in the ribs.
Sasuke frowned, but remained silent, looking around the tea shop carefully as if he was expecting some kind of attack. So, he wanted to protect her. That, at least was something that Sai could understand and relate to a little. Naruto had taught him about the powerful desire to protect one's comrades. The idea was subtle, but very important and the simple truth of it had changed Sai's entire life. He smiled and, for once, the expression fell naturally onto his face. He moved to sit by Naruto, getting as close as the chair would allow. Naruto smiled and the smile said 'you are too close again, but it's okay' so Sai stayed where he was.
"Wow! Sai! This is…um…wow." Sakura said, catching sight of the drawing.
"Oh…yes…" Sai whispered lamely, trying to cover the paper.
As usual, however, Sakura would not be deterred and grabbed the sketchbook deftly from his hands. Sai felt something shoot sharp and a little nauseas through his gut. The sensation was a bit like the fear he felt looking at Sasuke, but worse somehow. Naruto looked at him and his blue eyes were very deep, too close, looking at everything. Sakura gazed at her portrait, a hand held over her mouth in what Sai could only guess was shock.
"You made me look so…pretty." She whispered.
"You are prettier in real life. I did not have any colors." Sai whispered, heart beating too fast, mouth dry.
"I…I…thought…You said I was ugly…" Sakura said, her face pale and startled.
"Danzo must have been color blind." Sai replied, shrugging.
"What? I'm confused." Naruto replied, rubbing his temple.
"Look at this portrait! It's amazing!" Sakura said, pointing to the paper.
Naruto took the sketchbook from her, smiling in a way that said he was worried. The jinchuuriki's eyes became very wide and Sasuke moved like he was going to lunge across the table to see, but Sakura firmly grabbed his wrist. Naruto swallowed.
"It's beautiful…" He whispered.
"Why are you drawing my wife?" Sasuke snarled, his eyes angry red sharingan swirls.
"I don't know. I just do." Sai replied, fake smile like glue on his face.
"It's okay. We were teammates. Sai is an artist, he draws everything." Sakura said with a laugh that was high and odd, like she didn't quite have enough air for it.
"Then why is our baka looking like that?" Sasuke growled, pointing at Naruto angrily.
Naruto was indeed looking very strange. His eyes were wide and intense as if there was a puzzle he was absorbed in trying to understand. Before Sai could try to get the sketchbook back, the jinchuuriki turned the page. It was a drawing of the stars. The waiter brought Sai the mint tea and he was glad because the sick feeling was only getting worse. Sakura ordered some mint tea for herself and some chamomile for Sasuke, which made him frown. Apparently she thought the raven haired ninja needed to relax too.
Naruto did not order anything, hand held with the knuckles against his lips, silent and concentrating. He flipped another page and then another and then another. Sai felt like maybe he would lose consciousness and discovered that the sensation might have been because he had forgotten to breathe. Sasuke sipped his tea, looking tense. All of them were too quiet.
"Sai…there are so many drawings of her and of me…I don't understand." Naruto said softly.
Sai swallowed. Naruto moved his hands over a drawing of himself, kissing Sakura, one that Sai was particularly fond of. He had drawn the jinchuuriki's hands perfectly in that drawing, how they could be soft and hard at the same time. In the drawing, Naruto's hands looked warm, just the way they were in real life. Drawing him that way was very hard to do.
"Sometimes…I just do it." Sai replied, running his thumb over the edge of the book.
"Sai…" Sakura whispered.
"What the HELL is going on!" Sasuke shouted.
"It's just…I have a headache. Let's go home." Naruto said suddenly, standing.
"What?" Sasuke railed.
"Come on, Teme. I'm sorry, Sakura. I feel really sick, let's go." Naruto said quickly and he did look very pale.
"But…" Sakura protested, confused.
"Oh…I hope you feel better." Sai said, standing with them so he wouldn't feel so heavy.
"I just need to get out of the heat. Let's go." Naruto said, maneuvering Sakura towards the door. Sasuke followed them closely, arm wrapped around Sakura's waist as they left the tea house.
"Goodbye." Sai said, smiling and waving and trying to breathe.
