A STORY IN THE SAKURA ROOM

Title: A story of the sakura room (Sakura no heya monogatari)
Genre: YAOI
Status: WIP
Warning: I’ll be insinuating things here and there, but there’s only lime although this is a courtesan story, I’ll leave it up to your imagination.
Pairing: Multiple pairings / indefinite-uncertain pairings / SasuNaru NejiNaru GaaNaru ZabuHaku

Disclaimer: All rights and privileges to Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha and associated parties. The characters of this series are used without her permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale.

Names and places here are real however due to my lack of researching skills and inborn laziness I refused to do further research. The setting of time and the description of the places are all my own though the names of existing places are real.

Because I don’t want you guys complaining about confusion let me tell you this. The setting is my own creation as well as some practices. I’ve fused some traditions from the courtesans’ side and the geisha’s side, except for some names like Yoshiwara, Tokyo, and the like.

Trailer:

Imprisoned by invisible walls of the famous male brothel quarters Gyokurou, Naruto known as Youko perseveres for freedom, his hand struggling to reach something, will he be able to find at last that missing piece? Youko whose story was just one of the many that had started in that sakura room. The door is open, welcome to Gyokurou.

1st Roll

YOUKO

Part I

Go!

No I can’t leave you!

I said go! Just go we’ve already come this far!

Naruto-

I’m sorry, Sasuke.

Naruto!

We were refugees from the war. I had nowhere to go, I had no idea where I came from, you and I, we had nothing but each other. Just that is enough to make me hope that I can wake up tomorrow again.

And see your face.

+++

The red light district Yoshiwara was open to all kinds of people with the front of housing teahouses, cafes and bars, all kinds of appearances from all levels of society, from the lowly servant to a rich merchant to government officials whose appearance and identity can only be concealed with amigasa and cloaks.

*Amigasa-hats of plaited straw

Whatever their appearances were, whatever their personalities were, the name Yoshiwara, soon as it leaves their mouth the driver they hired that night would instantly know what kind of appointment they will have in that place.

The pleasure quarter at night, a place for you to free yourself of all inhibitions raw where lights from the street lamp posts and the skyscraper buildings surrounding that area jostle with each other as if to tempt outsiders.

One such place inside the famous red light district that harbored the most secrets of the most elite people in the society flourished in its name.

Past the Omon gate marking the entrance to Yoshiwara through the five main streets, a slight turn from the main road Nakanocho until you find your way to the crowd of lights illuminating the majestic background scene of the woods behind the splendidly made compound of thatched houses fenced with stone walls, red wooden beams and a large two way door.

The place where the moon shines its brightest light.

*Gyoku-means moon ehe, correct me if I’m wrong.

Creak. Creak. Creak.

Welcome to Gyokurou.

“Catch him!”

The leaves of bushes rustled loudly as the sharp twigs tore on red silk, the dried leaves producing crisp cracking noises the moment it was stepped on and left by a pair of quickly padding feet. It was dark, it was cold, in the forest not far from behind the borders of Gyokurou where countless thatched single rooms surrounded the main building, a game of chase was occurring.

“No…” A throaty mumble escaped the running figure, he was used to this, that the scratches on his knees, that the dirt under his feet felt so normal to him.

“Just a little more…” His kimono was a mess, the folds of the neckline hanging loosely over stiff shoulders, spiky blonde hair not longer than shoulder length full of leaves and some plastered on sweaty skin.

“I don’t want to…” His speed increased as he sensed someone running after him from behind, letting out a yelp as he tripped over a sharp stone and fell on a heap of dried leaves on the ground.

“Gotcha Youko-san, you’re all mine for the night!” The unfamiliar face smothered the crook of his neck with kisses, pinning his wrist with muscular hands on both side as he struggled to free himself from the dead weight, noting how his legs were beginning to separate with the man’s thigh.

“You’re fast as usual… well… I wouldn’t have participated if it weren’t you as prey…”

“Let go!!!”

“Ow shit!” A sharp kick from the suit clad man’s stomach sent the man rolling over to the side clenching the attacked part, blue eyes glaring deadly at him before straightening up to make his legs do a continuation of work towards a clearing he saw earlier.

Tonight, Naruto wasn’t going to be taken.

