Deprivation

The drive continued: out of the city, beyond limits with which Kimimaro was familiar, and deep into the countryside. Rolling hills and mountains provided pleasant distraction, and Kimimaro and Haku watched the landscape change in quiet appreciation.

Kimimaro had just pulled out his cell phone to check the time when a polite ding sounded in the car and the music stopped. Haku sat up and moved to perch next to Kimimaro, hands in his lap, and in a few seconds the divider between passenger and driver went down.

"Gentlemen," said Merek congenially. "I'm pleased to announce our impending arrival, and wondered if you'd like me to tell you some about Lord Uchiha's estate?"

"Oh, yes, please," Haku said, and Kimimaro nodded once. He saw the corners of Merek's eyes crinkle in the rearview mirror.

"Thank you for indulging me, gentle sir. If you both move to the left side of the vehicle, I can assure you it will provide for the best view."

Obediently, Kimi and Haku climbed over to stare out the windows, and the first thing Kimimaro saw was a gray wall.

"The stone-and-iron gate took three years to build, and it's twenty feet tall," Merek supplied, and Kimimaro nodded dumbly at the imposing structure. Massive iron-tooled doors stood sealed with a large, "U" in the center, and they swung open as Merek approached.

"You'll feel very safe here, I assure you, as the property is constantly patrolled," Merek supplied, and Kimimaro caught a glimpse of security cameras. "But now for the fun stuff."

The car rolled onto the grounds, and a long flat plane of manicured grass spilled for what seemed to be miles. The tires hit cobblestone, and the Bentley slowed down. "The Uchiha Estate covers over one hundred acres of land, holds the main home, a guest house, and servants' quarters as well as a stable and other assorted buildings. All of the construction was completed over one hundred years ago, and the main house was once one of the largest private homes in the world."

Kimimaro gulped. Haku grinned at him. The car swung to the right, and Kimimaro and Haku both gasped as they saw the house looming in the distance: gothic architecture spanned wide and sprawling, spirals rising at uneven intervals. It was at least three stories tall, surrounded by large terraces and porticos, and made entirely of dull-colored brick and gray stone. Ivy covered portions of the front facings, and even from this distance, Kimimaro could see huge windows revealing chandeliers glowing with warm light.

In front of the house was a wide, circular, drive that wrapped around a stone fountain, lawn extending all the way to the pavers. Sycamores, elms, and shrubs stood guard in carefully manicured plots of mulch, and most of the leaves were changed into fiery reds, oranges, and yellows.

"Oh," Haku said softly, and he reached to take Kimimaro's hand.

"Cinderella," Kimimaro whispered. Haku merely nodded.

"Lord Uchiha enjoys roses and orchids, and maintains a rose maze behind the main house and a greenhouse full of his favorite flowers," Merek continued. "The house itself has 180 rooms, though some have fallen closed or into storage. The master wing was once featured in a series of magazine spreads before Lord Uchiha decided he was happier if people did not know where or how he slept."

Haku giggled, and Kimimaro managed a smile, eyes on the trees and heart aching in his chest. He didn't… deserve any of this. It was all too much. But Haku…

Kimimaro squeezed Haku's hand, and when the younger man looked at him, his expression changed to one of concern. Kimi shut his eyes when light kisses pressed against his throat.

"Together or not at all," Haku said quietly. Kimimaro shook his head once, but Haku put a finger to Kimi's lips.

"I need you," Haku said, soft but fervent.

Kimimaro buried his face in Haku's hair, the smaller man's arms going about his neck, and the car rolled to a gentle stop. "Good sirs, I'm happy to allow you a moment or two alone. I'll be just outside at your service."

Merek climbed out, and Kimimaro blushed, ashamed to make someone else wait for him, but reluctant to leave the safety of Haku's embrace. Haku held him for a long moment before Kimi finally pulled back with a sigh.

"I'm okay," Kimi said.

"I know you are. And because you are, so shall I be." Haku leaned forward and kissed Kimimaro's cheek with such a faint brush of lips he barely felt it at all.

"We should go," Kimi said. "I can't stand the thought of keeping him waiting."

"Me, either," Haku agreed, smoothing hands over his hair, shirt, and then skirt. Kimimaro reached for the handle and the moment it clicked, Merek took over: swinging the door wide and offering a hand again to Haku.

