Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ Such Pretty Eyes ( Chapter 21 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

It lives!!!! After years and years of being gone I decided to start writing again, and since this was probably the story I was the most into, this is where I would start. This is the first chapter in forever, and so I would love your feedback on it. Sorry for disappearing from your lives! Hope you enjoy! I will also be posting a little side story that was written with the exact purpose to get me into writing again.

Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 08.27.2015 | Pages: 25 | Words: 11.8K | Visits: 312 | Status: Work In Progress

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 21: Such Pretty Eyes

Sasuke winced for what felt like the dozenth time. The med-nins in the Akatsuki compound had been trying to piece him together ever since he had gotten back. Back to the Organization...back with Itachi...back with Naruto. His stomach rolled, and he felt like he might throw up again. He had been sick for days now. He didn't know if it was stress, or guilt, or maybe it was the fact that his face had taken on an almost sickly scab like quality to it. The burns were much worse than either him or Itachi realized. Not that his brother was realizing much of anything since he had gotten back. He looked over next to him, fingertips trailing slowly over the sleeping form of his fearless niisan. He hadn't woken up in two weeks. Not since…. He shook his head, trying to dispel the memories. How could he let any of this happen?

Once the ointment was spread over his slowly healing face, Sasuke dismissed the med-nins from their room, laying down next to Itachi as he watched that calm expression. How could he look so peaceful sleeping there like that, after they had just gone through so much? He grabbed Itachi's hand, squeezing it with no response. “You need to wake up.” He said, laying on that shoulder. “They'll replace you if you don't wake up Itachi.” He whispered in his ear. “Please...I'm sorry.” It was pathetic, to beg and apologize after what had happened between them. After what Itachi had forced him to do.

“He can't hear you.” The voice from the doorway was always enough to cause a stark inhale from his lungs. He wasn't used to hearing it. He wasn't used to the knowledge of why he was hearing it.

“Sasori-sensei.” Sasuke acknowledged, eyes still on Itachi's face. “I can't take it anymore.” He turned to look at the puppet master. Very. Much. Awake. “We have to wake him. Leader is getting restless. People are starting to ask questions.”

Sasori rolled his eyes at the younger Uchiha, and Sasuke couldn't help but frown at his master's disapproval. “If we wake him now, he'll die.” Sasori assured him. “Not to say that that isn't something I look forward to on a daily basis.” The redhead promised him, his voice still having that scratchy quality it had developed from months and months of sleep.

“Save it Sasori-Sensei. I know exactly how you feel about my brother.” He got out of the bed, knowing what Sasori was here for. “You're the one that put him in this state after all.” That wasn't exactly true, was it? “How many times do I have to tell you? I don't know how the necklace works. He's the one that triggered it the last time. I don't have the Mangekyo.” He said for what felt like the thousandth time.

Sasori looked over the sleeping Uchiha, and Sasuke stepped protectively in front as he could see the absolute hatred in his eyes. “There's a way to fix that you know.” Sasori promised him. “We can take his eyes. He won't miss them.”

“Like hell.” Sasuke hissed, grabbing a kunai from the back of his shorts. “Get. Back.” He growled, sharingan lighting up his eyes. “You aren't going to touch him again. I told you I'd help with the necklace, and you'd wake him up. That's the agreement.”

“It is.” Sasori agreed. “You aren't doing a very good job. But I think I have just the solution. You just need...the right motivation.” The puppet master promised. “You haven't been to see him, have you?” He asked slowly, Sasuke shivering at just what Sasori was implying. “Not since you delivered him to his cell.” Flashes sparked in Sasuke's mind, and the nausea came back full force. “Come Sasuke, let's go see the Kyuubi. Perhaps he'll be willing to help you save your brother.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke struggled with the dobe on his back, Naruto heavier than he remembered as he ran through the trees. He was struggling trying to catch up with Itachi. How had his brother carried him all the way to Konoha like this? His face wasn't near as damaged as Itachi's own body was, and the stress of the burns alone had him about to pass out. “Naruto…” He whispered to his friend. “You've been eating way too much ramen.” He grumbled, sandal almost slipping on a branch as he tried to follow Itachi as he cut to the side. “Slow down asshole!” He yelled after him, the other refusing to even acknowledge his existence as he actually sped up through the trees. So...still mad then. Mad didn't even begin to really describe Itachi right now though. He would more say furious...livid...murderous. All directed at Sasuke.

What did it matter? Sasuke didn't deserve anything besides Itachi's disdain. He had failed at every last task he had set out to accomplish. The Hokage thought he was a traitor, and now so did Naruto. He hadn't protected him. He hadn't chosen the pure friendship of the spunky blond over his cold and calculating brother. He hadn't chosen the Village Hidden in the Leaf over the Akatsuki. He hadn't chosen to be good. Itachi was right. He liked this. He liked this life. Who was he even kidding by pretending to be good...a hero for Konoha? He had Itachi's blood running in his veins, didn't he? He had his genetics...and the genetics of a sadistic murdering sociopath didn't really bode well for you as a person or your future ambitions.