OoOoOoO
Neji woke and came to awareness through the muggy confusion of heavy medication, feeling numb, unsure where he was. Sensation returned to him slowly, bits and fragments of information filtering through the heavy fog in his mind. The skin of his face felt muzzy and thick, his lips stiff and dry. His throat was also dry and sticky, uncomfortable. He swallowed sluggishly and the effort cost more than he had expected. Only after a moment or more did Neji come to the revelation that he was in terrible pain. The worst pain he had ever experienced. He was in agony, far more terrible than any he had known before, throbbing and burning through every nerve.
A deep, awful ache stretched in agonizing waves from the tip of his sternum down into the muscles of his belly, sending piercing torture through his ribs with each breath. He would have screamed, but screaming required breathing and each breath was nearly enough to force him into unconsciousness again. When had he been hurt so badly? The last thing Neji remembered was grappling with Hinata and finally managing to lock the squirming girl into a hold and then darkness followed by lightning… Nothing made sense. Vaguely, like a nightmare from long ago, he remembered Naruto and some kind of terrible pain, like pressure in his very soul…a break, heat flooding in and then…nothing.
"You are awake." Hiashi's voice was soft and concerned, coming from the right.
"H…Hai." Neji managed, the vibrations of the speech sending little geysers of pain through his chest.
"I know you are in pain, but we must speak. You have been sedated for almost five days." Hiashi explained.
"Five days…What? How?" Neji asked, utterly confused, opening his eyes and wincing at the harsh sunlight.
"You were hurt, badly hurt, while dueling Hinata." Hiashi explained.
"Hinata? Is she…" Neji asked, suddenly worried.
Hiashi seemed to read the fear in Neji's face and smiled softly. The elder looked tired and worn, obviously stressed, sitting beside the hospital bed in rumpled robes. Neji immediately felt guilty, guilty for losing and more for allowing himself to be hurt so badly. Hiashi moved a fraction, gesturing towards the door.
"She is fine, fully healed. In fact, she would still be here beside you if I had not told her to go. She is waiting out in the hall and you may speak to her if you wish once we have finished." Hiashi whispered, smiling distantly, his mind obviously occupied with other things.
"I…I am sorry uncle…" Neji began, the pain making his vision dark around the edges.
"As am I. My foolish daughter has maneuvered us into a precarious position. If I disown her, then the damn Inuzuka's will possess the Byukugan for their lineage and we will be left with nothing. If I support her birthright, I am saddled forever by an idiot for a son in law." Hiashi hissed.
Neji bit his lip, feeling ashamed. Kiba was no idiot and the man loved Hinata desperately. Neji could not decide if he should defend his cousin's choice, even as he lay injured by her blade, or agree with Hiashi's obvious hatred of the Inuzuka heir. Kiba was difficult even to dislike, much less hate, and they had always been good friends.
"Hurting our clan was never Hina's intention." Neji said softly.
"Yet she has. Stupid girl, she is too much like her mother." Hiashi muttered darkly.
Neji was silent, unsure what to say. He had never found Hinata's mother to be stupid, but the assessment was not his to make either way. If anything, the Hiashi's wife was elegant and almost completely silent in a vaguely sad sort of way.
"What will you do?" Neji whispered, feeling nauseas with both the pain and the conversation.
"What I must, as always. Hinata will be my heir and the mutt her consort." Hiashi sighed.
"Kiba is a good person." Neji said, perhaps a bit too eagerly.
"Having him will be less of a sacrifice than letting clan Inuzuka breed the Byukugan and we may not have to tolerate him forever. Who knows, ninja lead dangerous lives, perhaps an enemy will overcome him." Hiashi said, shrugging.
"It is always possible for us…" Neji replied, feeling miserable.
He wanted to tell his uncle that Kiba was a worthy suitor, that the other ninja would make an excellent addition to the clan. He wanted to support his friend, but Hiashi was his leader. Any recommendation for Kiba would seem like insolence, even though Neji was sure that if Hiashi knew Kiba just a little better… Neji sighed quietly and tried hard not to pass out.
"However, my daughter has given us more immediate problems. Because of your injury, we are now indebted to the damn Oni. That is why I woke you."
"Naruto? Why? How? " Neji asked, confused.
"His mate, Sakura, was the one who saved you. She treated you on the field and in the hospital. I had no idea you were so close to Uzumaki…" Hiashi remarked, pinching the bridge of his nose in obvious frustration.
"We aren't terribly close. I have run a few missions with Naruto and one or two with Sakura. I count them as friends…" Neji explained, feeling uncomfortable.
