Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ Just Like You Part 2 ( Chapter 15 )

 

A/N- Oh look my authors note is at the beginning this time! I just couldn't help changing it up on you guys! (tries to start out light-heartedly even though her fans probably wanna kill her) I know…I know…I'm an awful terrible person who deserves to be shot for taking this long…and trust me those reviews really did guilt trip me into writing about 7 pages of this chapter last night (you know who you are) lol But I'd like to blame it on the fact that I do nothing but work, or that I had surgery, or hell that I'm in Vegas now visiting Reyn…but I can't…cuz I have no excuses…I'm just awful, but I swear I won't do this to you again! Oh and this chapter turned out to be a lot longer than I thought so I couldn't add one part…so it shall be broken down into a part 3 that will be out MUCH sooner than the last…or you can stone me to death with cookies! Anyways…this is a lot different from what I normally write, and so I hope you guys enjoy it and I would LOVE reviews…even if I don't deserve them for being such a bad author…

 

…luv you all! Enjoy!

 

Oh…Oh…AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!! …I'm gonna be a punky kitty

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Never Played Symphonies

 

Chapter 15: Just Like You, Part Two

 

It was warm…truly warm, unlike the cold nights that usually chilled him to the bone. The cell that had been nothing but pure torment for him, and the cot that usually reeked of vomit and feces, for some reason didn't seem to be like that anymore… His head was nestled soundly against a cotton pillow that smelled remarkably familiar. He was curled into a warm embrace that had only partially to do with the oversized comforter he could feel pressed against his bare flesh. For the first time in a long time he felt safe, though he couldn't understand why.

 

The weight of the ring that had sealed his cursed fate still hung on his finger... its very presence testifying to his guilt against Konoha, against his friends… against Naruto. He couldn't even tell what he was doing anymore. Was this even still a part of his assignment? Was he still trying to complete Konoha's mission? Or was all of this just Itachi's will— the will that seems to have governed him since his birth— the will that seems to move him with marionette strings, making him dance just like a good puppet should, just like Itachi likes it.

 

Onyx eyes snapped open then, only to widen as he took in his surroundings. It really shouldn't have surprised him, after all he had recognized that scent… but waking up in his brother's bed with the callous bastard sitting right beside him still managed to make him feel a bit of trepidation. His brother was staring towards the window at the rising sun, and yet he knew that the other could tell he was awake. He always knew; and so he didn't bother with closing his eyes once more, trying to bask in the moment of finally being allowed to wake up with his brother at his side.

 

 

“Do you still want me to answer your questions?” Itachi's voice was bored, and it immediately cut right down to business— robbing Sasuke of his moment to bask in the small pebbles of happiness that had been burrowing into his belly.

 

He had to admit that he did want his questions to be answered, but for some reason they didn't seem to take priority in his mind at that moment. He wanted for once to be allowed to enjoy being with his brother; he wanted to enjoy Itachi's company. Yet he knew that if he let this moment pass, another one wouldn't arise for quite some time, and so shifting in the bed, he turned around fully so that he could face Itachi. He laid his cheek on the elder's thigh and sighed in relief when he wasn't pushed away.

 

Sasuke opened his mouth to start the stream of questions that had been left unanswered from the night before— but he quickly found that he didn't even know where to begin. Itachi had caused so much chaos in his life that finding a starting point was proving to be quite difficult. So instead he decided to go with the first realization that came to mind.

 

“Why don't my injuries hurt anymore?” It was true; his near fatal wounds had gone from pure agony to an annoying ache in less than a day! He had heard about the healing powers of sex, but seriously, this was just ridiculous!

 

“We have expert medical-nins on call. After you were unconscious I brought them to treat your wounds.” Sasuke scoffed, it figured that Itachi only did nice things for him when he wasn't conscious to see it. Flexing his leg and arm he was happy to feel that the tendons were once more in place and working… it made the pebble in his belly grow once more.

 

“Okay, now tell me how you did it,” He glared, feeling the anger once more start to boil his blood. “I know it was the necklaces' power, but it was you controlling it… I could feel you inside me.” He blushed in spite of himself when he realized the implication of those words, and by the slight look of amusement on Itachi's face, it would seem that he had picked up on them as well.

 

“It's true… I have been inside you in many ways, but this time it is rather simple.” He smirked at Sasuke, who buried his face further into Itachi's leg, “Because I am an Uchiha, I was able to master the bits of stone that hung from my neck completely. In doing so, I am now able to control them as if they were my very own Sharingan. It does not matter who is wearing the necklace so long as it has the Uchiha blood to feed it power.”

 

“And so you did what…” Sasuke growled, sitting up in the bed so that they were staring each other in the eye, “Gave me this gift to protect me? Don't make me laugh!”

 

Brushing off the comment like it was nothing, Itachi continued his cool demeanor. “I did it to ensure that the objective was completed… and believe me, Orochimaru had it coming.” Itachi hissed darkly, and if Sasuke wasn't so completely pissed, a shiver would have run down his spine at just those words… he was way too angry to head the warning in his bones though.

 

“You did it to kill Sasori you traitorous bastard!” He yelled, Sharingan flooding his eyes as he continued to stare into Itachi's dark pools.

 

“I did what you could not.” Itachi coldly hissed back, staring down at his younger brother as though he were scum.

 

Sasuke's face fell at that, and the pebble in his belly was replaced with overwhelming despair. “Is he dead?”

 

He saw the way Itachi's eyes flashed with malice before a seemingly triumphant grin spread across his normally lifeless features. “He is in a coma, suspected to never wake up.” That grin widened by a fraction, “He is nothing more now than one of those lifeless puppets he so loves to create… it's fitting, wouldn't you say?”