“Itachi!” He tried calling again. They had been running for half the day, his chakra completely exhausted on using it to just remain upright. “I can't. I need to rest.” He knew how pathetic he sounded, could feel the disdain radiating off the trees.

Itachi slowed finally, turning around to reveal the deep red hateful eyes of the sharingan, all directed on him. “Do you have any idea the mess that is following just behind us?” He asked. “Do you know what Konoha would send to keep their precious Kyuubi safe?” He hissed, appearing in front of him to shove him hard. Sasuke stumbled and fell out of the trees, barely able to turn his body to take the brunt of the fall and protect Naruto. His body groaned out the pain, Sasuke struggled to sit up and check on his friend. Itachi jumped down as well, no sympathy in his body as he lashed out, kicking Sasuke hard underneath the chin. “Who are you?” He growled. “Is this really the pathetic specimen I've been bedding? You've lost whatever semblance of mind you once had Sasuke. Ever since Sai. Is jealousy really affecting you this much? Do you have that little of control over yourself?” He asked, grabbing Sasuke's cloak as he lifted him with one arm. “We're both injured, and there's a Kyuubi sleeping within that body on the ground, and you want to stop for a snack break?” He hissed to him. “Think.” He demanded.

Sasuke spat the blood out of his mouth from the kick, turning dark eyes up to his brother. “That's some speech niisan.” He hissed, eyes flooding to the red of the sharingan. He could see the steam coming off of Itachi's blood with it. “I'm not an idiot. I know Naruto will wake up soon. I know the ANBU are on our heels.” He said, forcing his voice to withhold any sort of tremble. “We deserve worse, don't we?” He asked. “You're right Aniki. I love it. I love the death...and the treachery...and you most of all…” He hesitated, refusing to give Itachi the satisfaction of saying he loved him. “I would be ecstatic to be beholden to any whim you or the Organization might have.” He promised. “But not him. Not Naruto.” He didn't realize he had made the decision until it came pouring out of his mouth. “If they come and take me away as a traitor to Konoha, at least I'll know I didn't betray `him'” He stressed, one arm wrapped protectively around Naruto. “I'd sooner die.”

Itachi exhaled slowly. “Don't do this.” He said, and Sasuke glared as he almost sounded...annoyed.

“I don't want to fight you.” Sasuke murmured. “But I will.” Honestly, he knew he paled in comparison to Itachi's strength, but right now his brother was injured. Right now...He might have a shot.

“As if I actually believe you would.” His brother growled, looking around to examine that they were still alone. His eyes traveled through the trees, down to Naruto, and finally up to Sasuke's face. “I don't have time for this. Get up. We'll argue more about this back at headquarters.” More like Itachi would fuck some sense into him back at headquarters.

“I won't.” Sasuke held fast. “I'm taking him back to Konoha...with or without your blessing.” Sasuke watched him. “You're right. I've lost my mind Itachi. I lost it the moment I saw Sai between your legs and realized that everything I had felt for you, this entire fantasy of us being together, was all a lie. I was never anything to you. Just another body to fuck. Just the narcissistic vanity that comes from only wanting to fuck your copies.”

Itachi watched him for a moment, obviously taking in what Sasuke had said. “My Otouto...What makes you think I would ever compare someone as pathetic as you are to a copy of me?” He asked, stepping closer and yanking on Sasuke's shirt. “Get. Up. Now.” He growled.

“I'd sooner bite off my own tongue.” Sasuke hissed spitefully, grunting as he was slapped hard across his injured face. The sting of it was jarring.

“Get. Up.” Sasuke froze at that tone, eyes to the ground as cold fury bled through that voice. “Get up and fight me then. If you're so stupid to throw away the future I have built for you. To throw away everything I have given you...then I'll give you what you `think' you want. I assure you though Otouto, it isn't what you desire. This `thing' between us, it has clouded your judgements.” He said. “The Akatsuki will rule the world someday, and you have a place in that. With me.” He stressed, and beneath the anger and the hatred, Sasuke could almost imagine a tone of desperation. What was he doing? Was he really about to fight Itachi?

Sasuke looked down at Naruto, the Kyuubi sleeping dotefully on the floor. He'd wake up soon, and how could Sasuke honestly ever look him in the eyes again if he didn't. “I almost slept with him you know.” He confessed, feeling the temperature in the air drop several degrees with his admission. “First day as a Genin...I kissed him...accidently of course. The dobe fell into my mouth.” He mused, fingers sifting through Naruto's hair. “Me and Naruto...we could have been, but then there was you.” He shifted his gaze up to Itachi. “There was always you.”

“Forgive me if I'm not in the mood for your sentiments Sasuke.” Itachi growled back, and Sasuke slowly got to his feet, willing his body to produce enough chakra for chidori as his feet began to spark.

“My sentiments?” Sasuke asked him then. “That's all there is between us Aniki. `My' sentiments. You'd be just as happy with that replacement bitch. Naruto was `never' a replacement of you. He was the exact opposite of you.”