“There he is!” The blonde let out a gasp as he saw from a quick peripheral view one of his patrons on the side approaching him, quickening his steps, not minding the bruise he acquired from tripping at the sharp stone earlier and jumped at the fence, as if he had been doing it always, surrounding on what looked like one of the empty rooms of the brothel.

“No!”

He had to go inside and go through the other door at the back of the room and hide underneath the porch before the men crowded over his general direction and capture him. If one of them caught him then that room would be the place they’d fancy raping him.

Stepping up the two step stairs towards the room he slid the door roughly and dashed inside, only for his face and body to collide with something lean, tall and cloth-like.

“Oof!”

“Where is he!?” The group of five men paused on the area couple of meters away in front of the single thatched room, windows barricaded with lattice fences and the oil lamp still not lighted despite the growing darkness, they neared as they saw the obvious trail of the blonde with the bothered leaves giving them a definite clue to where he was.

“Check out that room!”

“Shit it’s occupied, look at the sign.” They panted and scowled, not at all pleased of their Youko’s luck, it’s a general rule to patrons and courtesans alike not to enter an occupied room without permission. Apparently, their Youko was brave enough to bend that rule again, he’d either receive multiple beatings and a week without dinner than sleep with them.

“I don’t care. I’m not leaving with my money going down the drain!”

“That bitch always manages to hide from us every time, it’s already two hours since the incense had been lit, if we don’t get to catch him-”

“But we always manage to catch him and then….”

“It’s an addicting game don’t you think?”

The blonde frantically looked for an escape route the moment he was able to lift himself off the man shaded with the darkness inside the room, only to find out, that the door on the back he just slid open led not to anywhere but a hot spring and further greeneries beyond it.

“No… no if I get out now they’ll…”

“What the-who are you? You’re not the courtesan I called for?” His voice was deep and sounded educated, like the many other government officials he had served in his time as a courtesan, and when ‘Youko’ turned to face the man who had just lighted the lamp he was faced with someone that stabbed through the frozen memory in his mind to flow.

Sasuke.

“Please… I beg you help me…. I’ll do anything… just help me get away from here… hide me…” The raven was taken aback as the blonde literally clenched on his gray vest enough to tear the clothing, face wiped off with make up and splotched with tears.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want to… have those terrible… things done to me again… have mercy please…”

“You’re… that person…”

“Eh?” And the man, skin pallid and had just slipped off his coat, led the blonde clueless of his actions to the newly replaced tatami floor.

“We’ll take care of that customer or courtesan, whoever they were later…” All of them methodically jumped over the fence, walking with stealth and the adrenaline rushing the moment they heard a rustling of clothes and a whimper, a whimper they knew belonged to the former best selling courtesan of Yoshiwara, a whimper they so loved to hear.

“Wh-what are you-” The blonde panicked as he started to hyperventilate under the man’s body.

“Sai.” One word, that had escaped the man’s lips before closing the distance between their mouths into a kiss full of teeth and tongue.

“Get off-mmmpphhh!!!”

No! Could it be that this man was also one of the participants in the game? They were quite plenty this time of month compared to last month, more than half of them he managed to hide from but five were still hot on his tail, four his former patrons and one a new face.

“Stop! Let me go!!!” What an idiot he had been! His loose obi was now getting easily undone by the man who called himself Sai, his thighs being shoved apart when they fought to put them close together, and when the shoji slid open revealing the five men’s faces, he lost all hope of escaping from experiencing that unbearable thing again.

“Hello gentlemen, what’s your business here if I may ask?” Sai had finally lifted part of his body off the blonde, a smile gracing his pallid complexioned features.

“Shit-give him back, I don’t remember seeing you as one of the participants!” One of Youko’s patrons growled in between rough pants and blood pressure already threatening to shoot up to the maximum level of anger.

“Oh how can you be so sure? I was certain your eyes haven’t had any attention to anything in particular but my little Youko here. We were… what, about five, twenty?”

“Listen mate, here’s the deal, so you’ve caught him, but it’s not like you can’t share him.” The one from behind, the new patron grinned mischievously, expectant to hear an affirmative when Sai’s eyes squinted a little.

“Yeah, we do it all the time, and it’s twice the fun if it’s not your first time doing it.”