 

“You're cruel,” Sasuke muttered dejectedly, pushing away the thoughts that accused him of being just as demented as his brother. Even though he had known what the bastard had done to Sasori, he had still wanted to be with him… hell, he had even begged for it.

 

A treacherous hand swiped through the black spikes that had become tangled in the bed, “No more than you Otouto, after all I was able to see every thought in your head.” At that, Sasuke's blood ran cold, not even able to comprehend such a perversion in the state his mind was in. “You wanted to kill him… Even if you needed me to make the final strike, you were the one to wish it.” He leaned in, letting his devilish words whisper torturously into his ear as the grip remained steady in his hair. “You wanted him to suffer… suffer and die for his betrayal.”

 

Sasuke pulled away as if though he had been burned, once more feeling the helplessness that came from Itachi's torments, and doing his best to push it down and remain strong. He had to show his big brother that he had grown up with the skill to at least do that.

 

“Yet you were the one who betrayed and hurt me aniki... over and over again.” He wanted to sound strong, he wanted to pretend that he wasn't completely inadequate in every aspect of his life… but it came out sounding as weak and pathetic as usual… just how Itachi liked it.

 

“Yes… but instead of revenge you seek pleasure in my arms.” A sadistic smirk fell onto Itachi's face as his hand began to slightly caress the younger's cheek. “Tell me otouto, could you ever kill me?” He asked almost teasingly, his touch unusually gentle.

 

“Would you let me?” Sasuke asked softly, no real question in his voice. He let his newly recovered arm stretch out to cover Itachi's. The response he gave sent them both into a heavy silence. The rest of the questions fell on deaf ears, needing no answers. Why did it always have to come down to this? Why was there always this never-ending pain? If he continued to follow Itachi, would he always remain lost in such sadness? Were they doomed before they had even gotten the chance to begin?

 

Thankfully the stagnant silence that seemed to suffocate the room was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Sasuke had never been so happy to hear that irritating sound in his entire life. Relief spread through him with each annoying knock pounding into his brain like a jackhammer. He could still feel eyes boring holes into him, making his skin crawl in the way that only Itachi could do. But he didn't want to meet those eyes, he didn't want to know the implications of the talk they had just had… but most importantly, he didn't want his brother to know that the answer to the brash question that had just quieted the room was in the bastards favor.

 

So instead, he did the one thing he knew could get him out of this situation. “Come in,” Sasuke growled out, and it was only after he stopped to consider his whereabouts that he realized inviting somebody in might not be the best idea after all.

 

His worst fears were brought to light when the door slid open and Deidara walked in with a sadistic smirk on his face that made his stomach drop. Sheets were bunched up around both the Uchiha's thighs as they sat naked in the bed, evidence of what they had done all over their bodies… or at least Sasuke's. It wasn't bad enough that the bastard had actually witnessed Itachi jacking him off once before, but now he had the ammo of actually seeing them in bed together, and considering the fact that he was quite sure the blonde Akatsuki member blamed him for what had happened to Sasori, he was sure that he was going to fire that gunshot straight at his heart.

 

“So Sparky, I see you've made yourself at home, yeah?” He said with a grin, and the younger Uchiha knew something bad was about to come. “Tell me, what does it take to get into the Uchiha prodigy's pants? Do you have to have courage… valor… honor?” Deidara paused, and if he hadn't, Sasuke would have stopped him anyway because not only was the conversation pissing him off, but Itachi's eyes had already begun to bleed a fiery red. Though it didn't seem that Deidara was near as intimidated by Itachi's pissy moods as he was… probably because when Itachi got angry with him, it didn't mean painful unnaturally cruel sex was waiting.

 

The blonde had a pleased look on his face as he walked forward, raising his hand in the air in success. “I got it, yeah! You just have to share the same blood.”

 

“Get to the point Deidara!” Sasuke growled out, succeeding in further annoying his already pissy brother, who had yet to say a single thing since Sasuke had effectively killed their conversation earlier.

 

The blond placed a hand to his chin, a fake curious expression covering his face. “And here I thought incest didn't have to have a point…that's why it's incest.” The blonde laughed hysterically, the only thing keeping Sasuke from jumping out of the bed and beating his face into the floor was the almost vice like grip that Itachi had on his hip.

 

Without a single word, Itachi slowly got out of the bed, pulling the sheet that was covering their bodies along with him, leaving Sasuke to hurriedly grab for the pillow as he tried to preserve what was left of his dignity. He didn't understand his brother… he was pissed and even embarrassed at the situation he was in, and yet Itachi looked almost bored! He saw the way Deidara was looking at his brother, and when Itachi began to dress, the blonde's eye narrowed in on the necklace that now hung loosely around Itachi's neck.

 

“So I see you got your good luck charm back, yeah.” The Akatsuki bit out almost dangerously, and yet at the same time he managed to make it sound almost playful. “It seems to prove lucky for all members of your clan.”

 

A streak of panic rushed through him as Sasori's crumbled body flashed through his eyes, but he did his best to remain cold and stoic on the outside, just like he was taught to be his whole life. “What do you want Deidara?” He growled out, more than a little irritated at the fact that Itachi was already dressed and walking out of the room, leaving him alone with the this seriously unstable psychopath.

 

“Awww is that anyway to treat your partner, yeah?” Deidara said cheekily, and Sasuke's stomach dropped down to his knees.

 

“What?” He managed to not scream that out and stay calm, but he was sweating at what the answer to that question could be.