“He'll be dead soon.” Itachi said, making it a promise. “And you won't remember ever having feelings for him.”

“For anyone but you?” Sasuke asked, reading between the lines as they circled each other in the clearing. “Your jealousy has taken everything from me. It took my family, my friends, my teacher...and all that's left is you, isn't that right niisan?” He asked Itachi, wanting him to admit how fucked up he really was. Itachi said nothing, and really, how fucked up was that?

“So what now Sasuke? You show me how big and strong you've gotten?” Itachi mocked him, chakra starting to flow around the air. “Come at me Otouto...I dare you.” He hissed.

Sasuke's heart was pounding as he knew it was now or never. Hadn't he always wanted revenge? Hadn't he always wanted to fight Itachi? “I'm stronger than you realize.” He assured him.

“Oh...dear brother...you really aren't.” Itachi said slowly, and in the next instant he had disappeared. Sasuke watched the forest, sharingan eyes scanning to try to see him. How was Itachi this fast? He was injured. He was so hurt he could hardly stand. How could anyone ever be this… He wasn't allowed to finish his thought as a palm slammed into his back, sending him flying through the air and towards a tree. He never hit it, however, because Itachi appeared back in front of him, hand hitting him from the other side and slamming him into the tree.

Itachi grabbed him by his spikes as he hit, slamming him over and over into the ground. “Fight me Sasuke...show me all those clever tricks Sasori taught you.” He slammed him into the ground again. “Show me!” Sasuke screamed with the pain of it, flipping as he kicked with the chidori, managing to at least get Itachi off of him as he got to his feet. He wiped at his arms, skin peppered with pieces of the broken tree.

Sasuke ran at him then, round house kicking at Itachi, grunting as it was blocked and they went into a pattern. They flew through the woods as they fought with each other, blocking and kicking. Itachi was toying with him, Sasuke knew that much, but he was too angry to do anything else but try to smash his face in. “I hate you!” He yelled. “You took away my life! You turned me into a monster!”

“Shut up Sasuke!” Itachi hissed, grabbing him then as he spun in a cyclone, sending the younger Uchiha soaring through the air before slamming him all the way down into the dirt. “I am not what made you. I saved you.” He hissed at him, using Sasuke's chidori in his own palms, sizzling the flesh of Sasuke's back as the younger screamed. “Do you think you live in a world where you are the only one that has suffered? That bringing you here...convincing them to let you stay was easy? Do you have a single notion of what I had to do for you? All because you asked it of me. All because you asked to come here.” He growled as he fried him, and Sasuke was in too much pain to reply. He managed to get out of the hold, running this time as he limped his way through the trees. He came up short as Itachi appeared in front of him then, pure fear on his face as he was grabbed. “You thought you'd fight me because you managed to hurt me? Because I let you hurt me!? You know nothing Sasuke.” Itachi growled, his eyes beginning to swirl as his necklace glowed, and Sasuke knew what that meant. Knew that Itachi was in no way bluffing this time.

“Aniki don't.” He begged him then, shutting his eyes tight as he tried to push at that face. How stupid was he to challenge Itachi? How stupid was he to make him this angry? Itachi had warned him. He had warned him over and over again. “Please….Please…” He begged, remembering being locked in that world. He couldn't, not again. “I'll do anything...I will…” He promised, surging forward, trying to get him to stop as he pressed their lips together. He kissed Itachi as his entire body shook with fear and shame. For a moment it seemed like it would work. For a moment it almost seemed like Itachi was responding, like he couldn't help but respond to his kiss, then he was backhanded down onto the ground.

“Are you delusional right now?” Itachi asked him, and Sasuke looked up, entire body screaming at him as he looked up towards his brother. Itachi was every ounce the murderous killer that had been in the Uchiha village that night. “My ability to stomach you enough to bed you is usually present, but now...I really wish Sai had won out in that squabble.” He leaned down, grabbing Sasuke. “And I mean that Otouto...from the bottom of my heart.” He whispered, eyes swirling and Sasuke was locked into them. The world suddenly bled to red. “Let's teach you a lesson, shall we? Should it be a few weeks long, or maybe years?” He asked as the world turned to blood and pain. Sasuke was screaming already from it as he felt knives slash through his flesh, tearing, digging. He didn't know how long it lasted. Seconds? Years? It all came to an end though with a flash. Sasuke spurted back into his own mind in a jarring rip that caused his brain as much pain as all the other injuries put together. He turned bleary eyes towards Itachi, slowly focusing in on how they were cloudy and white, turning blue. That face was pale and blank, jaw open and slack. He looked dead.

“Itachi?” Sasuke asked, reaching out to touch his face. It was cold to the touch. “Aniki?” He asked, hands coming to shake those shoulders. “Aniki...Aniki what's wrong!?” He asked, panicking with worry, not seeming to at all realize his own level of concern was coming right after being tortured. “what's wrong...what's…” He froze as he saw it then, the long pointed needle stuck into the back of Itachi's neck, an electric blue liquid dripping down it and into his neck. Sasuke reached to grab it out, palm almost closing around it.