"Thank you," Haku said, taking the assistance. The same hand came to help Kimimaro, and he took it despite feeling like he shouldn't. Merek's gloved fingers clasped his, warm and steady, and Kimimaro got out into the brisk air. He gaped up at the imposing structure with the wide, oak doors and contemplated the vast emptiness of space.

"Master Ita…er," Kimimaro paused. "Lord Uchiha lives here by himself?"

Merek nodded. "There's a servant staff who stay on-grounds, but he is…alone. Yes."

Merek's dark-eyed gaze was appraising and calm, and Kimimaro was about to say something more when Haku's -- "Kimi?" -- interrupted him.

"Hm?" Kimimaro said, turning to walk over to Haku who stood next to the stone fountain with one hand over his mouth. "What's…" Kimimaro stopped speaking and stared.

Lying on their sides along the bottom of the marble basin were fish. Fake fish. Plastic, garish, toy things in brilliant-colored hues, many with oversized pink lips and wind-up sticks poking from their sides. Kimimaro and Haku stood, transfixed, and Kimi saw one pink flamingo resting on its head, the post meant to go into the ground jutting up and resting on the fountain's edge.

The…hell…?

"Ah," Merek said, and Kimi and Haku turned to watch the man approach, his hands clasped behind his back and amusement dancing over his features. "What you are observing gentlemen is one Uzumaki Naruto's sense of the frivolous. He seems to think Lord Uchiha is in… need of such things."

"Naruto?" Kimimaro asked in wonder.

"Indeed," Merek confirmed. "Lord Uchiha's younger brother's husband, if you'll allow me the term. He brings some of these lovely fishies with him every time they visit. Though," Merek paused. "I do believe the flamingo originally went into the yard, but Lord Uchiha obviously thought he'd find a better home amongst his gilled kin."

The image of Itachi calmly removing a flamingo from the grass and tossing it into the fountain was too much for Kimimaro, and he had to work hard to contain laughter that he covered with a cough. He turned to Haku, who stood wide-eyed and nearly confused, and Kimimaro shrugged, helpless. Haku nodded once, chin tipping as though deep in thought. For no good reason at all, Kimimaro's heart began to pound, and he reached to clasp Haku's hand.

"If you gentle sirs will allow me to convey you into the house proper?" Merek asked with a sweep of his arm and inclination of his head. "I'm certain his Lordship is eager to greet you."

Shoes making dull reports on the cobblestone, Kimimaro and Haku followed Merek to the front of the manor, beneath the arch above the main door, and then entered after him. The sound of the heavy latch was distinct and imposing, but Kimimaro held on to the image of the wind-up fish in the pond as he and Haku walked into the Uchiha estate.

"Oh… oh my…" Haku said in wonder.

"I'm so happy to hear it pleases you, sir," Merek said kindly, smiling at Haku who gaped with wide eyes at the entrance hall.

A lofty, massive room with dark-colored mosaic tile flooring, the first thing Kimimaro saw were the two grand staircases that curved up to the second floor. They were easily the largest he'd ever seen, even in pictures, and the risers and railings were black: the steps possibly marble or something similar and the banisters were wooden. Kimimaro turned his head and jumped at the enormous mirror surrounded with gargoyle heads that stood to his right and then again when he turned to the left and saw what appeared to be… a…

"Is that an iron maiden?" Haku asked, pointing one finger at the metal cabinet that was vaguely human-shaped.

"It is," Merek replied jovially. "Lord Uchiha has one of the finest collections of torture devices in the country, if I may be so bold to say. That piece has never actually been used, as is the case with most of them, but it dates from the early 18th century."

Kimimaro thought Merek sounded sad that the thing hadn't been put into service, but kept commentary to himself as he scanned the room. Chairs and tables, all in lush woods and deep-colored fabrics, made up little gathering areas and places to sit. Above them was a large, round, medieval chandelier with electric bulbs and lengths of chain draped over it. On the far side of the room was a fireplace as tall as Kimimaro. The opening was the mouth of a demonic creature, and two hands extended from the sides, one open and holding a pile of wood, one closed in a claw and holding pokers.

Above the demon-head fireplace was a family portrait. Kimimaro recognized a young Itachi and Sasuke, and assumed one man was the father and the other the uncle. A slack-eyed dog rested over Itachi's shoes. None of them were smiling.