 

Deidara cocked his head to the side and grinned like a mad idiot before actually reaching out to ruffle the Uchiha's already bed-tangled hair. “Come on Sparky, you know the Akatsuki work in pairs, and since you more or less killed my partner, and you seem to find yourself without one, Leader thought it appropriate to pair us together.” He put a hand on his chin and seemed to lose himself in his own little world. “He really does have a sarcastic since of humor, yeah?”

 

His brain was having a pretty hard time processing the information, but he was pretty sure that saying `Oh shit' really wasn't going to help him at this point. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he thought over the information that had just been given to him. Deidara was right, the Akatsuki did work in pairs, and it was logical that he would end up in this position, however challenging it was. He could deal with this though; all he had to do was straighten out a few things so that he didn't end up with a knife in his back the next time he turned around.

 

“I didn't stab him,” he lied without even blinking an eyelash, he had become skilled at this sort of deception, and no one besides the very man who taught him this valuable skill would ever be able to tell.

 

Deidara's eyes narrowed slightly before forcefully putting his anger on check, a grin suddenly came back to his face and it managed to hide away any emotions he had been feeling about Sasori.

 

“I cared for him… he was like a brother to me,” he hoped this was working; he really didn't want to know how it felt to die with a `bang'.

 

“Though of course not a true brother,” Deidara testily fired back, anger all the more evident behind his cocky expression. “After all I know for a fact that you didn't fuck him, so I know that it just couldn't be the same.”

 

His fingers clenched into fists, but he held his retort back despite how much he hated to do so. If he were going to be partnering with Deidara though, he had to be on some kind of good terms with him. Or at least terms where the blond didn't think he practically killed his lover.

 

“I'm telling you now Deidara, I wasn't the one who stabbed Sasori.” An uncomfortable feeling welled in his chest as the look the other gave him turned from maliciously playful to almost predatory.

 

His pulse quickened when two arms reached out and grabbed his shoulders harshly, squeezing them in an unbelievingly painful manner. He was pulled forward, the pillow covering him fell to the bed, leaving him completely exposed to those predatory eyes.

 

“Get the fuck off me!” He screamed as he fought against the restraints, trying his best to kick at the body, which had gotten way too close for his comfort. His attacks were easily evaded by the more skillful ninja, and Deidara let go of one of his shoulders to punch him in the ribs, letting him fall backwards onto the bed. It wasn't long before those hands were back on his bare flesh, pressing him down into the mattress by his shoulders, making him cower in submission as he loomed above him, all fake amusement gone… the insanity reflecting in his eyes made a tremble of fear travel up Sasuke's spine.

 

“Don't think for one second that I don't know exactly what you are, you Uchiha scum!” He hissed dangerously, pressing Sasuke's right shoulder even further into the mattress. Fear almost engulfed Sasuke when Deidara's free hand started trailing lightly up his chest, delicately caressing him in a way he never imagine Deidara would do. To be honest though, the fear wasn't for his own safety, he knew he could get out of this without any problems… He wasn't so sure of Deidara's though, just the day before he had lost someone he truly cared about to Itachi's unfathomable jealousies, and no matter how much he hated the blond, he never wanted his brother to have that kind of power again.

 

“You shouldn't… if he finds—” He was cut off harshly by an almost strangulating grip on his neck, and Sasuke shuddered a little in revulsion when the inhuman mouth on Deidara's hand opened up, licking its way slowly along his racing pulse.

 

“Oh I know all about your brother…I despise him most of all, and I know exactly the sorts of things he would do for you.” The blond leaned forward so that they were almost nose-to-nose, “I'm actually counting on it.” Almost like it was never there, the look of dark insanity disappeared, and that lighthearted grin came back as the hands restraining him let up. As soon as they did, Sasuke immediately flipped the bastard off him, scrambling to the head of the bed and covering himself up as he reached for the kunai that Itachi had always kept under his pillow since he had learned to walk.

 

He clutched it to his chest, looking warily forward at the man who was now laughing at him as he stood at the foot of the bed. “You look a little scared there Sparky, but don't be…I would never fuck Itachi's leftovers…no matter what the response it might get from him.”

 

“Then why are you here!” Sasuke practically yelled, all patience lost by this point. He wanted to chuck this kunai at one of the bastard's vital points, but he knew it would do no good, so he remained in his defensive position.

 

“Chill out, yeah,” He said with that same deceiving grin. “I only came here to inform you that we have a mission… meet me downstairs in five minutes. You Uchiha's really can be quite paranoid.”

 

All that just to tell him about some stupid mission! If there weren't someone present, Sasuke would have huffed indignantly right then and there. God, Deidara really was a jackass…!

 

Why were they giving him a mission so soon anyways? Why in the hell would they give someone they so obviously didn't trust a mission? Not to mention the fact that he wasn't even sure if he could walk steadily for more than a couple hours— Orochimaru had done some serious damage, he was sure that even the Akatsuki medical-nins had a hard time patching him up… this had to be some sort of test.

 

“Alright… I'll meet you out front.” His eyes turned icy, “Leave now Deidara, and if you ever try something like that again, I swear I will kill you.”

 

Deidara gave a laugh that was obviously not genuine. “So serious… you need to lighten up Sparky. I think we'll have fun working together, un.” The grin faltered, but didn't fade completely, making the next statement even more disconcerting. “But know this, if I ever find the proof I need, I will kill you and anyone else who might have been responsible.” Sasuke's breath hitched in his throat, and he tried to stop the cold sweat from forming on his brow. “Be downstairs in five minutes,” Deidara's evil freaky voice was jolly again, making Sasuke raise an eyebrow at the strange man's mood swings. He smirked at Sasuke once more before leaving him alone with only his fears and anxieties to keep him company.