“I wouldn't.” A voice said from within the trees, and Sasuke's heart stopped as he heard it. His eyes slowly rose up to eye someone he never thought he'd see again.

“What did you do to him?” He asked Sasori lowly, more of that blue liquid flowing into Itachi. “What is it!?” He couldn't let it go in anymore. He covered his hand with his cloak as he ripped the needle out, throwing it away and watching as the liquid touched the ground and started to hiss out like acid. He didn't ask why Sasori was awake, or why he was here...those questions could come later. “Is he dying?”

“No.” Sasori said dispassionately, jumping down from the trees. “Not yet anyways.” He walked over to the Uchihas, and Sasuke grabbed Itachi in the same protective way he had just been holding Naruto. “It's a paralytic agent. One of the strongest. He won't wake up without the antidote. When I awoke and realized I'd been asleep for over a year, I found the poison fitting. Let him suffer at least some of what he instilled in me.”

Sasuke backed them up, not knowing what to think of this, of Sasori being back. He was barely hanging on by a thread, and he couldn't fight him right now. “Sasori-sensei, what happened at the Village of Sound…” He tried, but was interrupted.

“I know it wasn't you.” Sasori assured him, voice a sharp dagger. “I recognize Itachi's handy work anywhere. Though, not to say I'm not a little disappointed in you Sasuke. Over a year, and you're still riding his coat tales? Still letting a psychopath who would kill one of his teammates masquerade in this Organization?” Sasori huffed as he eyed Sasuke's ring. “Congratulations on the membership by the way, always knew you had it in you.” He mocked.

“I didn't know he was going to do it.” Sasuke promised him, holding his brother tight. “He gets crazy sometimes, but I wouldn't have worn the necklace if I knew. I care about you Sasori...you're like a brother to me.”

Sasori let out a laugh. “I don't think that's a very good analogy Sasuke.”

Sasuke shook his head. “Itachi was never like a brother to me. You might think what we do is sick...and wrong...and you're probably right, but he's never been that to me.” He kissed the top of Itachi's head. “He's everything to me...I couldn't turn him in. I've loved him since I was five Sasori. I couldn't turn him in! He's killed everyone in my life, but he left you alive. He did that much.”

“I'm sure it was out of the kindness of his cold dead heart.” Sasori mocked, and Sasuke pulled out a kunai as the puppet master got closer. “Going to fight me now, Sasuke?”

“If you try to kill him I will.” Sasuke assured his shakily. Hadn't this just been about Naruto? He hated himself for this. He hated the fact that Naruto's danger meant nothing when it came to the probability of somebody taking Itachi away from him. It was strange how things could change in just minutes.

“Heroics were never your thing Sasuke...Stick to what you're good at. I'm not going to kill him.” He said slowly. “We don't kill our own members, even if they try to kill us. The punishment is death.” He leaned down to eye Sasuke, and the Uchiha gripped the kunai harder. “How does it work? The stone?” He motioned to the necklace around Itachi's throat. “When they made you get the entire stone, I never once imagined what power just a sliver of it could entail. I control puppets, but he controlled you. He controlled you as if he were you...just as easy as opening his eyes. I've never seen that kind of power.”

“Itachi is the only one that knows how to use it.” Sasuke tried. “He mastered the stone. I don't even know why the Organization wants it. He's the only one that can benefit from it. I doubt Leader wants to give anyone that much power, let alone my brother.”

“That's not entirely true, though is it?” Sasori asked, standing up and circling the two Uchiha's. “You have the same blood. You have the same clan.” The Akatsuki member stopped in front of Sasuke again. “You're going to find out how it works. We're going to go back with Itachi and Naruto, and you're going to pretend that all of this went exactly according to plan. You captured the Kyuubi, and Itachi collapsed from exhaustion. When I woke up Deidara informed me of a few things, including what happened when my favorite Uchiha got crispy fried. Wish I could have seen it.”

Sasuke's mouth quirked a little at that. “Yeah...I took the chidori and focused it inwards. After you taught me how to focus the chakra, it wasn't that hard.”

“I'm proud of you Sasuke.” Sasori said, and Sasuke honestly thought he sounded sincere. “You've come a long way. Despite what happened between us, you've always been my favorite student.” He explained. “That being said...I do want to know how the necklace works, and if I don't find out how, I might not decide to be so forgiving, for either of you.”

“If I agree...will Naruto and Itachi be safe?” He asked him slowly. “Even if I'm not? I'm the one that stabbed you Sasori...my hands.” Why was he protecting Itachi? Sasori already knew the truth.

“When are you going to stop making excuses for the fact that he's a psychopath?” Sasori asked him, mirroring his thoughts. “When are you going to realize that this thing between the two of you will end up killing you?” He asked him slowly, and Sasuke flinched. He was bloody from head to foot, face burnt and swollen, entire body bruised, mind screaming in pain, and he'd still die for Itachi.

“He wouldn't kill me.” He tried. “He hurts me, and I hurt him, but we don't kill each other.”