"Apparently you've made an impression on the demon and, more importantly, his wife. You were gravely injured and she performed the surgery that saved your life."
"She would do that for anyone."
"Naruto also acted as a chakra donor…" Hiashi related tightly.
"W…What? Why would he do that? The risk…by Kami…" Neji exclaimed, shocked that his friend had cared so much.
"Yes. Fortunately for us, the damn jinchuuriki has little sense when it comes to risking his life. You are alive and healing and for that I am grateful." Hiashi said, smiling wearily.
"Naruto is loyal to his friends." Neji said with a small smile.
Naruto had saved him. Naruto of all people had come to rescue him. Neji had nurtured an enduring respect for the jinchuuriki since the day of the chuunin exams. Rude, wild and unreservedly loving, Naruto had taught him so much about life and moving beyond his bitter acceptance of fate. True, the blond had taught him by beating the living shit out of him, but that was who Naruto was. The little blond oni was nothing if not direct. Neji could have chuckled if the action would not have hurt so badly. Now, thinking on the situation a bit, it was not so surprising that Naruto had risked his own life to help him. Uzumaki was not a person tempered by anything, certainly not concern over decorum, and he would have done the same for any Konohan ninja.
Or perhaps it had been Sakura, the rose haired kunoichi had never been one to merely watch someone die. She was merciful in the most inexorable way possible, determined to help anyone who needed her, close friend or not. Since her marriage to Naruto, the girl had shown a fiercer side and Neji had no doubt that she had wrestled him back from the brink by sheer will alone.
"I would not have been hurt at all if I hadn't been so careless." Neji said softly.
"Regardless, you are alive and for that we owe the demon a favor." Hiashi said, his voice tight with repressed anger. Neji felt cold at the words.
"I think the matter of debt will be easily settled. Naruto is a simple person." He offered.
"Careful, nephew. You must realize that Naruto is not a person at all, but a monster. He is a dangerous animal. Naiveté in this matter is not appropriate." Hiashi growled, voice low and heavy with disapproval.
Neji bit his tongue, looking away from his uncle's frowning countenance. Hiashi had never liked Naruto much and perhaps he had a right to fear the jinchuuriki. Neji had been a baby during the nine tailed kitsune attack and he had only heard of the destruction wrought by the creature second hand. Hiashi had lived through the attack. Perhaps his attitude was justified, but Neji had a hard time thinking of Naruto that way. The blond had been, at worst, a nuisance and always a true and honest friend.
"I mean no disrespect, sensei." Neji whispered.
"Of course not, but the fact still remains. Uzumaki is dangerous and growing more so. Something must be done. I have spoken to Morino Ibiki and officially resigned your commission from ANBU." Hiashi said, voice firm.
"W…What?" Neji gasped.
"You are no longer an ANBU officer. I am sorry, Neji."
"But…why?" Neji whispered, the shock like ice water in his belly, numbing even the pain.
"You have a more important task to accomplish. When you are healed, I will arrange your marriage to Naruto Uzumaki and form an alliance with his clan." Hiashi explained, his voice coarse and monotone.
"But…he is already married…" Neji argued, feeling panicked.
"You will become a secondary mate to him. Jinchuuriki take multiple subordinates."
"I don't understand…" Neji whispered, confused.
"I need your eyes there, within the demon's holdings, keeping guard. It is only a matter of time until the jinchuuriki's instincts become a danger to us all. You will watch everything, every word and action, and report it to me."
"I am to be there as a spy?" Neji asked, feeling disgusted.
"No. You are there to ensure peace for all of us. It is a political marriage, one that will bring balance to both clans. By becoming his subordinate, you will absolve our debt to Uzumaki and also protect the Hyuuga clan from the demon's ire. Satisfy the creature and be watchful for any signs that the Kyuubi may return." Hiashi ordered.
"Satisfy…?"
"You will likely be called upon to sleep with Naruto. Please him as best that you can."
"I…do not have that kind of training." Neji whispered miserably.
"No skill is needed in this. Lay with him and watch, that is all." Hiashi replied.
"When may I return to ANBU?"
"This is not an assignment, Neji. Your time with ANBU is finished. You will be Uzumaki's courtesan, that position is now your occupation. You will always be a loyal member of the Hyuuga clan. Your task is different, but the duty has not changed. Do you understand?" Hiashi asked coldly.
