Declaration: I definitely do not own Naruto.

A/N- Yes I am back with yet another PeinIta story, seems like my plot bunnies are stubborn that way. This is an alternative universe story, so I took some liberties.

Some OOC behavior is unavoidable, but I hope I will not cross the borders of good taste. I have three goals for this upcoming story:

One- Try to capture a little bit of the atmosphere and essence of feudal Japan

Two- Overcome my inhibitions and produce some good steamy Yaoi lemons.

Tree- Give the readers an interesting plot and a good quality story.

Ambitious, ne? Well, the only way up, is to aim for the stars.

I will mark all my lemons, to be on the safe side, but minors- beware! This story is NOT for you. Save your innocence and walk away.

Now, people- Yaoi is: Male on Male action. Not your cup of tea? Please click away safely.

I hope you will enjoy this story, and give me feedback. I really need it, silly me; it gives me the motivation that I need to continue. I will work hard for this, so please reward me with reviews. I will try to update at least twice a month.

I am my own beta, so I apologize if I miss some grammar and spelling mistakes. If something major bugs you, please let me know.

Yosh, enough with the chatter, and on with the story. Enjoy.

Floating worlds

A Day of battle

As the sun came down, the battle was finally over. The red sky above matched perfectly to the bloody red field below. Death ruled the landscape as Solders, officers and horses laid scattered on the ground, motionless as forgotten toys.

One tall man, with blazing red hair and cold gray eyes rose above his last kill and looked around. He ran a hand over his bleeding forehead, trying to figure out whom the gods favored, to be grant with victory. The eerie silence was finely broken when another man, a plain soldier, picked up a flag and started waving it around, cheering happily. The flag had a red cloud painted on it, lined with silver and white, over a black background. It was the Akatsuki flag, his flag.

As if rising from the dead, more of his men joined to the cheers. They started singing their victory songs, out of key and out of sync, but none of it mattered. Ten long years of forced exile were over, they won, and they were on their way home.

"Lord Kumori, Lord Kumori!" he heard someone shouting his name. It was his first lieutenant and his personal physician, Takino Kakuzu.

"Over here." he waved at the man that hurried his way. Kakuzu was much shorter than his master. He had dry, sunburned skin and strange looking red-green eyes. That man sighed with an open relief to see his lord alive and well.

"Let me dress your wounds, sir."

"Now, now, I am fine. Go ahead; see to the ones that really need you help."

"Hai, hai." Kakuzu bowed lightly and left in a rush. By the look of the scene, he will be drenched in work in no time.

"There you fucking are!" another familiar voice came to his ears. "I told you not to breach the ranks, haven't I? And you fucking did it anyway! What is wrong with you? If you die, you know, I'll kill you!"

"Hidan."

"Fuck ya. Did you find him?"

"No, he was not here."

"Bloody cowered, I tell you. Probably hiding in some shit-hole of a monastery, wrapped in rags, acting like a mother-fucking monk. Suits him well, I tell you."

"Enough of that, tell me, how many casualties?"

The second lieutenant and his personal bodyguard, send a hand to scratch his silver hair "Too early to tell, sir." his voice sank low, as the numbers surly will rise high.

"Yosh, burn the dead and treat the wounded. We march to the city at dawn."

"Hai."

oOOo

Kuroyama was build at the foot of a massive volcanic mountain that gave the city its name. The city grew as an organic being, from a small town to a great metropolis over the centuries, breaching its original black basalt walls. The inner old quarter, within the walls, was the wealthiest part of the city, and had beautiful palaces and gardens in it. The outer quarters were housing the working class people and the farmers. The last part of the city, that gave it its glamorous reputation, was slightly apart from it, and connected to it by a bridge. This was the pleasure district, the floating world, which gave many young men, all over the countries, a strong inspiration and desire to visit Kuroyama, at least once in their life. Although Pein could not deny this thought has crossed his mind, this was not his main goal as he marched towards the city with his army.

"Not much of a welcome." sniffed Hidan at the morning chill.

"So desu." answered Pein, dryly.

All was quiet, not a soul in the outdoors. No travelers on the roads, no farmers working on the fields, no trace of enemies either. Pein was not surprised; he was a stranger to this land, and his flag unfamiliar. People could not know if he was a friend or a foe, so all decided to lay low until things will clear up.

Kakuzu hurried his gray horse until he lined up with Pein's Black one. "Some of the soldiers are asking for your permission to be discharge and go home, my lord."

This was understandable, some of his men, if only the minority of them were locals. They haven't seen home for ten years now. Only the gods knew if after all this time, there was still a home awaiting them.

"They may go."

"I will let them know, sir" Kakuzo turned his horse back to the rear lines and left them.