The air smelled like lemon-scented wood polish, and Kimimaro sighed as he counted doors out of the hall: four. Two left, one back, and one right, all open and arched. Slowly, he and Haku took hesitant steps into the room, and Kimimaro observed the rather varied decorations: a statue of a clown in faded paint, a tall column vase, another metal cabinet that might be a torture chamber or might just be a regular piece of furniture -- Kimimaro honestly couldn't tell. Flowers perched on an end table on the far wall. There was a pretty-patterned rug in front of the demonic mouth of the fireplace -- floral. It was a gorgeous room. A grand room.

A thoroughly unsettling room.

"It's lovely," Haku said politely. Even Kimimaro couldn't tell if he was being honest.

"I'll convey your regards to the staff," Merek said. "Lord Uchiha should be along shortly. Please make yourselves comfortable." He bowed, turned, and exited out the front door. The hinges squeaked as it shut with a solid sound of metal and wood.

"Not so Cinderella," Haku whispered, after a beat or two, moving closer to Kimimaro.

"More Brothers Grimm," Kimimaro whispered back.

"…better," Haku said, luminous eyes shining up at Kimimaro, who smiled down at him. Movement made Haku and Kimi turn in unison, and they both stopped breathing as they watched Itachi quickly descend one of the staircases. He wore a button-down shirt, dark slacks and shoes, and his hair was pulled away from his face into a low tail, one strand escaping to brush his cheek. He didn't appear quite as tired, and he didn't look at the steps as he took them.

"Welcome," Itachi said as he approached, lips forming the almost-smile. To Kimimaro's delighted shock, Itachi walked up to him and wrapped him into a warm hug. It was slightly awkward as Itachi pinned one of Kimi's arms, but Kimimaro made due, free hand clutching at Itachi's back until he let go. A micro-frown creased Itachi's face and then he seemed to put something mentally aside, and Kimimaro reached out to squeeze his upper arm. Itachi smiled, grateful, and turned to Haku. He inhaled deeply through his nose and sighed.

"You look radiant, Haku," Itachi said with a nod of his head and a sweep of his gaze. He held out a hand to the blushing man, who took it.

"My, my," Itachi said stepping back and then seamlessly twirling Haku with a flick of his wrist. Haku spun in a neat circle that sent the skirt to bloom in the air, smiling and biting his lip, blush deepening.

"Thank you, Itachi. It was my aim to please."

"Then you met your mark." Itachi's eyes danced, and Kimimaro ducked his head, warmth spreading through his chest.

"May I take your coat?" Itachi asked Kimi, arms out in an imploring gesture.

"If it's not too much trouble," Kimimaro said, shrugging out of the leather.

"Not in the slightest," Itachi kindly replied. Kimimaro wondered at the three of them, playing so nicely on manners, poise, and unspoken rules. Itachi took Kimi's coat and hung it in a closet that Kimimaro didn't even know was there -- the front was covered in a mirror and Itachi pressed a panel to make the door pop open.

"Old house with a lot of history and need to hide things," Itachi supplied, pressing the panel closed again. He raised an eyebrow at Kimi and stepped closer, turning to look at Haku as his hand came up to caress over the lace covering Kimimaro's back. "I believe dinner is to be served soon."

The hand on Kimimaro's shirt skimmed and made him shiver. Haku's eyes took in Kimi's face, and he smiled hesitantly at Itachi. "We're famished, I assure you."

"So I see," Itachi said, and Kimimaro's head tilted toward Itachi's shoulder. "Come with me." He stepped forward, arm still around Kimi's waist and he extended his other arm to Haku, who linked his own through it.

"The drive?" Itachi asked, leading the three of them at an easy stroll toward one of the doors heading away from the reception hall.

"Lovely," Haku answered.

"And quick," Kimimaro added.

"I hope Merek kept you company."

"He's very knowledgeable," Kimimaro said.

"Told you some about the house and land, then?" Itachi asked. They passed under an archway and into a smaller room, full of floor-to-ceiling shelves heavy with books, papers, and knick-knacks. A woman bowed from the corner, dust cloth in her hand.

"Meredith," Itachi said with a nod.

"Lord Uchiha," replied Meredith. "And guests." She turned back to her shelves and Kimimaro's eyes tried to see all the luster of smooth surfaces, all the edges of antique furniture, all the odd things in jars of amber liquid, but they quickly went on their way into a hallway lined with oily portraits.

"Is the title real or affectation?" Haku asked pleasantly.