“Apparently I don’t like sharing meals with someone else. It’s a game after all… unfortunately this time, there’s no consolation price.” Blue orbs switched from Sai and the group of men whose patience was already running out, repeatedly. So this was what Sai was attempting to do? He was lucky after all to find-

“What is the meaning of this? Everyone, what are you doing here?”

The thought quickly left him as soon as it arrived as that authoritative but gentle voice flowed through the evening air, the sky outside was already beginning to darken as the last rays of light disappeared. Behind the group of men who made way for that person to see what the raucous was all about revealed a pale complexioned figure with straight dark hair and clad in dark blue kimono silk with a green obi tied at the front, just as any courtesan.

His features were delicate, from afar, from a glance anyone could mistake him a beautiful woman but if you’d only concentrate a little on his throat, you’d see a slightly visible bump in there.

“Ah Shirahime-san…” The name that escaped one of the men’s lips didn’t get through Naruto’s ears, he wasn’t Shirahime to him, to him who refused to address the courtesan with that false name, he was Haku, a friend he’d grown to like as a child inside the brothel house.

Behind him was Zabuza-sama, Haku’s patron and lover for already two years, and two or three more people together with the man which was shrouded from the darkness outside. As Haku and Naruto’s gaze met, the blonde’s eyes begged for salvation from the man, he’d cry in front of Haku if he had to.

“Is it this time of the month already, Tachibana-sama?”

“Yes, well… we ran into some problems…”

“If I may assist you in anything please…”

“No, just some trouble about a participant we didn’t know.” Haku instantly understood what had just transpired inside the moment he set eyes on a panicking blonde, he couldn’t remember how many times Naruto had ranted about earning money without having to do anything but run before they sleep in the quarters. He was the only one who Sasori-sama had told of where Naruto was disappearing to every end of the second week of the month, one of the privileges of being two of the best selling courtesans in Yoshiwara. After all…

He’s the one who had suggested it to Sasori-sama before offering it to Naruto.

“Whatever. It’s called a game because someone had to win.” Sai said not relinquishing his hold of the blonde as the two of them shifted to take a seat on the floor, the raven’s hand on Naruto’s shoulder.

A look of indecision crossed the beautiful courtesan’s face for a while, rendering for the blonde to clench on his near tattered kimono in anxiety, silently he begged for his friend to help him this time, even if it’s for just one night he wanted to sleep without having to give his body to anyone.

“I’m sorry but it looks like you have to leave, you’re free to come back for another time.” And Naruto almost let out a loud sigh of relief if not for the fact that the men could suspect a conspiracy between them.

“Shit, and I thought I’d get to win him this time.”

“You always get to win, well all of us actually.”

“Haa… there goes our bucks for nothing…”

Like Haku had always done he moved to bend down a little, muttering something about looking forward to their patronage again next time as the men departed hotly, leaving Haku, Zabuza and the others alone.

“What’s this Sai, never thought you to be the impatient guy, couldn’t wait for your turn?” Zabuza said, smirking while removing his shoes to place on the entryway before taking a carefree seat on one of the padded seats next to the wall as Haku moved to slide the slightly parted shoji door fully open for the other guests to come in, Naruto quickly moving to stand up and leave through the back door before anyone saw him, he was lucky it was Haku that had seen him, only for his knees to buckle and fall hard on the floor.

And the blonde let out a yelp.

“What’s the raucous all about Shirahi-”

Another beautiful courtesan showed up before the entrance door of the room, black waist length hair tied with a red lace at the tail of his hair wearing a beige kimono, semi round oriental eyes that had gray eyes so pale it was almost white. Behind him was a pony-tailed young man Naruto recognized to be Shikamaru Nara-sama, Hitomi’s mizuage patron-no, Neji.

Neji’s body froze on the spot the moment he laid eyes on the disheveled form of Naruto who appeared to have been pinned on his position and couldn’t move, they stood like that for a few mere seconds, Neji finding it hard to find composure as he followed his patron inside the room with his eyes not taking a single break from looking at Naruto while Shikamaru’s eyes lit up in recognition.