 

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Honestly, if he were thinking back on a couple hours when he had woken up sore and rather confused in Itachi's bed, he would never imagine that such events would lead him to where he was now, springing from tree to tree through a forest with Deidara, actually going back to yet another shrine on the very edge of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. They had given him a mission that he didn't quite understand. He was to retrieve a ceremonial dagger from a forbidden shrine that no one except the Akatsuki probably even knew of. He wasn't sure what it was for, as the so-called faceless leader had refused to inform him why he was going on such a mission to a place he was hoping he wouldn't have to see for quite some time. In some ways he felt the entire time he was explaining the mission that everyone was silently laughing at him. He knew that it had to do with the scroll though, and no matter how much he might dislike it, he would get to the bottom of it.

 

He hadn't seen Itachi before he had been rushed out the door, and he tried to fight the wave of disappointment such a thing caused him. He wouldn't do that. He refused to fall back into the pattern of being completely dependent on his brother. There was no doubt in his mind that that was exactly what Itachi wanted, but for one time he wasn't going to follow his grand scheme. Sasuke refused to let this bother him, which meant ignoring the itch under his skin that was telling every fiber of his being that it should.

 

“How long until we reach the shrine?” He asked his partner, the one who had refused to say a single snide comment since they had left. He really thought he preferred the annoying jackass Deidara to this gloomy plotting one, but then he supposed if his lover was in a coma that the person he was next to might be responsible for he might have a stick up his ass as well.

 

Deidara's foot landed on a tree branch, as he propelled himself forward, speeding up slightly and leaving Sasuke behind. “We'll be there in half a days time, if that's alright with you Sparky.”

 

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise. Half a day only, were they really so close to the Hidden Leaf Village all along? The scroll, the stone, and now the dagger, they had all been in or near Konoha…it couldn't all be a coincidence. It had to all mean something, even if that meaning wasn't yet clear.

 

“So did you make a fancy exit like Itachi?” Deidara asked, shooting a grin back that made the Uchiha's blood immediately boil.

 

“You mean did I wipe out an entire clan before I left?” He hissed, not even dignifying it with an actual response. His hands were itching to reach into his weapon bag and chuck a few shuriken at the jackass's back. If there was one thing he didn't like to talk about it was that night, if only because he didn't want to think about his own guilt or his continuing sin.

 

“Thought not…after all it's hard to top, yeah? Though I can't agree with his methods...he never really gets his hands dirty, un” Deidara slowed in his pace, allowing for Sasuke to catch up and see the almost feral smile on his face. “Once you watch an entire village explode and see the limbs scattered around from all the innocents inside, after that a little hypnosis isn't really going to do it for you.”

 

Feeling slightly disgusted by that statement, and knowing that it was more than likely true, Sasuke thought about just what atrocities the member of the Akatsuki must have committed to join, and wondered not for the first time just how he had been allowed to join the elite troupe of murderers.

 

“You're insane.” He said flippantly, speeding up his pace just so he wouldn't have to see those chilling eyes anymore that spoke of nothing but death.

 

“Yeah? Maybe, but I have a feeling you're not going to be like your brother.” That made Sasuke actually pause, not really ever hearing such a statement come from anyone, especially those who knew Itachi. There were of course the occasional pep talks Naruto gave him about not following in his brother's footsteps, but the dobe didn't know how similar him and Itachi really were…Deidara knew…he knew everything.

 

“What are you talking about?” Sasuke couldn't help but ask, curiosity getting the better of him as he balanced vicariously on the tree branch, not surprised when Deidara joined him.

 

“Well I have a feeling that you won't be as underhanded as Itachi. I have no doubt that you will get your hands dirty…” Deidara leaned forward, making sure they were sharing the same breath and that he for sure could be heard. “And if you haven't already, I'm sure we can change that.”

 

Backing away, Sasuke's fingers once more itched to reach into his bag. “You presume too much.”

 

“Maybe, un. But you have a blood thirsty look in your eyes that look nothing like the dead ones belonging to Itachi…they're the same as mine and every other Akatsuki. I swear…” He laughed. “Sometimes I think your brother is too much of a pacifist to be in this line of work, un…when you get him in the right mood he can be as cuddly as a kitten.”

 

He tried to hold it back, he really did. He thought about the situation he was in, who he was with, but he couldn't stop himself. Sasuke actually laughed at that, and after he was done laughing he felt the smile still slightly clinging to his face.

 

“A cuddly kitten, huh?” Deidara waggled his eyebrows, giving the Uchiha a smirk, and the smile Sasuke hadn't felt in quite a while remained. Sure he might be a blood thirsty killer, sure he might be insane, but for the first time he began to see why someone like Sasori put up with him. “We should get going.” Without waiting for a response he started forward again, leaving Deidara to catch up. Hopefully they would be there by nightfall.

 

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They finally reached the shrine around dusk, and a nervous feeling welled in the pit of his stomach. He knew these woods…he knew this place. He was so close to home, and that made him nauseous. What did they think of him? What could they possibly think? He had to admit he didn't grow many attachments to his old home, but there were a select few that he preferred not to think the worst of him.

 

The sun was just starting to slope over the hills, sinking just enough to make it seem like the darkness was slowly starting to engulf him inch by inch. The old rotting shack that seemed to be this forbidden shrine seemed foreboding in the distance, and the mildew smell from the recent rain soaking the old wood was already making its way to his nose, making his stomach turn even more.