"What about Sasuke? I was one of the three who brought him back to Konoha, he will not have forgotten…" Neji argued, his throat tight. All of this had to be a dream.
"Sasuke would not dare to harm you and if he does…well, we will take you back." Hiashi said, shrugging.
Neji felt as if ice water had been splashed down his spine. Hiashi was talking about war, civil war, against Naruto Uzumaki. The Hyuuga clan had not entered into a clan war for almost a hundred years! Were circumstances really so dire between his family and Uzumaki that Hiashi considered arranged marriage to be the only peaceful option? Could it be that his future was being traded to halt a clan war? Neji shook his head. That did not make any sense. Naruto would never have threatened such action, the blond loved Konoha too much to ever bring civil war into his beloved city.
"Uncle…please…"
"Rest now and heal. Take whatever time you need." Hiashi ordered softly.
"There is…no other way?"
"This is the best way, nephew."
"H…Hai." Neji replied, chest tight with pain and anger.
Hiashi squeezed his shoulder affectionately and left. His face was hot with the anger, anger swiftly turning into despair. He did not dare oppose Hiashi, but…Neji shook his head. He had come so far, overcome so many obstacles, all for nothing. Naruto had taught him to fight against fate, but Neji's destiny seemed to be spiraling far out of his control. No matter what he did, what he accomplished, the destination was still the same. He would remain a servant, even if it would no longer be in the Hyuuga house. The truth of it was harsh and bitter in his throat. Neji trembled a moment, gaining a few more seconds of dignity, and then let the tears slip unheeded down his face.
"Cousin? May I come in?" Hinata's soft timid voice called from the doorway.
"Come." Neji said, not caring if she saw him cry.
"I…I heard what father has decided." She whispered, coming close to the bedside.
"I will do my duty."
The girl's face still sported several rather impressive bruises and a cracked lip, but she did not seem to be in much pain. Hinata smiled at him sadly and Neji's vision blurred with tears. She was a good person, a good woman. How could he have ever thought that a loveless marriage was all that she deserved? Perhaps he should have felt betrayed, but Hinata was hard to imagine as a traitor and she had been honest with him from the beginning. No, all of this was his fault and the simple cruelty of fate.
"Are you in pain, Cousin?" She asked, her palm light and cool against his face.
"Yes…" He replied.
She nodded and emptied a large syringe of narcotics into the IV hanging beside the bed. Almost immediately, Neji felt the effects of the drug, chasing the pain away and making everything numb. Hinata gently wiped the tears from his face with a damp cloth, silent and attentive. Neji cried and let the pain overwhelm him. After what seemed like a very long time, Hinata took his hand and looked into his face.
"Better?"
"A bit."
"I…I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" She cried, dropping to her knees beside him.
"There is nothing to forgive. You fought well and with honor Hina…"
"I did not want to hurt you!" She sobbed.
"I know. You did not want to hurt Kiba either." Neji said, managing a smile for her.
"No…it's just…not fair." She whispered.
"Nothing is fair." Neji whispered bitterly.
"I…I went to the ANBU offices while you talked to Father. I…well…I thought you might want it…" Hinata mumbled as she dug through a small bag.
The drug was making Neji tired, and he found focusing more and more difficult. Still, he was curious. Hinata pulled the ceramic mask from her satchel, presenting it to him timidly. Neji took the item, looking over it, letting his fingers drift over the bright lines of paint. The mask was a stylized rendering of a falcon, beak sharp and fierce, the eyes emphasized by thick red lines. The creature was who he became when he was away on a mission, an expression of the strongest part of his personality. There was fierceness to the falcon, a deep need for freedom only overcome by the creature's loyalty. A falcon was a bird that could be tethered to a beloved master. It was fitting, more so than he had ever realized. Neji sighed.
"Thank you, Hina." He whispered.
"I love you, Cousin." The girl whispered, kissed his forehead.
"And I you. I'm glad we're not married." Neji replied, smiling a little.
She smiled, stroked his hair again and moved away. Neji closed his eyes, waiting for the soft latching of the door as Hinata left. The drugs sought to drag him under, but Neji managed to maintain consciousness a few moments longer. When the girl had gone, he looked once more at his ANBU mask and brushed it onto the floor where the falcon shattered into a thousand pieces.