"Real," Itachi replied. "My grandfather's fault, though the estate in England is nice. It took some time to get used to the staff addressing me that way. After father…"

"I would imagine so," Haku said mildly.

"I was once 'master' to all of them, but they seem reluctant to revert back to that, and I'm not keen on them using the term, now, either." Itachi shrugged, and Kimimaro eyed the gilded portraits of dark-haired women and men sitting in pained poses on canvas.



"Are these… family?" Kimimaro asked, looking at a stern man in an uncomfortable-looking suit.

"Yes," Itachi said simply. "Mostly dead, now. Sasuke, Uncle and I are all that remain in contact with one another."

"Lonely," Haku said, echoing Kimimaro's words from when he and Itachi stood in the bathroom at Break. Itachi glanced down at the smaller man, and his arm tightened around Kimimaro.

"It is. I am. Yes."

"I know something of loneliness," Haku said very softly, eyes ahead of him. The three passed beneath another doorway and into an atrium: large, round, and done entirely in white marble tile that glistened beneath their feet. Fountains burbled and large windows spanned the length of one curved wall, the view beyond them of mountains, trees, and setting sun. Chairs, benches, and French tables interspersed plant life, and Kimimaro saw the real fish in the pond fed by the fountains, and he looked up to see that the room peaked and the ceiling was covered in a cracked  mosaic depicting a canopy of trees.  

Haku stopped, and Itachi paused to watch him before Itachi finally replied, "I know you do."

"It's a terrible thing to be surrounded by people and know not a single soul cares for you," Haku said, gentle voice making the words even harder to bear.

"That is no longer your truth, Haku," Itachi said quietly.

"He's right," Kimimaro agreed.

Haku turned his head and smiled at them both. It was a slow spread of lips that eventually showed teeth and real mirth. He lit up the room, brighter than the sunset, and Itachi hugged Kimimaro even harder as he sighed a note of longing.

"I'm beginning to see."

"Good," Itachi and Kimimaro said in unison, and Itachi faced Kimi and chuckled, amusement in his eyes.

"Apologies, Itachi," Kimi said.

"Unnecessary but accepted," Itachi replied smoothly. "Let's continue shall we? Dinner."

The three walked along the path in the atrium and into another hallway. They passed by what Itachi called the banquet hall:

"Seats over fifty people; no use to us tonight."

The room was lofted, had a golden ceiling, another enormous medieval chandelier, tall chairs with red cushions, and a stone fireplace large enough to roast a human being. Kimimaro didn’t have time to gather any more details as they continued, passing closed doors and more open rooms, and then finally walking into a narrower hallway with six synced ticking clocks and at long last into a room with high stained-glass windows. Plain windows curtained by dark green velvet ran along another wall and offered a view of the rose maze and part of the back lawn. A table that could seat ten was set for three -- all on one end. The chairs had green cushions matching the drapes, the fireplace was modest, the hearth held a collection of model cars and airplanes, the walls were plain cream with dark wainscoting, and several large vases held red roses and pale orchids in careful arrangements.

"More intimate," Itachi said, releasing them both. Haku went to the windows and Kimimaro stood near one chair. Itachi glided to a wall and pulled on a green rope which rang a bell that Kimimaro heard resounding through the house.

"Do either of you drink?" Itachi asked, moving to stand behind the chair at the head of the table.

Haku turned and his eyes gleamed at Kimimaro as he answered: "Wine?"

Kimimaro swallowed a smile, eyes down on the fine china plate.

"Good, it'll be served with dinner," Itachi said.

"Is there dessert?" Haku asked politely, eyes on Kimi's as he crossed to the chair to Itachi's right.

"Yes," Itachi answered mildly, looking back and forth between Haku and Kimimaro. "Something chocolate, I believe."

"Perfect," Kimimaro said, and then, to relieve the secret in the room, "Allow me, Itachi." Kimimaro held Itachi's chair, and he sat without comment. Kimimaro did the same for Haku and then took his own seat to Itachi's left.

A mere second later, staff entered -- a man and a woman in simple uniforms like Merek's -- and they set about pouring water and wine and serving the first course. Creamy soup filled bowls that sat next to large white plates holding a bite-sized bit of what Kimimaro thought was salmon. While the servants bustled, Kimimaro coldly contemplated his days with Orochimaru; an unpleasant lesson, table manners. And Kimimaro still wasn't sure what the point had been other than to appease Orochimaru's sadism. They had rarely ever eaten together.