 

“This should be simple, un.” Deidara said from beside him, signaling for them to hide their presence. “Only monks live here according to our information, and I'm sure even you won't have a problem taking them out. I'll do recovery.”

 

“You want me to kill them?” Sasuke asked, a little disgusted by just the thought. Though images of the time he had followed Itachi and Kisame to the shrine were still burned into his mind. He swore he could still smell acrid scent of those innocent people's blood. There only mistake was having something that the Akatsuki wanted, he supposed it was the very same with the Uchiha clan itself.

 

“Oh what is little Sparky having hesitations about taking a poor human's life, un?” Deidara smirked at the indignant look that covered Sasuke's features. He couldn't imagine just slaughtering them, even if he had his share of blood already on his hands. Though what did he expect when he joined them…puppies and rainbows?

 

“Fine.” He snapped, grabbing at a handful of kunai, he didn't really think he would need much more than that, not for the underhanded despicable job he had to do. “Just get the dagger.” The blond gave him a cocky grin before disappearing into the building, leaving him to do the same.

 

His footsteps were silent as he made his way through the compound. He had yet to see one of the defenseless monks whose blood would soon be on his hands, he had yet to see anybody. That in on itself made him nervous.

 

The place was entirely too quiet for his liking. The walls moaned and groaned from the recent rain, but other than that it might as well already be dead. There was no chanting, no footsteps, no voices of any kind. He knew there was something wrong, and yet he could do nothing but continue to creep into the unknown.

 

He rounded the corner that led to the main room that was completely dark except for a few candles in the middle, surrounding a glass centerpiece that most certainly held the blade. A white robed figure stood near the case with his back to Sasuke, and just seeing the priest, the weapon in his hand seemed to triple in weight.

 

His breath hitched at what he had to do, and it only took a moment before he steadied it and did what it was he knew he must. The kunai flew weightlessly from his fingertips, flying like an arrow towards their back. It hit straight on, a strangled cry resounding in Sasuke's ear, but instead of falling lifelessly to the floor, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

 

A replacement jutsu! He had been so preoccupied with his morality issues that he hadn't even thought to activate his sharingan. He had fell for one of the most basic tricks in the book! The repercussions to such an action came swift as over 300 hundred deadly weapons flew towards him, and it took everything in him to barely avoid the blades and jump up into the rafters, making hand signs as he went.

 

He hid his presence, noticing the throng of voices now. His eyes bled red as he searched the room, locating two presences that he had been too careless to sense earlier. They had to be shinobi, and good by the feel of it. After all they had been smart enough to know someone might be coming.

 

Sasuke watched as a hand came out through the darkness, connecting soundly with the chest of to the casual observer would be that of the intruder. He watched a flare of chakra come from those fingertips, doing an immeasurable amount of damage to the body that disappeared quickly in a puff of smoke, his own distraction as he contemplated just what he was going to do about this situation.

 

The rationale he had been feeling soon faded when the candlelight flickered and he caught sight of a certain headband just like the slashed one that still adorned his forehead. Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village were here. They were here…and he was screwed.

 

The ninja were good at keeping their presences hidden, but Sasuke was even better. He snuck along the rafters, searching for any sign of their faces in the dark, not that it would matter. The only one he was really dreading seeing was Naruto, and he knew the loud-mouthed dobe could never keep quiet and hidden this long.

 

He shut his eyes as he thought of the idiot he had left behind. What could he have thought when he woke up that next morning to hear that Sasuke had disappeared and become a missing nin? Did he fight to come after him, or did he actually listen to what he was told for once and trust him? Trust…he didn't deserve it. He had asked for that trust already on a pedestal of lies, even then he had been in love with Itachi. …Even then he knew that once he left Konoha he could never leave his brother's side again.

 

From the moment he had entered this shrine he had walked into a nightmare he could not escape. He was damned…he knew that now, because with Deidara here there was no way he could leave anyone alive. That stupid bastard would consider it a weakness, and he would pray off that weakness, telling the Akatsuki that he was still with his village. There was no escaping his fate.

 

There was a whisper of voices coming from the ground now, obviously they were no longer trying to hide what was already well known. Did they already know it was him though? Had they seen him as he made his way through the shrine, not bothering to hide his presence due to the fact that only priests were here to witness him, priests that would soon be dead anyways as they fell victim to someone who had become beyond godless.

 

By the tones he could tell that there was one female and one male underneath him, and if he played his cards right he could sneak up and take one out before the fight even started. Swinging down so that his legs were holding him up from an upside down position, Sasuke quickly did the hand signs for Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu, letting the fire heat up the entire room and watching as the flesh that should have been melting off bone quickly turned to straw as the scent of burning leaves filled the room. …So they had used a decoy as well.

 

He wasn't allowed to contemplate on the subject much, because in the few seconds that he had been given to realize it was a trap, the Konoha shinobi had found his location, and he was met with a blow to the stomach, sending him flying downwards to land roughly on the hard ground below, smashing his head against the harsh concrete.

 

Sasuke was up fast, wasting no time in turning around to meet his attackers. The fire from his attack lit the torches lining the wall and illuminated everything that he was sure he never wanted to see.

 

“Sasuke Uchiha?” A voice spoke in surprise, and the one in question shut his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady his racing heart at getting caught in such an act…caught by the only person who would have the slightest idea why he had really gotten himself into this situation in the first place.

 

“Shikamaru Nara…it's been a long time.” His voice was cold and far away, as were his eyes, because at that moment he couldn't think of a worse fate than meeting the eyes of the person who knew how much of a traitor he really was.