“Yet.” Sasori assured him. “Now get up. Pick which one you want to carry home.” Sasuke looked from Itachi in his lap, to Naruto across the forest floor, and then back at Sasori.

“I don't think I can.” He said. “I don't even think I can stand.” He promised him, and he knew his coup d'etat was over. He wasn't saving anyone like this. He would have to try to help Naruto later.

“Sasuke.” Sasori chided. “Stop it. You know better. You're a lot stronger than you're acting.” He assured him. “Now, which one do you want to carry?” Sasuke's hands clenched protectively around his brother at those words, and Sasori nodded. “I'll carry the Kyuubi. Don't worry, I won't hurt him. Sasuke you do have some terrible attachments.” He said, heading over to grab Naruto. He didn't even look back as he ran off to see that Sasuke would follow him.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke stood outside the door that led to the cells, looking over to Sasori. “I can't.” He said. He was a coward. He was the bottom of someone's shoe. He couldn't do it though. He couldn't walk into that room and look Naruto in the eye. He couldn't tell him that he had sold him down the river.

“Go in there, and I'll consider waking Itachi up. Depending on if you learn anything.” Sasori assured him, shoving him hard through the door. “Go make nice with your friend.”

He fell through the door, stumbling down the concrete hallway that led to their prison cells, swallowing audibly as he wanted to run. He wanted to run and hide, but Itachi needed him. Sasori didn't have to wake him up. He didn't have to keep their secret. He wouldn't for very much longer unless he could figure out this necklace. He had no idea what he thought Naruto could do about the situation. It's not as though the dobe could suddenly make him be able to use his eyes as good as Itachi.

Sasuke rounded the corner, letting out an exhale as he saw the blond. Naruto was slumped in the cell, head hanging between his legs. What had he thought when he had woken up in here all alone? What did they tell him about why he was here? Did he know what the Akatsuki were planning for him and the other Jinchuuriki? What part did he think Sasuke had to play? “Naruto.” Sasuke said slowly, speaking to him for the first time in well over a year.

Naruto's head snapped up so violently he was sure he got whiplash, staring with those wide blue eyes at him. “Sasuke!?” He said, jumping up quickly, ever the excited bundle of energy he had known from the past. “I knew I didn't imagine you! What are you doing here? Why are you with these people!? Did they capture you too!?”

Sasuke's mind swam with the questions, and for some reason just hearing that voice caused his mouth to twitch up. He bit it back down though, the half smile buried under buckets of guilt. “No Naruto, they didn't capture me.” He said slowly. “Do you remember I told you I had to go somewhere? Somewhere far away, and I would be gone a long time?” Sasuke was garbed in khakis and a black fishnet shirt, noticing how Naruto's own clothes had changed to black with hardly any orange. They had both changed so much. “I've been gone longer than I thought.”

“What about Hinata?” Naruto asked slowly, obviously digesting what Sasuke had said. “People say you killed her. How could you do something like that!?” That old wound ripped open and bled, soaking the guilt in his heart even more. He remembered the way Hinata looked at Naruto. How would she feel to die by the same person who ended up killing her love?

“That was an accident….” Sasuke whispered ashamedly. How many “accidents” had he had since then? “I didn't mean to kill her. I screwed up Naruto...I should never have left Konoha.” He admitted, knowing it was the case. What good had come from any of this? His eyes stung as he watched that unforgiving face. “I'm such an idiot.”

Naruto watched him for a moment, arms crossing over his chest. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you right now? You killed one of your own Sasuke! You're a member of the Akatsuki, which is the very people you once told me you hated the most!”

“You don't think I know that?” Sasuke asked. “I know what I am, but I tried Naruto! I tried for so long to be good.” Sasuke got closer to the cage. “You don't understand…I…” He dare not say what his mission was. You never knew who was listening. “You just don't understand.” He couldn't tell him, but he couldn't stand Naruto looking at him like that. “I had to get near Itachi. I had to know the truth about what happened with my clan.”

“He killed every member in cold blood and made you watch...funny how that mystery is already solved.” Naruto bit back coldly, chakra beginning to whirl around him. “You're here for Itachi?” Naruto asked, finally coming to a realization. “You left us...you left `me' for your murderous disgusting brother?” He slammed up against the bars, drawing Sasuke back. “Did you set me up? Did you bring me here? You and Sai? Or was that even real?”

“That was Itachi.” Sasuke admitted, eyes downcast. “But Sai is a traitor.” What harm was telling Naruto now? “He's been working with Akatsuki for years. He's been working and fucking around with my brother.” He couldn't keep the absolute loathing for that cretin out of his voice. “You don't have to worry about him though...he's dying. I cooked him from the inside out.”

“You must feel so proud of yourself.” Naruto growled. “You cook people and stab people now. I'm glad you've found your niche in the world.” He hissed.

“Do you even know what the word niche means?” Sasuke asked him. He felt dead inside, and yet was still used to ridiculing the blond.

