Art and Artifice

Art and Artifice
chapter 10

"Oh wow!" exclaimed Naruto as Itachi gallantly opened the door of his Jaguar for the blond.

",62. It's a classic. I've had it since I first got my license." Naruto got in and the door was closed behind him. He almost felt uncomfortable just touching the rich leather seats until he looked up and noticed the crappy old fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. Unexpected laughter escaped him in a short burst.

"Aah, those are 'vintage' too" drawled Itachi, who had just dropped into the driver's seat. He sent the blond a humorous little smirk, then raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"I love it!" Naruto grinned, already feeling much more relaxed. As the engine turned over the familiar sounds of Muddy Waters poured out from the speakers and Naruto settled back against the seat with a sigh.

He still had no idea where they could be going when Itachi parked on a little side street downtown. He asked once again when Itachi joined him on the sidewalk. The older boy silently pointed to one of the buildings that were squashed together just a little further down the street. Blue eyes blinked at the odd looking structure, their gaze traveling up and down the building as they drew nearer. Elaborately painted decorative designs crawled over the wall around the door and lower windows. The effect was bright and rather bohemian. A quaint little sign that hung above the door proclaimed the title 'Trompe L'Oeil'.

"What is this place?" asked Naruto.

"It's something I thought you might be interested in. Trompe L'Oeil is a gallery."

"Really?! I've never heard of it, and it looks so...different!"

"Yes, it is fairly obscure. You'll find this is nothing like the usual 'clinical' gallery scene. It should be quite the experience for you," Itachi explained. "I suppose it could be referred to as underground art. All the great movements have to start somewhere of course. This place is a big supporter of student work."

"Ahh! You're kidding me! How long has this been around? I can't believe I never new about it." Naruto was perfectly delighted. As far as he was concerned, Itachi was a damn genius! This was possibly the 'last' thing he had been expecting to do today. When they went inside, his excitement doubled. Everywhere he looked were some of the craziest, ugliest and most excruciatingly beautiful things he had ever seen. 'Clinical' didn't describe this place in the least. Not one single wall was pure white. Mostly they weren't 'pure' anything. There were different rooms with different feelings, warm and cool, simple and cluttered. Naruto didn't have words to describe it all. Itachi observed the energetic blond taking in every last little detail with utmost enjoyment.

"Oh my God I feel so inspired!" Naruto announced happily, bringing a small smile to Itachi's face. A guy, possibly a little older then Itachi and even more 'unique' looking than Haku, approached them from behind and tapped Itachi on the shoulder.

"Ah, there you are," said Itachi as he turned around.

"I thought that was you Uchiha. It's been awhile," the man greeted warmly.

"Yes. Naruto here is applying to my school. I thought I'd show him around the gallery and introduce him to you. Naruto this is my old friend, Kisame. He's an administrator here."

"It's nice to meet you," said Naruto. "This is an amazing place you're running."

"Thank you," answered Kisame as he shook the blond's hand. Kisame wasn't an overly good looking fellow, with his too-small eyes and grayish complexion, but he had a rather pleasant voice and he seemed nice and polite. He and Naruto quickly fell into a discussion about the merits of displaying art in a clear, neutral setting versus the merits of Trompe L'Oeil's unusual juxtapositions. Naruto's commentary was interesting, intelligent and well rounded. Itachi could tell Kisame was impressed and he smiled to himself, feeling a certain measure of odd pride in the blond.

Kisame took them around the exhibits, explaining the thought process behind the display and talking about the various artists, most of whom he knew personally. Naruto listened avidly to every word. When they had made it through the whole building ending up in the student-art store at the front, Kisame told Naruto that he would be welcome to bring in his own work to put up for sale or just display. He could come to Kisame directly to discuss anything he'd like. The blond looked up at him with veritable stars in his eyes.

"I would 'love' to get involved! This place is so great!" When he and Itachi finally took their leave he thanked Kisame profusely, giving the older man a huge smile and a wave as they walked off down the street to the car. Itachi looked over at the blond as they were driving away, noting the smile that remained even yet.

"So I take it you enjoyed yourself?" he asked, his tone colored with amusement.

"Yes! That was a wonderful idea. Thank you so much Itachi!"

"I thought you could use the outlet. If you take him up on his offer, it could be a good way to build confidence." Itachi tore his gaze away from the almost adoring expression in those glorious blue eyes. He had to use the distraction that driving afforded to quell a sudden bout of temptation. "I hope you're hungry."

"Hmm? Oh, yes actually. I don't suppose it will do me any good to ask where we're going?"

"To a restaurant," Itachi answered vaguely with a smirk. Naruto rolled his eyes with good humor.

The restaurant Itachi chose was nice but not too far upscale and when Naruto tasted the first bite of his meal, he gave his whole hearted approval. Over dinner, they talked about how Itachi and his friend had helped to found Trompe L'Oeil. Itachi told Naruto that even in high school his life had pretty much revolved around his interest in art. His parents had been very supportive and had agreed to make a generous donation to the gallery that he was helping to get off the ground.

"They were proud of the initiative I was taking and they saw it as an excellent learning experience, so they were willing to make the investment in the 'furthering of my education' so to speak."

"I'm glad they care about what makes you happy. I remember my parents being very supportive and encouraging as well."

"How long has it been? If I may ask," said Itachi carefully.

"Of course you may. I was nine. My father was from Australia and my mother met him when the company she worked for transfered her there. She fell in love of course so she never applied for any transfers back. I was born and raised there for almost nine years. Then an opportunity came along that they just couldn't pass up so we all packed up and moved here. Not long after that they were both killed in a car accident. Neither of them had any relatives and I didn't know anybody here... Well anyway what happened, happened. It doesn't matter much anymore."