“Hn..?” Shikamaru squinted his eyes a bit as he observed the blonde, while Neji moved to take off his coat, hanging it on a peg on the wall peripheral to the shoji, blonde hair, tanned skin, lean body, blue eyes, his hair was cut, but hell, that didn’t make him near to the word ugly, just… disheveled and he was surprised to find the blonde’s appearance quite erotic with the neck line of his kimono hanging loosely from either shoulders exposing the beginning of his chest, the loose obi and the semi exposed thigh with the way the hem of his robes were separated…

“I deeply apologize for all this trouble minna-san, for allowing you to see one of our courtesans in his current appearance. Baikan-sama, I apologize in his behalf for ever troubling you, Youko, take your leave and clean up.” Haku bowed yet again as he led Shikamaru and Neji to the other padded seats beside where Zabuza was sitting on.

Naruto couldn’t even look Haku in the eye, he couldn’t look at anyone in the eye, not at Sai, Neji, Shikamaru, or Zabuza.

Clenching the necklines of his kimono close to hide his chest, he moved to stand up, not even noticing the tears that had once again started to pour out of his eyes, crying seemed to be the only thing he’s capable of, but he paused, when a hand wrapped around his wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“T-thank you, for… rescuing me…” was his throaty reply, as drops of moisture from his eyes wetted the tatami floor. “I apologize… for being… a bother, please… let me… leave.”

Neji knows… what should he do? Haku’s the only one who knows about what he had to do to prevent himself from being imprisoned in Gyokurou for life because of debt that his salary as a servant couldn’t pay even if he worked all his life.

To be seen in an appearance like that, in the arms of an unknown man by Neji, by people who used to admire him…

“Don’t thank me for nothing, I had my own intentions.”

“Eh?” After that, Sai let go of his wrist, hands leaning on the floor on both side as the man cracked his neck sideways and the raven smirked up at him.

“You didn’t think I’d let you off that easy after all the trouble I had to go through.”

As if all air left the blonde’s lungs, Naruto found it hard to breathe again, his kimono was already threatening to be torn into shreds inside his clenched fists and his insides began to tremble uncontrollably.

“You’d prove a good present for that stubborn cousin of mine.”

“But-but-”

“Youko.” Haku’s warning voice made Naruto look over his shoulder, seeing how the courtesan’s eyes narrowed towards him he knew he had no choice, it was better tending to one person and in a soft futon inside a warm room than being done in by numerous men wherever they caught him like an animal.

It was forbidden to give payment directly to the courtesan, but it’s not like Naruto was going to be the first to do it, many courtesans had done it in hope to save up enough money for themselves to escape the place or pay up so they can be free, besides, Sai might squeal if he wasn’t given what he wanted. This Haku thought to soothe the guilt feeling of having to somewhat keep a secret like that from the brothel.

“H-hai, what… what do you want me to do?” The background of a man’s voice outside interrupted the conversation for a while, they were servants that brought food and wine asking to be let in.

“Well first why don’t you go and wash yourself in the hot spring outside? There’s a rinsing area too, make sure to wash up real good, it’s only polite.” The raven gestured with his hand at the general direction of the man-made hot spring out the slightly opened shoji opposite the one they opened to get in.

The blonde could only nod faintly in resignation, lowering his head if not more as he turned around and stepped out in the man-made hot spring bare footed, while as if on cue the servants came in to serve lacquered trays of food and sake to the five men.

“Hm, it’s quite nice here Zabuza, like you’ve said, first night and I’ve already met someone so interesting.” Sai shifted to cross his legs over the other so he was sitting like an Indian, elbow resting on a knee while his tipped head to the side was leaning on a loosely curled fist, eyes trained on the slowly undressing blonde near the shower beside the hot spring.

The artificial hot spring didn’t feel artificial at all, bamboos surrounded the area explaining the relaxing smell from it while large smooth stones served as tiles. The rinsing area was just beside the pool of steaming water, a couple of wooden low stools and a peg with towels and robes ready for use.

“Good eye candy huh, I can see from your face. You sure you’re just here to observe?”

“Baikan-sama, are you sure you do not want someone to pour you-”

“No, it’s fine, don’t mind me…” Sai interrupted Haku, eyes fixed on the blonde who seemed ethereal under the light of the new moon and steam rising from the warm water, creating a light mist all over the place.

While Neji fought the urge to break the sake cup in two with his hand, he put up his usual smiling mask towards Shikamaru as he poured the nonchalant man another serving of sake, nobody paid mind to his quietness, Shikamaru liked silence, and Neji liked to keep quiet when it’s not necessary to talk, he found it good to preserve his voice since he’s going to need a lot of it later when he talked to Naruto and Haku after this night.