“Yes Sasuke...I know what the word means. I also know what the word psychopath means...or maybe we should just change that word to Uchiha.” He said, and Sasuke lunged forward, grabbing the same bars Naruto was.

“Shut your mouth Dobe! Don't talk about my clan like that!” He snapped at him. “At least I fucking have a family!” They glared daggers at each other through the bars. “I didn't come here to fight with you Naruto!” Why did he come here? “I came here to make sure you were alright.”

“Oh I'm peachy!” Naruto assured him. “My cell is very comfortable, almost no rats.”

Sasuke shook his head. “You'll be wishing for rats before long. You can get awful hungry in that cell.” He promised him, remembering his own time.

“You were in here?” Naruto asked him, looking around the cell. “For how long?”

“A long time.” Sasuke whispered. “For the first six months I was here almost, I slept right where you were just sitting.” He spilled his soul to Naruto. “And then I got in.”

“After you killed Hinata?” Naruto growled, teeth starting to sharpen.

“No.” Sasuke said, eyebrows knitting. “After I killed Orochimaru.” He said, remembering that horrible day. Finding out about his and Itachi's past...almost getting raped...fun times.

“You're lying. We would have heard if he were dead.” Naruto growled at him.

Sasuke shook his head. “I'm not lying.” He held up his ringed hand, the Akatsuki ring shining on it. “I imagine Kabuto is doing a fair job at hiding the death. Some even say he can bring people back to life. “ He said in a creepy voice, his mouth quirking again as he watched Naruto shudder. God he missed his friend. “I can't begin to explain any of this to you Dobe, but believe me when I say I had good intentions.”

“Those are always the worst kind.” Naruto hissed back at him. “How could you do this to us Sasuke? To me? We spent the night together, and you run off to betray me? Was I that bad?”

“No Naruto.” Sasuke said honestly, remembering their night together. “You weren't bad. I think about it all the time.” He said, getting closer to the bars than was probably necessary. “I think about you...and how you made me laugh....” He reached out, fingertips touching Naruto's face for just an instant, and he could feel the chakra on his skin.

“You're such a liar.” Naruto said, yanking back. “You've always lied to me.” He frowned at him. “You're just like Itachi, you know that? You did the exact same thing as your brother!” Sasuke flinched as if struck. If only Naruto knew the half of it.

“I'll bring you some food.” Sasuke said, staring at the floor. “And some water for a bath…” His cock twitched as he remembered his own bath in that cell. His mind flashed, picturing Naruto in his place...with him behind him, pressed into the bars. “I have to go.” He said breathlessly, not knowing what the fuck was happening to him as he rushed out of the room. Never noticing the necklace's faint glow as he did.

The door to the cells slammed behind him as he raced down the hallway, fighting the rolling nausea threatening to crawl up his throat. He tried to push away the look Naruto had given him, and the anger in his voice. It wasn't every day you were forced to face down your source of betrayal. Naruto would never forgive him. Even if he somehow managed to get him out of this place, he had still killed Hinata. He had still chosen Itachi over his village. He was a traitor. Sasuke paused right outside their room, not knowing if he could bare to see Itachi comatose right now. The strange thing was, he knew he wrong earlier. He knew Naruto would forgive him, that was just the kind of idiotically moral person he was. The thing that made that the hardest was that Sasuke in no way deserved such atonement. He deserved ridicule and spite. He was the boy that had gotten his clan murdered because his brother was jealous. He was the chunin that left on a secret mission, and ended up finding a home. He was scum.

Sasuke pushed into his room, immediately freezing when he saw Itachi was very much not alone. Sasori sat bored by the bed, feet propped up onto it as he glanced over at Sasuke. He slowly nodded a greeting. That wasn't what had caused Sasuke to freeze though, he was used to Sasori being in here. No, it was the other body currently inhabiting the room, perched like a deadly pixie right on top of his brother. A kunai was poised right underneath Itachi's closed eye.

“Deidara…” He said, holding his hands up slowly. “Put down the kunai...what the fuck are you doing?” He should have anticipated this. He should have known that when Sasori woke up, and he didn't see hide nor hare of his boisterous partner, that the blond was fuming somewhere. Deidara had warned him countless times just what he would do to him if he discovered what had really happened with Sasori. His Sensei had no doubt told him what had happened in the Village of Sound. “Listen...you don't understand. Itachi didn't do anything.” He said calmly, used to lying about his brother's sins. He had been doing it all his life. “I did it. If you want to blame someone, blame me.” He tried, talking like he was placating a child. He began to sweat as he noticed the clay snake around Itachi's neck. “Please…”

“Please what Sparky?” Deidara asked him, digging the kunai softly into the thin flesh underneath the eye. “You would take the blame for this? After all we've been through together?” The normal psychotic playfulness had ebbed out of the blond's voice. “Sasori told me what happened. He told me not to blame you...isn't that sweet, un?” He asked him. He went to stab, and Sasuke jumped forward, not hearing the pathetic noise he made.

“Don't hurt him.” He said, voice desperate as he watched the clay snake tighten. How many heads had he seen Deidara explode with his “toys”? “He didn't kill Sasori. He could have. He didn't. He knows the rules.”