 

“What are you doing here?” So instead he gave a sigh, turning towards the shy timid voice that had just chosen to speak up…the girl that he had always noticed following Naruto around. …Hinata he thought her name was.

 

“I think we're beyond this by now and so I won't bother answering such a pointless question…but why don't you answer it for me.” Sasuke demanded, keeping his eyes trained on the girl as he could feel Shikamaru's eyes burning holes into him, scanning him up and down and resting on the slashed headband adorning his forehead. …After that he was sure it really didn't take long for him to start putting the pieces together.

 

The Chunin shifted, obviously contemplating his next move, as was the Uchiha who was trying desperately to think of a way to grab the dagger and get out of there without bloodshed. “What organization are you with?” The teen asked, taking another step forward as Sasuke finally met his eyes, determined to stand his ground against what he knew was coming.

 

“Another pointless question.” God he was starting to sound more and more like Itachi everyday.

 

“…So it's the Akatsuki.” Sasuke fought the urge to wince, and by the sharp intake of surprise Hinata made at this information he couldn't say that he was entirely successful. He knew this was coming, but he had to say he had hoped Shikamaru wouldn't have figured it out so quickly.

 

“It is.” He stated almost cockily, knowing that Deidara could be watching, and so going into a long rant about how he was actually still on their team and spying for Konoha might not go over so well in the end. Though inside he wanted to ask how Shikamaru had figured it out without the slightest clue, but then he had heard rumors about his calculating mind, and knowing what organization Itachi belonged to and adding the fact that a ring with their insignia rested on his pinky would be more than enough information to insure that even Naruto could pick it away if he really wanted to.

 

“How did you know to be here?” Sasuke asked, being beyond wary of the shadows cast by the nearby flames adorning the walls. If he didn't want to be caught in a trap, he needed to find some way to extinguish them as quickly as possible. Distracting him with questions was just what he needed until he could figure out how to get them out and fight two of Konoha's highly trained ninja's at once.

 

“We were split up…each of us was assigned to look over one of the four major…”

 

“Hinata quiet! Don't talk to him, he's a traitor now!” Shikamaru quickly cut the girl off, but she had given Sasuke more than enough information to start putting the pieces together on what was really going on here. Four shrines, huh? So that meant that there had to be four things in these shrines that the Akatsuki wanted, and apparently it was a good idea to do everything possible to ensure that the bastard organization he worked for never got their hands on them.

 

“Eh, so troublesome…I had thought it was just that old man's delusions, but I guess we're actually going to have to put up a fight.” Shikamaru shook his head, the action causing shadows to ripple all the way down the stonewalls, giving the illusion that there were much more to be wary of then just one. “Why couldn't he have picked someone's else's shrine to raid instead…I'm sure Ino would have just loved to pick a fight with her one and only love.”

 

Sharingan eyes narrowed at that, reminders of his past not sitting at all well with him as he tried to bring up the strength in his body to destroy two people he might once have considered friends. “Can we do this already.” He demanded, his patience on an even shorter leash than it usually was…he was walking a fine line and he was sure that it was about to be cut.

 

“Oh what's the hurry? Need to run back to him so soon…the one you betrayed us for…after swearing to me that you wouldn't.” …He wasn't wrong. That conversation rushed back to him full force, tearing up his insides and making them quiver. He was a traitor, and even then…he was sure he must have realized he would have taken that path. …Every story needs a Judas, just like every story needs his twelve silver coins.

 

“Enough with the small talk. Fight me now, or lose the thing you've been sent here to protect, because I'm not leaving here without it.” He watched through the fiery haze as Shikamaru actually rolled his eyes, and the desire to punch that look off his face became even stronger.

 

“Geez…you've become an even bigger lapdog than I thought.” He shrugged his shoulders, obviously annoyed with the whole situation and not one bit aware of just how close Sasuke was to snapping. “Well if we have to do this, we might as well start.” The lazy drawl in his tone gave way to something else entirely, and before Sasuke could even blink, Shikamaru had disappeared from in front of him, and as he spun around he watched the ninja land silently behind him, already in the middle of making hand signs that could never be good.

 

This fact was proven as the shadows cast from the torches seemed to extend, trapping one foot before he was able to flip himself over, avoiding the entire body trap and doing a release to break the jutsu. He couldn't allow himself to be trapped! First he needed to isolate the shadow ninja, and then destroy him before even moving on to the member of the Hyuuga clan.

 

First thing was first. Reaching into his weapon bag he pulled out a handful of shuriken, tossing them through the air as he tried to get an almost boomerang like effect, creating enough wind pressure to slice through the fire and knock it out altogether…it worked on about half. Though as he was doing it Hinata had ran forward, lashing out with a nasty punch that just might have been rather harmful if it had connected, and considering his distracted mind it probably should have, but he could already tell that if given the option she would rather not fight him at all.

 

Yet that one distraction had caused Shikamaru to sneak up on him, kicking him in the back of the spine and sending him flying towards the area that was still moderately lit up, and he had just enough to time to scramble out of it before that treacherous shadow engulfed him again. He knew now that he needed a plan to take on the two of them at once, or this would be a fight he would not win.

 

Lurking once more in the shadows, Sasuke tried to quiet his breathing, knowing that the gasping breaths he was taking weren't going to help him in the long run. They were fast, and although he knew he would be faster if he used the chidori technique Sasori had taught him, he was afraid that the light from such a thing would only hinder him more, giving Shikamaru the advantage once again. Though even if he somehow found a way to stay in the dark, he still had to worry about Hinata and Shikamaru's abilities in Taijutsu.