Naruto quietly sat on one of the low stools under the flowing water of the shower and stiffened a little, startled at the cold gush attacking the top of his head and back. And bit by bit as if chunks of clay falling off a little one at a time to reveal smooth porcelain, the blonde’s unmarred skin glistened under the light of the moon.

“That makes me wonder… Zabuza.” Sai finally muttered as the two pairs paused from conversing with each other.

“Hn? What?” The man gulped another serve of sake down his throat.

“All your courtesans here have long hair but… and that time earlier, do you really have those kinds of things done to you regularly?”

“Oh that’s right, you’ve just come back from overseas. The courtesans here live strictly by the rules of their houses and no one is exempted from punishment when that rule is bent.” The little crack the chopsticks in Neji’s hand made as the grip proved too strong for the thin wooden sticks to handle remained unheard of by the group, intent as they were to listen to what Zabuza was saying, but the man soon transferred the conversation to Haku to continue.

“There are rules here where we abide, from the time we wake up, have meals, do chores and sleep. Youko had never been one to get along well with this kind of environment even as a child, he’d always wanted to leave this place. No one has ever succeeded in doing so with just sheer will to escape recklessly, you either have to pay up or get ransomed by a patron.”

“Wasn’t Youko one of the famous attendants expected to gain Oshoku? I don’t see why he should get difficulty getting a well enough rich patron… ah, who’s that guy again? Gaara?” Shikamaru suddenly found himself inside the conversation, his curiosity winning over him.

*Oshoku-reputation as best selling courtesan

“Right after his mizuage had been done, there had been talks about getting ransom from his mizuage patron Sabaku-sama… why he was caught trying to escape in the middle of the night or why he had attempted to escape at all, we didn’t know.”

*Mizuage-you get laid for the first time, ehe.

“Youko was confined for weeks after his hair was cut off as punishment, he is to serve as a servant until the length of his hair grows back to its original length before he is permitted to be a courtesan again.”

“Well, if you’re opening up your legs to different men everyday who’d want to stay in here?” Sai felt his throat go dry as he watched the blonde slowly submerge his body on the warm pool, felt the tightening of his undergarment as he saw the look of relief on Naruto’s face as the warmth embraced him, head tilted, mouth slightly parted and hand gently rubbing on the center area of his throat.

“I know Youko… he may look naïve but he’s not dumb to openly attempt an escape, all courtesans here know that the only way we can be free of this place is by way of money.” The last word made Haku shoot a suppressed glare towards the other courtesan with just Shikamaru separating them, Neji stiffening at the hardened word that left his superior’s mouth causing for something to block his throat, rendering him speechless.

“Then that GAME earlier, was it a part of his punishment?” Shikamaru didn’t fail to notice the different expressions temporarily crossing Neji’s face despite his silence and attempt to cover up with every answer and question taking place inside the conversation, especially the way his pallid gray eyes widened when the subject was mentioned.

“That is…”

Neji looked as if his life depended on what Haku would answer.

“Please, I beg you that this matter not be discussed anymore after this.”

“Sure honey, I bet my precious ‘son’ on it. Which is why you can be sure that I don’t spit a word.” Sai let out a snort and Haku fought the urge to roll his eyes as he let Zabuza place a long kiss on his neck, his mouth seeming as if it never wanted to leave that place.

“When your hair is cut it’s usually because of a very grave mistake you’ve done, and to other courtesans, it’s usually the end for them and they’d either end up in Kashimise or serve as a servant for free for life.”

*Kashimise-dude, it’s where you get fucked dry with commoner gay guys, old, toothless and all well if you’re a guy that is…

“Youko isn’t only attractive in ways more than one, he gets close to people on such short period of time even if it isn’t with customers… it’s because of him that I haven’t lost hope until now that I can leave this place and finally lead a clean life.” A comforting arm went around Haku’s waist, tugging him to lean close on Zabuza’s side. Just a few more months, and he’s going to set his white princess free from this place…

*Shirahime-means white princess y’all and Haku means white, Youko means fox, ne? Hitomi… well I think it’s got something to do with eyes, ehe, correct me if I’m wrong.