“What a nice guy, yeah?” Deidara mocked. “Tell me Sparky, if he were in my situation, and Sasori had put you to sleep for almost a year, how do you think Itachi Uchiha would handle it?” He asked scornfully, digging the kunai in as a droplet of blood rolled down Itachi's cheek. It was honestly the closest Sasuke had even come to seeing his brother cry.

“And not have to listen to me whine at him for a whole year?” Sasuke asked jokingly, voice choked and shaking. “He'd probably throw you a party.

Sasori scoffed in disgust, legs crossed in front of him. “The opinion you have of yourself is astounding Sasuke.” He murmured. “I'll tell you. If the situation were reversed, and someone hurt `you' Itachi would lose his mind. He'd kill everyone he had to until the blood pounding in his ears subsided.” He mused, looking bored at his protege, and Sasuke scoffed.

“I don't think you know Itachi.” Sasuke assured him, taking another step closer, as if he were trying to tame Deidara with his movements.

“You're the one that doesn't know him, yeah?” Deidara asked. “You're the only one who doesn't see how he looks at…” Sasori interrupted.

“Dei...enough!” The redhead snapped. “It isn't our place to explain to young Sasuke what he's missing.”

Missing? What the hell were they talking about? “What are you doing here? I went into the cell? I talked to Naruto...the necklace didn't do anything!” He tried.

Sasori made a noise in his throat. “Ah. The necklace. I know how it works now. Thank you so much for that demonstration.” He thanked his protege. “It was most informative.”

Sasuke looked confused, staring at his Master. “What are you talking about? Nothing happened.” He glanced as Deidara continued to dig. “Stop doing that!” Sasuke's heart was pounding by this time, worried. Not so much for the pain, Itachi could handle the pain, but the humiliation he knew he couldn't handle. Itachi was proud, and Deidara able to do this to him with him powerless to stop it...he could never let him find out.

Deidara laughed at Sasuke's obvious discomfort. “Don't worry...we're only going to take the one.” Sasuke's eyes widened, comprehending just what he was saying.

“What do you want with his eye?” He asked slowly, goose flesh pimpling along his arms as he knew if they wanted to do this there was nothing him or Itachi could do to stop it. He looked towards his Master, Sasori still calm. “I thought you didn't want revenge? I thought you weren't petty?” He tried.

Deidara laughed. “He isn't. He was going to leave the two of you completely alone. I talked him into a little fun, yeah?” The blond winked, laughing. “Teach Itachi that he doesn't get to take away people I care about because he gets a little jealous.” He hissed, the snake tightening on Itachi's neck.

“I saw something in that cell. That necklace...those stones will never work for me. They're trained for Uchiha eyes. I want to know how the stone works. He will never teach me, and strangely enough, I find myself knowing a person who needs an eye.”

Deidara winked at him again. “Isn't that sweet Sparky?” He asked. “It's our anniversary...or at least it was five months ago when he was still mostly dead, un.” Deidara mused, stray hand ghosting over his missing eye. “Uchiha eyes...the power of the Sharingan. Looks like Itachi can't be so high and mighty anymore. You can though...you'll have two and the rest of us will only have the one, yeah?”

“He'll. Kill. You.” Sasuke stressed, not as a threat, but more as a worry. Despite everything, he had actually come to care for these two. “If you do this he will kill you. He will seek revenge. He will destroy this Organization!” Sasuke yelled desperately. All Itachi cared about were those eyes. Such pretty eyes….He shuddered as he remembered Sai's words, his voice as he compared them. “Take mine!” He blurted without thinking. “Take one of my eyes instead!” A cold calculating dread ran through him at his offer. Fear was masking heroism and protection of Itachi. His eyes....they were the main source of his power. They were what made him an Uchiha. They were the only thing that made Itachi acknowledge him at all. Why in the hell had he made that offer? After everything Itachi had just put him through, what did it say that he was willing to sacrifice himself in a second?

Deidara actually looked surprised, and Sasori frowned in disgust. “You'd give up one of your eyes for your brother?” The puppet master asked, voice riddled with disapproval. “Have I taught you nothing, Sasuke? Did you learn nothing out in the forest?”

“I learned.” Sasuke whispered. “I know exactly what Itachi is, but he's mine...and I won't let you hurt him.” He said with a little more confidence. “You need to work the stone...you two want to go through with this...Fine. But you use my eye to do it, and you `never' tell Leader about what Itachi did to you.” He said, listing off his demands. “And this feud between the two of you is over.” He hissed. “I'll make sure he knows that, and he doesn't seek revenge for this.” He promised him. “My pound of flesh will settle this. Is that agreed?”

“Sparky!” Deidara teased him. “You'll give one of your pretty red eyes? I've always wanted Uchiha eyes. They can see so much more when the world goes bang.” He said sadistically.

“Very well.” Sasori said, sounding too indignant to argue. “If this is the mistake you truly wish to make for him.”