Old things…

"It's quite good, Kimi," Haku said. He sat straight in the chair, dabbed the corner of his mouth with a green linen napkin, and picked up a silver spoon, gaze intent.

"I'm sure it's easy enough to swallow," Kimimaro replied, carefully maneuvering the salmon to his mouth. It was delicious.

Itachi watched them both with amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "I usually don't do all this…" he mused.

"Oh?" Haku asked.

"Thought it would be…"

"It's very nice, Itachi," Kimimaro said immediately.

The Uchiha smiled at Kimi. "Good. I think I'd quite like your company for dinner more often." Haku didn't reply at first, staring at his soup.

"I'm sure that could be arranged," Kimi replied.

"Yes," Haku agreed. Itachi turned to the small man, and Kimimaro could swear his skin lost some of its pallor, and he lit up from the inside. Haku and Kimimaro spooned their soup -- also extremely good, though Kimi had no idea what it was -- and Itatchi sat and watched for a long moment.

"Tell me about yourself, Haku," Itachi said, voice making both Haku and Kimi start. Itachi's soup sat untouched, and he leaned on an elbow braced on the table, fist under his chin. "I know some of Kimimaro. I'd like to hear of you."

Haku's expression was adorably flustered for a microsecond before he spoke. "What would you like to know?"

"What do you like to do?"

Haku's face remained calm, but Kimimaro saw the way his eyes shuttered and lips pursed. Kimimaro couldn't stand to watch Haku struggle for the exact right words when he knew anything Haku said would be taken well.

"Bake," Kimimaro answered, and both Itachi and Haku looked at him. "You like to bake?"

Haku licked his lips. "I do. I play piano reasonably well. It was something I learned while I served…" He paused. "I had lessons."

"There's a piano in my chambers," Itachi mused.

Kimimaro swallowed soup a little too fast as he thought of musical instruments that large in Itachi's… bedroom…

"I'd be happy to play for you," Haku said deferentially.

"I would like that. What else do you enjoy?" Itachi asked, curious and looking from Haku to Kimimaro to indicate it was now an open question for both men.

"Travel," Haku said quietly, eyes flicking up to Kimi, who worried at the glimpse of gaze. Though his answers were poised and posture straight, Haku was taut with tension. He was trying desperately to please; to prove worth as he didn't understand his innate value. Kimimaro longed to say something soothing but didn't know what or how.

"Oh?" Itachi asked.

"It's supposition, really," Haku said with a dismissive wave of his hand, eyes down and mouth pinched. Kimimaro saw Itachi lean toward Haku and mimicked the movement himself.

"It's something Haku and I talk about sometimes," Kimimaro explained, feeling the slow burn of focus in Itachi's eyes. Kimimaro felt lost in the stare. It would probably be bad to explain that talking of places they wanted to go was a way Kimimaro used to distract Haku when things were bleak, morale was low, and it was hard for Kimimaro to find hope hiding in its dark corner of the closet. "Merely conjecture as neither of us have really… seen much, so sometimes we talk about where we'd go if we could go anywhere at all."

"It's a fun game," Haku said. "Appealing since Zabuza usually left me at home." He froze and flushed at the mention of the other man's name, hands falling to his lap and shoulders coming up as he tucked chin to chest.

"And Orochimaru hated to leave the city," Kimimaro said, speaking the name that so rarely left his lips. Haku smiled up at him, grateful.

Itachi made an unhappy sound but was interrupted by another flurry of activity as the soup was cleared away -- Itachi's uneaten, Kimi noticed -- and the next course was served. Wine and water poured into glasses again, and Kimimaro watched Itachi, whose gaze was inward and brow lightly lined in thought.

Staff retreating, Kimimaro leaned forward and bit at a stud in his lip. Haku stared at Kimimaro, eyes searching, and the desperation there made Kimi ache. He longed to tell Haku that everything was fine; Itachi enjoyed his silences and it was no reflection on Haku. At least, Kimimaro didn't think so. He tried to put that into his expression, and he reached to slide a salt shaker toward Haku, thinking maybe he could touch Haku's hand when Haku took it; offer small comfort to the man caught in the hell of want and worry.

"Well," Itachi began, shifting to rest both elbows on the table.