“He has the potential to be a oshoku, and I believe if he’s not going to get free of this place by ransom, then it’s by his own money he saved up. He just needed a chance again, and the only way that I can convince the master to bring him back, is by showing him that he’s a worthy investment enough to take a risk… that’s why we had to make it obvious that Youko is adored by many and we also need the money we get from those men to pay up even a fragment of his debt.”

You’re the reason for this you bastard!?

Neji screamed internally, eyes boring holes on the plate he was currently glaring at and shaking clenched hands hidden under the sash of his obi at his front making little crescents on his palm as his nails dug deep.

“I’ve heard of it plenty of times, lower class brothels does that sometimes with their courtesans for more money. It’s as cruel as it sounds… game. Like a fox running from the hunters’ dogs and guns, and once you get caught. It’s hell for you.” Zabuza’s stomach turned at the mere thought of Haku being in the same situation, he knew somehow because of that one conversation he had with Youko once before he disappeared where he was confined all along, that the blonde was set up and sabotaged so that he couldn’t leave the brothel. It all the more fired him up to do his best so that he could get Haku out of the place before the same thing happened to him.

They enjoy the chase before closing in for the kill, they do you in where you’re caught, whether it’s in the lake or over a heap of leaves, in a cave and sometimes, just for the fun of it they’d conspire with another man and do it to you at the same time.

Of course what they’re dealing with is an oomise, a high class brothel, the sum they pay up is something no decent man can give so they’re either yakuza or filthy rich business men with weird fetishes and to be honest, the practice is rarely done for a select few.

Courtesans, who have attempted to run away, stole from the brothel house, who after having been confined would still be looked for by many patrons.

“As ruthless as it may sound… Youko chose to do this of his own free will, he cannot regret it now, and until his hair grows back… we have no other choice.”

Sai watched Naruto turn his head sideways, eyes looking up as they followed a stray butterfly that settled temporarily on one of the stones. He was smiling, it reminded Sai of a child, carefree hands reaching up to catch the butterfly and then sulking a little when it went to disappear in the darkness of the spaces between the bamboos.

“He looks the same just like the first time I saw him… hearing those things from you Shirahime-san, it’s as if what you just said were all lies. Seeing him now… I find it hard to believe that he can still smile like THAT despite all the things that happened to him.”

All shared a look except for Neji who was still caught on his own world as they followed Sai’s nostalgic gaze towards the blonde who was busy squirting water using both of his palms and giggling gently.

“First time you say… ho? Then Sai d’you mean you’ve seen Youko before? You pervert, weren’t you the one who said you’ve never been to this part of Tokyo before?”

“When I said I’ve never been to this PART… it meant I’ve never been to a place like this. Since abroad people come to me… who’d have thought people here mind so much of your sex life?”

“Then how did you two meet? Doesn’t look like he’s recognized you at all…” Shikamaru made it a point to himself to not wait for Neji to pour him sake, since the man looked too absorbed in his own world to notice anything.

“It’s more like I’ve seen him somewhere… when I was looking for things to sketch in this same woods.”

Outside where the light from the room can be seen even from a far, a figure was slowly approaching, the wind carried any sound the leaves made from being crushed under shoed feet, even as he finally stepped on to the entrance way where shoes were placed, the occupants of the room remained absorbed in their conversation.

“Don’t tell me you chanced on him taking a bath!”

“Zabuza-sama is too bold, Baikan-sama wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Actually it’s close to that, but not quite.”

“See?”

“Hitomi-san, what happened to you? It seemed as if you’ve lost your tongue.”

“Huh? Uh… I apologize for not having kept with the conversation but the sake was a little strong for me. Please, don’t mind me and go on.”

“Hitomi-san’s as polite as always, but I like this face of his… so regal that even having fallen to this state, you have not lost your grace.”

“Zabuza you keep talking like that and you’d risk losing your little ‘son’ later.”

“Ahahaha! Of course for me no one else can compare to my lovely Shirahime, and what ‘little son’ are you talking about? As far as Shirahime’s concerned, my magnum’s nowhere near the word little. My Shirahime, his skin is as white as snow, but when it’s under my palm it looks like blushing silk…”

“Zabuza-sama many people are…”

“Your mouth spouts nothing but frivolities as usual Zabuza. It really feels like I’m home.” The conversation halted soon as the shoji door slid open.