"It does matter in that it helped to shape who you are. It says a lot about your parents that you lived through that kind of adversity and came out of it so well. From what I can see, you have a level head and not a trace of bitterness. They would be proud I'm sure." Naruto smiled somewhat tearily and thanked Itachi, who cleared his throat and tactfully change the subject. The rest of their conversation was light and often punctuated with Naruto's sparkling laughter, occasionally accompanied by a low chuckle from Itachi.

Later on, Itachi pulled up outside of Naruto's home. He frowned secretly at the obviously bad neighborhood, feeling slightly worried for the small blond's safety. The building that the boy lived in was one of the most run down looking piles of junk that he'd ever seen and he couldn't help but wonder that the place hadn't been condemned. Naruto looked up at him rather sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ah, I know it's a shit-hole but I needed whatever extra money I could save to pay for school," he explained. "It's not quite as bad inside though." Itachi just gave a small, reassuring smile.

"Don't worry about that. Do I get to see some of your work now?"

"Um, yeah, you can come in and have a look if you want to."

"I would love to." Itachi ushered Naruto out of the car and allowed him to lead the way inside. Amusement welled up in the Uchiha when he entered the blond's apartment to find that every last inch of wall space had been covered with some form of art. Naruto had said it wasn't as bad inside because one simply couldn't 'tell' in all this clutter. Naruto caught the look on his face and smiled himself.

"Well...I just didn't know what to do with it all," he said with a shrug. Itachi began to actually inspect the pieces individually. Some were just sketches while some were finished works, some new, some old, abstract to highly realistic. All of it was impressive. They ranged through different mediums, sizes and color schemes but the development of a personal style was clear.

"Are they dated?" he asked.

"No. I'm afraid not, but I basically know where they fit chronologically."

"You've got a very unique style." Itachi pointed out one charcoal drawing as an example. "Even though this is highly rendered and looks very life like, there is something almost surreal about it." He shook his head, his expression pensive. "It's perfect in every detail. I can't pick out what makes it look that way. It's just an overall... It's in every last line, completely embedded. This one too. All of them. It looks like it's alive and moving, but it doesn't look real. It's somehow intangible." Itachi finally pulled his eyes away from the wall and noticed the blond gazing at him with an almost apprehensive expression. He realized that Naruto must be waiting for some kind of verdict and smiled.

"Your friend was right. You have nothing to worry about."

"You think so?" Naruto asked timidly.

"If you couldn't get into 'any' fine arts school you chose, I would be very surprised." The little blond lit up like a Christmas tree. He smiled the most beautiful smile that Itachi had seen yet and at the same time his cheeks were flushed in modest embarrassment. Itachi didn't think he could hold himself back if he tried. A pale hand lifted to one of those flushed cheeks, feeling the heat before it even touched. Finger tips traced gently over whisker like scars that had so piqued his curiosity. They were smooth and very slightly raised lines on otherwise flawless skin. He had moved in closer without even realizing it. The hitch in the blond's breath that he could feel against his own lips, a testament to just how close. His eye's flicked upward and caught shimmering blue. Absolutely pure. Long, dark blond lashes began to eclipse the luminous color. Taking that as a sign of permission, Itachi closed the final fraction of distance and he was falling into soft, sweet lips.

His gentle pressure was returned tentatively and he moved his body even closer slipping his arm around a slim waist and pulling the blond against him. A kittenish mew, that he very much liked, escaped the smaller boy but there was no protest made, which gave him the confidence to continue just a bit further. He let the tip of his tongue venture out to carefully trace the blond's upper lip, taking his first little teasing taste before he sucked that plump bottom lip between his own, licking and nibbling lightly. Naruto was like fresh, salty-sweet confectionery, soft, smooth and utterly delicious. Pressing the blond more tightly against him he felt him begin to tremble and eased off reluctantly, opening his eyes just enough to gauge a reaction. Naruto's eyes were closed, lashes resting on flushed cheeks. His breathing had picked up and along with the light panting Itachi felt soft lips curl into a little smile against his own. He was smiling too before he knew it and he stole one more quick kiss before pulling away entirely.

"I should probably go," he said, squashing down the desire to begin that all over again. The boy was blushing again, his gaze lowered but that little smile remained.

"Itachi, thank you, for everything. I've had a wonderful time."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he answered sincerely. "Unfortunately I have to go back fairly early tomorrow. I have some work due Monday morning. I'd like to see you next weekend if possible though."

"I'd like that." The full force of those bewitching blue eyes was leveled at him once more. Swiftly Itachi collected himself and moved to the door before he was lost.

"I'll call you sometime through the week." He smiled at the blond who returned it with a nod. And then he was gone. Naruto locked his apartment door behind him, turned around and made it five steps in before he dropped to the ground.

"Oh my God!!" he mouthed silently. Both hands came up to rest on his hot cheeks cooling them faintly. If he didn't get rid of this smile by tomorrow, Kotetsu was going to be hell to work with.


A/N; For those of you who may not know, Trompe l'Oeil literally means 'deceives the eye'. It's style of painting that gives an illusion of reality. i.e. An object or person coming out of the painting into real space.

Now 'will there be any smex?' I was wondering if someone would ask that. The answer is- I'm not sure. I'm not one of those people that thinks every story needs it. If the puzzle piece doesn't fit, I'm not going to smash it in there with a hammer you know? If there is anything sexual, it will be awhile. Like more towards the end I think. Anyway I gotta go. See you all tomorrow!