"D'ya think we will meet any resistance in there?" asked Hidan.

"If so, then only in the main fortress. I will take fifty men and ride there first thing."

"I'm fucking coming with ya."

Pein could not help but smile "Never thought otherwise."

The wind caressed the rice fields, which spread around them, covering the land with green velvet-like curtains. This was a good land, a fertile land, and it was under a brutal regime for far too long. Signs of neglect everywhere, unattended fences, untrimmed fruit trees, crumbling roads, broken down bridges. A folk of wild, starving dogs accompanied the party as they drew near the city.

"Kakuzu, take your ward and secure all guarding posts. Hidan, gather fifty men, who can still fight. We are heading to the fortress."

"Yes, my lord." the both answered at the same time.

Pein drew his katana once again, hoping for this to be the last time for a long while.

"Les go!" he commanded.

The riders galloped their horses and followed.

oOOo

They were in for a surprise, as they entered the great daunting fortress. Pein and his ward prepared themselves for a bitter fight. Enemies always gave their worse as they fought a losing battle. Just not this time, the fortress was absolutely empty. By the stale smell in the corridors, it has been empty for a while. What does this mean? Pein Thought with worry. Does Danzo have no honor at all? First abandoning his army at the fight for the city, and now fleeting from the fortress, his own stronghold? A man in his stature was expected to commit seppuku, not run and hide. This was very strange; Pein could not know what to make of it.

Shadows emerged from a corner, Pein rose his sword high again, but soon recognized the voice. "Nothing but mice shit in here." Hidan Said to a fellow soldier.

"No luck, then?" asked Pein, and both looked at him and shrugged.

"What can I say? This place has been evacuated for weeks, now. Fucking Danzo saw what was coming his way."

"Yet, we cannot be sure if he is dead or alive." Pein nearly whispered. Despite his cool posture, his blood begun to boil, He came all the way here to seek revenge, and he was left high and dry. The men read this emotion well and lowered their heads with understanding. Suddenly, a noise broke the silence. There was a distinct sound of a man's walking stick hitting the ground.

"This way" Pein whispered and they rushed towards the room, making no sound of their own.

With Hidan on his right side and the other man at his left, Pein took a deep breath and smashed open the wooden door.

oOOo

o

OooO

The day of the battle was also a perfect autumn day. The sun shone bright in the sky, but with no suffocating heat to accompany it. The Hyuga cousins Neji and Hinata set together with Itachi on the wooden balcony, facing the garden. They were all creatures of the night, and usually, they would use the day for resting. But businesses were running weak, of late. Wars never benefited the pleasure district. Unemployed, and expecting another quiet night, they let themselves leisure in the perfect day.

Itachi just finished brushing Hinata's long, thick black hair. She leaned against him, humming with lazy content.

"You should get out of the sun, you two." Said Neji "Fuen will be furies if you get tanned."

"Come on, Neji…" Said Hinata "We haven't had customers in weeks now, ain't that just great, Itachi?"

"Hn."

"Well don't keep your hopes high, Hina." Neji continued, "From what I have heard, this war is nearly over. Soon we will all get busy again." He was frowning as he said that. The beautiful boy was not happy at all about it, none of them was. Seems like, it is so easy to get accustomed to good things, and so hard to let go of them.

"Who do you think won?" asked Hinata, her lavender eyes searching her cousin's ones.

Neji shrugged "As if that matters." Either way, they will be swamped with hungry, filthy soldiers again, starving with lust. The mere thought of it, made him shiver, why did the war had to end?

Itachi looked at the young boy and girl and really felt sorry for them. He was much older then them, body and soul. He was a male prostitute for as long as he could remember. He has been through so much; he really believed nothing could touch him anymore, well, maybe except someone threatening his younger brother. If something like this happens, Itachi knew he would emerge from his numbness and make those people regret that they ever breathed. Where was that boy anyway?

As if answering his mind, the garden's gate squeaked open and in ran an eight-year old, happily shouting "Itachi! Itachi!"

"Shush, you damn boy!" Neji pouted at the child "don't you know that armies are roaming the roads now? Do you want them here?"

"Sorry, Neji…" Sasuke's voice was reduced to a whisper, his head bowed to the ground.

"What have you got there?" Itachi tried to distract his brother from the frightening things that Neji just said.

Sasuke looked up, to what he was carrying, as if he saw it for the first time. "Oh, that?" He smiled proudly "It's a present for you, Aniki. Here, take it." He handed over what seems to be some lovely orange persimmons. "The firsts of the season." Sasuke's pale face shone with pride.

Itachi smiled and placed the fruits on the wooden floor. "Where did you get them, Sasuke? There are no persimmon trees in our garden. Did you go to Sakura house again?"