 

This was not the battle he had been anticipating when he had followed Deidara through the woods, and he wasn't sure he had enough stamina to complete this mission given the unhealed injuries he had sustained from the last one. His muscles ached from over use, and he knew that if he attempted Chidori the pain alone would be enough to bring him to his knees, and he no longer had the power of the cursed seal to fall back on, so somehow he was going to have to come up with a way to do this by himself…using his own strength!

 

Making hand signs on the way, Sasuke rushed from his hiding point, a plan of action already in motion in his head. His sharingan bled even darker as he lashed out, kicking at the point where Shikamaru was waiting for him and not being surprised when his kick was deflected and he was sent into a backflip, landing nicely atop the box he had been sent here to raid. He knew his chakra was nowhere near where it should be, and so this was the only way. He would have to finish this using force, and he would have to do it soon!

 

Using his own hand, Sasuke smashed through the glass surrounding the case, almost feeling like he was defiling the holy nature of the dangerous object as he ignored the blood pooling from his wounds. His hands would heal, and he couldn't waste another second if he planned to go through with this.

 

Shikamaru was the main problem. If he could just get through him he was sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem to get Hinata to back down from the fight. She didn't know his story…she didn't know just why he had defected, and so convincing her it was something other than what it was would be no problem. But the shadow ninja wouldn't be so easy, and something deep in his blood, that he tried to ignore, was telling him that after he quieted him down his secret would be at rest…and no one back at Konoha would know just what had drove him to such a horrid destiny. He would be free from the burden of guilt, if only from them…and when he returned Itachi would wash the putrid blood off his hands…just like he promised.

 

Focusing in on his prey as if he were a hawk getting ready to claim its prey, Sasuke struck almost instantaneously, though from the events that followed, that one instant seemed to take a lifetime. The dagger had pierced flesh, just as it was intended, and yet it had went so horribly wrong…you would think from the last time he would have learned, and yet unneeded causalities seemed to line any hall he walked down.

 

He had been aiming for Shikamaru, catching the leaf-nin off guard with his sudden strike, and he knew that in that instant there was nothing he could do to block, but that didn't prepare him for the warm supple body that stepped in just at the most inopportune moment, and it certainly didn't prepare him for the sick sound of the blade piercing through the bloody flesh, wedging into the chest cavity of a victim he had never meant to hurt to begin with.

 

“HINATA!” Was screamed throughout the small shrine, as rivulets of the blood began to flow onto Sasuke's hands…so similar to Sasori it was scary. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. All he could do was stare in horror at the short gasping breaths the girl in front of him was trying to get out as the dagger wedged deep inside of her began to cut off the very air she breathed and torment her from within.

 

Wide unseeing eyes just stood there as Shikamaru grabbed the girl's shoulders, turning her away from the assailant that had pierced her lung. He saw him comforting her as a pool of blood made its way to his feet, soaking his sandals in a life source that should never have been spilt to begin with.

 

…Gods…What had he done?

 

An overwhelming feeling of hopelessness came over him then and his body gave out, sending him to the floor to wallow in the blood that he himself had created. The sticky feeling of his clothes was nothing compared to the overwhelming despair that had now taken over his heart. Shikamaru's screams were non-existent to him now as he stared up, hoping for some salvation in this place, and yet expecting none to come to a sinner such as him. He had used a sacred object and plunged it into an innocent girl's heart…there would be no redemption for him anymore.

 

It wasn't supposed to be like this. …He never wanted… His mind was so locked down in a never-ending replay of guilt that he didn't even notice the kunai Shikamaru pulled out, hell he wouldn't have cared even if he had. At this point he welcomed death…it would be the only thing to alleviate the suffering he caused those around him. He deserved to burn in hell.

 

Hinata had protected Shikamaru…given her life for him and so Sasuke would do nothing against the justice the chunin thought fit to bestow upon him. He caught sight of the kunai aiming for his throat and stood perfectly still, waiting for impending strike. …He deserved worse, and he would have got it if the hand's aim hadn't been shot off by the explosion that had caused it to burn and blister. Deidara had saved him…even if it was something he in no way deserved.

 

Shikamaru screamed out in pain, and Sasuke was sure only half of it was from the injury to his hand. The apathy he usually showed was now all but gone, and in it's place was the shinobi who had become a chunin even when he himself could not. Even through shaking hands, Sasuke could see Hinata's labored breathing, and the small trickle of bloody saliva that was slowly starting to seep through her teeth.

 

“Never knew you had it in you to kill your own kind…but then again seeing who you are related to, I shouldn't be surprised, yeah.” Was Deidara's smartass response from above him, showing no fear as Shikamaru carefully set Hinata down and turned to face the blond instead.

 

“…Not dead…” He heard a pained whisper come from his mouth as he struggled in his breakdown. He couldn't handle this anymore…seeing people he knew suffer. These blood red eyes he was both gifted and cursed with followed him everywhere, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake.

 

Deidara scoffed, giving Shikamaru a good look, not one bit perturbed by the dark almost murderous aura surrounding him. “I guess you're right, yeah.” He looked down at the dying girl as if she were dirt on his shoes. “Not that it matters much, but what's the story on these two?”

 

Bringing his hands down from his face, Sasuke attempted to get some form of control over his actions, knowing that this was the point he was being tested for. “He's a chunin from the hidden leaf village that specializes in shadow techniques…and she's…” He fought to find his voice as Hinata looked over, her eerie blank eyes cutting him right to the core. He shut his eyes, feeling his body begin to shake all over as he turned away from his heinous crime. “She's a member of the Hyuuga clan.”