In came a tall man the same height as Sai’s with cool demeanor surrounding him, dressed in a gray vest under a white coat with the collar slightly opened from the loose tie paired up with dark pants, as Sai stood up in recognition of the man with more than one similar feature as him they seemed to mirror each other as the two put up a smirk each with its own air.

“Sasuke, as glad as I am that you finally showed up, I couldn’t help but be pissed off by the mere thought that you had done it on purpose.” Sasuke shrugged off his jacket and put it on the peg together with the other men’s coats, noticing first the look of shock on both the courtesans’ faces which gathered the men’s attention too.

“What?” Sasuke said with a slight annoyance in his voice. Haku recovered first, apologizing for rudely staring at him and no doubt having a hard time fumbling for words as he started the introduction.

“What’s wrong? You looked as if you’ve seen a ghost?” Sai chuckled as he padded the seat beside him, Sasuke taking a seat on the offered space as he tugged his tie off his neck completely.

“N-no… just… a reminiscent face. Right? Hitomi-san?”

“E-eh? Y-yes… a reminiscent… face.” Once again Shikamaru saw panic cross Neji’s face, the way he bit his lip and how he would cast awkward glances to the blonde’s shadow every now and then who was currently drying his body with a towel, hidden from Sasuke’s view.

“Sasuke here just got back from England like me, instead of being cousins it’s more likely for us to be mistaken as brothers don’t you think? Even though…”

“And? What is it that you had to steal the original copy of my work just to convince me to come here?” Sasuke narrowed his eyes on Sai behind the cup of sake the man poured for him, but his cousin just smiled his unusually amused smile, to be able to see the corners of his mouth abnormally reaching the level of his earlobes, Sai must have been really amused.

“As I’ve said, your designs appear too half hearted for my tastes. It will not do you any good to put those into finished products. You need inspiration my friend, ins-pi-ra-tion.” Sai said in a sing-sang voice, tapping the object wrapped in linen paper and thin abaca ropes beside him.

“Either way women still buy. And as long as they ask me to work for them, then I have no problem. It’s not the same as your paintings, people can see and admire but it’s not like they should buy it to look at it. Compared to you I’m more financially stable.” Sasuke felt like he shouldn’t go to Gyokurou the moment he stepped on that place, even if he had never set foot on the place, it carried something bad to him, like he was being suffocated.

Even in brothels abroad he had never been comfortable, he got off hiring escorts and such but still he couldn’t help but feel that there was something in that place that he needed to find.

“Ah the rantings of a compensating man.” Zabuza lifted both hands, shrugging as he let out an appreciative sigh.

“Were you talking about yourself just now?”

“If I may ask, is… Uchiha-sama… the kimono designer which I’ve been hearing from that has fused western and oriental design together?”

“Yes. And my cousin here just stole an original copy of a ‘not for sale’ work.” Sasuke shot Sai a glare, which the man regarded as his cousin’s way of affection fondly even if it was really a glare wishing daggers at him.

“What? You spend your entire day cooped up in your room doing nothing but brood I had to get you out somehow. And besides, I have a surprise for you. Haven’t you always complained of your models?”

“Excuse me… I’m sorry for having taken a long time in the-”

Naruto’s heart felt like it stopped beating that moment, the temperature of his body seemed to have shot up to the highest level his body can endure, his lungs felt as if it started to reject air, his vocal chord constricted, all of him just felt like it had stopped moving altogether.

And without any blinking, without each of their gazes tearing away from the other, drops of tears started to continuously flow down the blonde’s cheeks.

To be continued…

*Ah! At last I have finally gotten out of my Naruto slump!!!! So, so how was it? Hn? Hn? Do you find yourself wondering why Neji was acting like that? Hn? Hn? And because I have always adored Haku, I wanted Zabuza to be good to him even for a while not the manipulative bastard that he is! Also Haku here is very very much many years, well not really, older than Naruto so he acts somewhat as an older brother (sister?) to him. The Sai here is somewhat friendly, yeah? Even though he’s got the hots for Naruto I wonder why he’s offering him to Sasuke…

And now…

Presenting!

Seme rule book, how to get your ukes in pinpoint accuracy! The book where you’re bound to bend at least one law in this book or as much as all of it.

Seme rule book : 1. Do whatever it takes to make a good impression, or you’ll end up raping him at the end of the day if you’re too proud to confess.