The boy looked at his toes. "I don't know, maybe…."

Neji and Hinata could not hold up their laughter. Hinata grabbed Sasuke and gave him a squashing hug. He squirmed, blushing, until he managed to get away.

"How many times did I tell you not to go to Sakura house?" Itachi nearly shouted. That house and their house were rivals, both claming to possess the most beautiful young courtesans. Lady Fuen, the head of Murasaki house and lady Fuka, the head of Sakura house were sworn enemies and competed mercilessly over customers.

"You can get into serious troubles if someone catches you stealing from Sakura. Don't you know that, Ototo?"

"Yes… but…"

"Don't ever do that again, you hear me?"

Sasuke was near tears, all he wanted was to make his brother happy and now it all went wrong.

"Stop it, Itachi." Said Hinata coldly, "The kid got the point. Now, Sasuke-kun, do you want some of this? Why won't you go to the kitchen and fetch us a knife?"

A smile rose on his lips again, he nodded and ran to the inside.

"You are too rough on him." Hinata scolded Itachi. He did not answer.

He knew exactly why he did not want his brother near Sakura house. That house was much wealthier then their own. If Fuka lays her eyes on his cute little brother, she will surly offer Fuen to buy him. Rivals or not, Fuen will not refuse a generous offer. In that case, Itachi will simply die.

"Here we go…" Said Hinata, as Sasuke returned with a knife. She took the smooth fruits and sliced them, bright orange juice spilling on her fingers.

"What kind of a winter will we have?" asked Itachi. It was well known that the first persimmon of the season predicted the weather. Hinata examined the knife shaped seed of the fruit. "A cold one." she answered, worry crept to her voice, but then she smiled again "There you go, Sasuke-Chan… Neji-kun," She gave each one their share. "And one for you, 'Tachi…"

"Hn."

"Come on; don't insult your brother…"

Itachi grunted, but took the offering; He did not feel much like eating. He had no appetite, too many worries on his mind. Fuen was not so happy with him lately; he was not making enough money for her. He was getting old and many of his loyal tricks got bored with him and turn to someone younger, someone fresh, Neji.

Not that he was jealous of the boy, on the contrary, let him keep them, but he knew his time was running out. Soon he will be sold to a cheap, tacky house, were they fuck you in the main lounge room. This, he could live with; this was the natural order for things. However, being separated from Sasuke? That kept him awake at nights.

"Aniki, can we ask permission from lady Fuen and go to catch fireflies in the evening?'

"No."

Sasuke looked at his brother with wild eyes "But Niisan, last month she let us go, remember? And it was so fun."

"Last month we didn't have a foreign army camping in the fields. It is too dangerous."

"We can be careful."

"I said no. Give it up."

"You're so mean." Sasuke wailed.

He was about to scold the boy, as the gates screeched open again, and in came lady Fuen with her favorite pet, Ino, and Fudo, her loyal thug.

As usual, the woman was wearing too much make up, a smothering perfume and an overly dramatic red-blue kimono. "This is unheard of, really outrages!" she said as she came in, fuming. "That bloody woman passed all borders of good taste!"

Ino was struggling to keep up with her, carrying the paper umbrella that shaded her mistress from the sun.

Neji Hinata and Itachi hurried to bow deeply, head touching the wooden floor. Hinata even pulled Sasuke with her, as she bowed. Showing lack of respect meant a painful lashing from Fudo.

"Welcome home, my lady.," said Itachi, as the elder of her subordinates.

"Damn Fuka, she paid all the pubs near the bridge, so they will recommend the customers to go to Sakura. Can you believe that, Fudo? She has no shame."

"Yes, my lady."

"Maybe we should do the same? I mean, not that we need to, but just to spite her?"

"Yes, my lady…"

"Such a hot day… Itachi, go fetch me a cap of cold tea. Hinata, darling, come rub my feet, they are killing me."

Hinata and Itachi exchanged glares, this time luck was on his side. Itachi left for the kitchen. Hinata sighed as the lady stepped out of her Geta sandals, and presented her feet in front of the girl.

"Come on, Sasuke-kun.", said Neji to the boy "Let's get out of the sun." He just wanted to get the boy out of Fuen sight, before she will get ideas, because lately, she started considering selling his virginity to the highest bidder. Sasuke should be out of her sight, the sooner, the better. "Are you coming?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming…" the child chewed on the last slice of persimmon, and then followed Neji indoors.

Itachi came back with a small jar of tea that was left to chill in the basement. He returned to the sight of Hinata massaging Fuen's feet, while Ino massaged her oily black hair. "There, right there…." The woman sighed with pleasure "Such a headache I got. All that from worries, you know. I always worry of you. Who take such a good care of you, ne, Ino?"