 

“Interesting, un.” Deidara mumbled to himself, licking his lips in anticipation, and with much disgust, Sasuke noticed how the mouths on his hands seemed to do the same. “This might have been fun if you hadn't gone and finished the job Sparky, but no matter, I'm sure we can still make it worthwhile.” The bastard, how can he talk so nonchalant about killing after he had just been forced to stab a girl he had gone to school with…had grown up with.

 

“We have the dagger…we can just leave.” Sasuke tried, and his voice came out as more of a pleading whimper, a fact both Deidara and Shikamaru picked up, it would seem, by the look of amusement on one face and revulsion on the other.

 

“Getting sentimental on me are yeh?” Deidara asked, giving a small laugh at the look of pain etched across the Uchiha's features. “Say you were right Sparky, and we could just take the dagger and leave, un…do you really think he would run away with his tail between his legs?”

 

Sasuke glanced up towards Shikamaru, who never once even acknowledged his existence. “I'll kill you both.” Were his words as he surveyed the room, trying to get some advantage by searching for the light.

 

“See that Sparky, he wants to kill us, and I have a feeling it'll be so much more entertaining if we let him try.” Deidara smirked wickedly, sticking his hands into the bag of clay he had brought along, and revealing a small canary resting patiently in his hand.

 

Shikamaru ran towards the still lit torches, just as Deidara released the clay bomb from his hand, letting it explode right near the chunin's head and sending him crashing against the stone wall. Sasuke was distracted by the explosion so he didn't notice the Akatsuki narrowing in on Hinata, and by the time he had seen his hand close around the hilt of the dagger still encased in her chest, it was already too late to stop what was to come.

 

He heard himself scream as the dagger was pulled out with a sickening pop, and as Deidara looked down triumphantly at the girl's pain, Sasuke couldn't hold back anymore. He sprang from his bloody spot on the floor, launching himself at Deidara as he tried to grab the blade from his hands.

 

“You bastard! Leave her alone!” He didn't care about his mission anymore! He'd blow his cover and not feel in the least bit sorry! He wouldn't let him desecrate his abominable sin any further!

 

However, he had gone into the attack without a plan of action, and it seemed Deidara realized this, for it didn't take much maneuvering to grab a hold of both of the Uchiha's wrists, gripping them in an unbearably painful manner as teeth from those twisted mouths sunk into his veins.

 

“You may be Itachi's pet, and you may have wormed your way into Leader's good graces, but don't think that if you interfere with this mission that I won't kill you on the spot.” The deadly tone alone was enough to make Sasuke's breath hitch in his throat, and for the first time actually feared for his life. The teeth squeezed harder, opening the wounds Orochimaru had caused that had never quite healed. “Make your decision.”

 

His decision? Deidara didn't even need to explain, because it was so obvious it hurt. The Akatsuki or Konoha…old or new…life or death. There really was no decision though, it had already been made. There was only one possible answer he could give, and with a nod of compliance Deidara released his hold and he clutched his bleeding wrists, feeling the good part of his soul already begin to fade.

 

“Then finish the job.” Deidara reached into his bag, pulling out a handful of needles and handing them to the Uchiha. “If you care so much, then put her out of her misery.”

 

Put her out of her misery…the words spun over and over through his head, making him almost dizzy in the injustice of them. How had he come to the point where he was about to put an innocent girl out of her misery when her only crime had been to protect someone else instead of saving her own skin?

 

“Fine.” Was the soft-spoken word that came from his lips, and it was like he was far away watching his body as if it were just a lifeless puppet controlled by marionette strings. There would be no coming back from this…his life had no return.

 

Giving him a nod, Deidara began to walk over to where Shikamaru was stirring on the floor, a gash rather visible stretching across his eyebrow to his jaw. The fight began, and yet he could hear none of it. All he could hear was his own heart palpitations as they seemed to whisper to him in their sick tones just how damned he was. They were telling him that he was a murderer, and that only the ninth level of hell awaited him when justice finally found him and he was taken from his heinous life.

 

In the background the fight waged on, and he couldn't be sure but he thought he heard Deidara actually gasp in pain once, but then the explosion that rang through the air silenced Shikamaru's triumph. The old stone basin that surrounded the place began to shake, and Sasuke was sure if they weren't careful the whole thing would come tumbling down. Good…they deserved to die, just like the girl underneath him, who was barely conscious and staring up at him still with those forgiving eyes, deserved to live. If there was any chance to reverse their roles at this point he would, but alas nothing could save her now. She would either die slowly and be crushed by the crumbling rock as her body's organs gave out on her, or she would die a quick painless death as a needle pierced every one of her vital organs, killing her instantly.

 

A huge explosion lit up the small area they were in, and out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke watched Shikamaru fly through the air, smacking loudly against the wall and actually causing it to crumble and break. The chunin who knew of his secrets fell prey under the chasm of falling debris. Who even knew whether he was alive or dead?

 

Shaking his head as the overwhelming sadness threatened to take over him again, he met Hinata's eyes, looking into them for one last time and seeing the slight nod she gave, already accepting her fate. Hell with the amount of pain she must be feeling she probably wanted it.

 

“Forgive me.” Were the last two words he uttered to her, barely even above a whisper. The needles flew from his hands after that…ever precise…he had always been good at hitting his marks. He watched those clear eyes slide shut, and felt a piece of himself die. He could never again escape his fate…he might as well have been dead already.

 

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