"I apologize for--" Haku said at the same time, reaching for Kimi and the salt. And then Kimimaro didn't know what happened. He knew Haku's hand flew too fast across the table -- a sure sign that the internal strife was at a boiling point. Kimimaro saw it when the wine and water glasses wobbled, but by all rights and laws of physics, the glasses should have remained upright. Haku barely brushed them: a caress, not a knock.

Nevertheless, the fine stemware shook once before they both spilled and sloshed an impossible amount of liquid onto the table, Itachi's plate, and ultimately into Itachi's face and lap. The Uchiha moved fast -- his reaction time impeccable -- but his chin still dripped wine and his black shirt took on a soaked sheen.

Kimimaro stopped breathing. Haku squeaked, the noise tiny and choked as his face drained of color.

"Oh God," Kimi said, grabbing his linen napkin and throwing himself forward to stop the incessant dripping from table to floor.

"It's all right," Itachi said, sounding almost amused as he wadded up his soaked napkin. He wiped the back of his wrist over his chin. "Just a spill, it's--"

And of course at that moment, the servants reappeared for some ungodly reason, and Haku jerked like someone sent electric volts through his body.

"My Lord," said the woman, quickly setting down a dish and pulling a towel from somewhere to dab at Itachi's shirt.

"Stop that," Itachi said, irritated as he grabbed the cloth from the woman's hands. "It's mostly water."

"Itachi, we're so sorry for the trouble," Kimimaro said, still wiping up the spill. A chair scraped, the woman fussed, Itachi chuckled, managing to sound both distracted and irked, and Kimimaro frowned when he rose up from his half-prone position over the table and spied Haku's empty seat.

"Sir?" said the male servant, voice high in alarm.

"Haku," Itachi said, shoving the woman abruptly aside.

"Is he…?" the woman asked.

Kimimaro got up, stepped around the table, and sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth. Haku was on the floor, hands flat on the ground, forehead on the soiled rug, hair spilling everywhere, legs tucked beneath his body.

"Leave us," Itachi commanded, the two words regal and unarguable. With haste the two staff members left the room, and Kimimaro forced himself to stay despite the urge to obey and follow the other servants. He gasped when Itachi went to his knees next to Haku. The Uchiha rumbled a quiet sound and reached to touch Haku's shoulder, and Kimimaro wanted to cry when Haku's entire body flinched.

"Oh," Itachi said, pained as he snatched back his hand like something burned him. "Kimimaro?" he asked, turning to Kimi with an expression of ache, fear, and concern.

Quickly, Kimimaro navigated to kneel next to the prostrate man. "Haku, it's me," Kimi said softly, bending over Haku's back, hands hovering in prelude to touch. "Everything's all right."

"An accident, Haku," Itachi said, voice a low murmur that didn't betray any of the sorrow Kimimaro could see on his face. Itachi bent low, head almost even with Haku's, and Kimimaro's chest hurt.

"And this is a beautiful apology which I wholly accept, so please let Kimimaro help you to your feet?" The plea in Itachi's voice was plain, and Haku shivered, hands forming fists.

"Just me, Haku," Kimimaro said again, fingertips petting Haku's heaving back. He caressed the silky shirt, rubbing slow circles, and Haku rose to kneel, hair obscuring his face.

Rising with Haku, Itachi reached again for the upset man but stopped himself, hands falling to his thighs. "Will you let Kimimaro hold you, Haku? Please?"

Without a word, Haku leaned toward Kimi, who hugged Haku in a tight embrace. All three men remained motionless on the rug, waiting, until finally Itachi and Kimimaro's eyes met.

"I'm going upstairs, and I'd like you both to come with me," Itachi said.

"Of course, Itachi," Kimimaro said quietly, and relief washed through him when Haku's arms snaked around Kimi's neck.

"Carry him?" Itachi asked, and Kimimaro saw the scrutiny of the dark gaze.

"Yes," Kimi said simply, reaching to get an arm under Haku's knees. The smaller man stayed silent and continued to hide behind the curtain of his hair. Kimimaro didn't like that, but he nodded at Itachi and stood, lifting Haku with ease.

Itachi got up, and Kimimaro hurried to keep up with the Uchiha, who moved speedily through a series of rooms and into the main hall again. They crossed the floor, footsteps echoing, and Itachi began to climb the stairs. Kimimaro followed, Haku quiet and still in his arms.

~*~