"You do, my lady." Ino answered with monotone voice.

"And we are forever grateful." Hinata hurried to say, falling from grace was a dangerous thing.

"Here is your tea, madam." The teen gave her the porcelain cup that lay on top of the jar, and poured the tea in it. He really hoped she would excuse him after she thanked him. No suck luck, as he rose to his feet to leave, she gave him a cold glare.

"Itachi-kun…"

"Yes, my lady?" How he hated to be referred to as a child, at the age of seventeen.

"How much did you earn last month, Itachi-kun?"

His stomach twitched with pain at that question. "Three thousand and six hundred Mons, madam."

Her blood painted lips curved up with a cruel smile "That is not much."

Itachi fell on his knees and bowed again, "I will work harder, my lady, I promise I will."

"You'd better."

oOOo

Itachi climbed upstairs with an oil paper-lamp and a heavy heart. Many thought occupied his mind, and he didn't want to burden no one with them. Fuen's vulture eyes following him around all day did not help at all. Something must happen fast, he thought, to turn the tables, or things will end up pretty grim.

Few things he enjoyed in his life, and taking care of his brother was one of them. He opened the moving screen door and entered the main dormitory. The little children slept there already, the ones too young to work. Sora was there, on his futon, already in deep sleep. Next to him, two other girls snuggled together, sleeping as well. His brother waited awake, and set up as he walked in.

"Itachi!"

"Be quiet now, Sasuke-kun, don't wake them up."

"Itachi…" The boy's smile could really light up the dark room. "Come to the window, you got to see something!" Sasuke tried to whisper, but could not hide his excitement. "This is really something else, Aniki, come see."

Itachi raised a suspecting eyebrow, but said nothing as his brother clenched his wrist and tugged him to the window.

Itachi placed the lamp on the floor, away from the agitated boy, before following his little pointing finger.

"Can you see it, 'Tachi? Do you see that?"

Itachi gasped at the beautiful, yet intimidating sight. A huge fire raged on the low rigid of the mountain. He carefully studied the wind direction, and it was blowing east. There was no threat to the city, but its main stronghold was going up in flames.

"Ain't that awesome?" the red and orange flames danced on the eight-year old pale face. It was a breathtaking sight indeed. The high flames lilted the ink black skies, only to be reflected on the heavy clouds. The clouds that gathered after dark.

Who could have burned the fortress? Itachi thought. Did we lose the battle and burned it down so the enemy could not have it? Or was this the enemy's own work? Either way, seems like the war was finally over, for better or worse.

"Sure beats catching fireflies, ne, Aniki?"

"Yes, it does. Come to bed now, Sasuke."

Itachi pulled the not so willing boy away from the window, and back to his futon.

"Stay with me tonight, Aniki?" Sasuke asked, shyly.

"Hn." Itachi agreed. No tricks tonight to keep him away from his brother.

"Tell me a story?"

Itachi smiled as he put out the fire of the lamp. The only light that remained in the room was that of the roaring flames outside.

They both got under the white cotton blanket, and Itachi tucked it around his brother's skinny body. Sasuke snuggled on his brother's chest. Itachi sent his hand to stroke the silky raven hair that so resembled his own.

"A story." Sasuke reminded him.

"Yes, Ototo…" Itachi smiled softly. "Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess named Mikoto…"

"Like our mother…"

"Yes, like our mother. She was a very beautiful and a wise princess. She had many friends. One of them was a dragon."

"A dragon?" Sasuke question turned into a loud yawn.

"Yes, a big blue water deity called Mizukun." Itachi whispered, his hand never ceasing to stroke Sasuke's hair. "They were best friends and they always traveled together. One day, Mizukun asked Mikoto to come to his palace underwater…" Itachi paused and smiled since he had lost his audience. He placed a kiss on the sleeping boy's temple, and closed his eyes as well.

Outside a thunder grumbled, and soon an angry rain poured on the land. Itachi wondered about the battle between the water and the flames. He tried his best to calm down and get some sleep.

Yet soon, he found out, someone had different plans for him. "Itachi…" a voice, only above a whisper, alerted him again."Itachi, come here."

The teen rose from the futon, careful not to wake his brother. He gravitated towards the voice coming from the windowsill.

A dark, tall figure, clad in black, awaited him outside, ignorant of the heavy rain that soaked it. Itachi hurried to the man. His face was hidden under an orange mask, but Itachi knew exactly who he was. "Sensei!" He bowed deeply and tried to hide his surprise. They were not supposed to meet before springtime.

"We need to talk, Itachi-kun. Grab your coat and come with me."

oOOo

TBC

OooO

A/N- Well, what do you think so far? Please let me know.