“It is.” Sasuke said with shaky confidence. “You'll wake him up?” He watched as Sasori pulled out a bottle, clearly the antidote. “You can...after. If he comes after me for this Sasuke, I'll take more than your eye. I won't want to, but I won't die for you again.”

Sasuke clenched, not realizing how much he had missed this level of support. How good it felt to have someone back here that really cared about him. “I won't let him hurt you again.” He said, meaning every word.

Deidara scoffed. “How touching, you two are adorable, yeah? But lets get on with this.” He looked over at Sasuke. “Sorry Sparky, but this is going to hurt.” He said, grinning as Sasuke's eyes flooded with the sharingan.

Sasuke looked in fear at the sadistic smile covering the blond's face, fighting a little as Sasori grabbed his arms from behind. “What are you doing!?” He asked, trying to fight as Deidara walked closer.

“I hate Itachi.” The blond started. “So I was very content to slash his eye out of the socket...but you're my kid Sasuke.” He held his hands dramatically to his heart. “My love child with my one and only.” The mouths on his hands grinned at his joke. “Strangely enough...I don't really want to hurt you…Much.” He said, grinning wickedly as hundreds of tiny clay spiders began crawling down the sleeve of his cloak. Sasuke struggled as they covered him, crawling up his face, before slipping deep underneath his left eye. The scream was the only thing he heard piercing out of his mouth, before everything cascaded sharply into pain and blackness.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke wound back his arm, bringing his hand down hard. He slapped across the cool white flesh of Itachi's face. The sound crackled off the room, the force of the slap jarring up and down the Uchiha's arm. Sasori had given him the antidote after it was done, folding it into Sasuke's hand as he sat emotionless in the hospital bed. The surgery to repair his eye had given him a week recovery. He let Itachi stew a week more in his own filth just out of spite alone. But today he had gotten the courage, more like anger, to come in here and force the blue liquid down that pretty throat.

“Wake the fuck up asshole!” The younger Uchiha hissed. He was garbed in a short hospital robe, bandages covering half his face and eye still, wrapped through his spikes. He was straddling Itachi's waist, knees digging into the Uchiha's shoulders to keep him trapped. He could feel Itachi's consciousness, the feeling somehow resounding in the necklace Sasuke still wore. “I know you're awake.” He leaned down, mouth on Itachi's ear. “Open your eyes.” He said `eyes' with such resounding hatred that he shocked even himself.

Itachi did slowly, those dark eyes immediately scanning the room. He took in his surroundings, before landing on Sasuke himself. Sasuke watched the almost puzzled look on his face at the bandages, as if the patch over his eye could be mistaken as anything else in the world. “Morning Aniki.” He purred, digging his knees hard into those shoulders. “How are you feeling?” He mocked.

“What happened?” Itachi croaked, his voice scratchy from lack of use. “What happened to your eye?” Had he not been so angry, Sasuke might have almost said his brother sounded concerned.

“Oh that?” Sasuke asked. “It was eaten out of my head.” He said mockingly, digging his knees in harder. “I need you to listen very carefully, dear brother, “ He mocked in the same way Itachi always did. “We need to discuss a few things.” Itachi watched him, sharingan flooding into his eyes. Sasuke sneered at that. “You've been sleeping for over a month now. You were poisoned by Sasori.” He grinned as he watched Itachi's eyes narrow. “Yeah...he's awake...and he got the drop on you. You're getting lazy in your old age Niisan.” Sasuke mocked. “He could have killed you. He didn't...because he's a better person than you.” Sasuke assured him. “But everyone has a price. I had to choose between carrying you to safety, or rescuing Naruto...and so I brought my only friend to this Hell hole, and I threw him in the same cell you fucked me with soap in...and I betrayed my village for the very final time to keep you safe.” He hissed. “I chose you. I chose the bastard who beat the shit out of me, fucked someone else, and tried to burn my face off.” He wanted to slap him again. He didn't...Itachi's patience wouldn't last forever. “He wouldn't give me the antidote without a price...him or Deidara.” Sasuke explained. “He wanted your eye...I gave him mine instead.” He told him this with such weighted hatred it shocked even him. “I gave him my eye Itachi!” He yelled, the other laying emotionless beneath him as he screamed.

“I will `always' protect you, even when I fucking hate you.” Sasuke hissed. “You will not seek revenge, and you will not hurt any of friends again Itachi.” He said icily. “You will `play' nice.” He hissed through clenched teeth. “You will `not' touch me until I can stand your touch again, but you will `not' touch anyone else either. If I ever find out you had someone like Sai again, I'll cut your fucking balls off.” Sasuke dug his knees in again, causing Itachi to wince. “I bought and paid for you!” He said with finality. “You are mine.” His eye flooded red to match Itachi's as they stared into each other. “You. Will. Obey.” Sasuke whispered then, meaning every word he had spoken. He got off Itachi, the Uchiha uncharacteristically not saying a word back in defense as the younger left the room, slamming the door behind him. He hated Itachi...and loved him...and whatever this was between them was going to kill them both.

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