Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ The Promise ( Chapter 28 )

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

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 28: The Promise

“You're angry with me.” Itachi taunted in that pool of darkness. “My little Sasuke, so hurt.” He teased, those hands that he could hardly feel pulled him close. “Brightness...You haven't visited in a long time.”

“That's because I have you with me Itachi. I don't need you in my head.” Yet here he was.

“Yet here I am?” Itachi said, mirroring his thoughts.

Sasuke glowered at his brother. “Stop doing that. Get out of my head.”

“But we're in your head Sasuke.” Itachi pointed out. “This is what you think of in the very darkest pits of your soul.” He kissed Sasuke's hand. “How long until you forgive me?”

“I'm never going to forgive you.” Sasuke assured him. “You killed Naruto.”

“I've done worse.” Itachi reminded him. “You knew the Kyuubi's fate. You've seen the Jinchuriki extractions. So why were you surprised when he died?” He asked. “You and Deidara were the ones to capture Gaara...to see his fate, so why does Naruto bother you so much?”

“You promised you'd let him live.” Sasuke hissed, arguing with his own mind.

“I promise you a lot of things, and I always keep them.” Sasuke glared deeply at that lie. “What? Do I not? Did you tell your leaf shinobi about the day I visited you?” He asked, curiosity deep in his voice.

“What day?” He asked him sullenly, already knowing the day Itachi was talking about. “I don't like to think about that.” He admitted, even though his mind was clearly on it. What would Itachi think if he knew his brother regularly had conversations with him in his mind? Sasuke laughed cynically.

“Am I your imaginary friend, Otouto?” Itachi asked him, tracing his face with his fingers.

“Shut up Itachi…” Sasuke grumbled. “You're not even real.”

“I can be. All you have to do is forgive me.” Itachi reminded him. “We're better together than we ever were apart. You know that.”

“I know you're poison.” Sasuke pointed out. “I also know you're not here. I don't have the necklace on.”

“But you do have something on, don't you Otouto?” Itachi reminded him, flicking the diadem on Sasuke's head. “I tied that to my soul. I tied that to you.” He said, hinting towards the fact that the two were one in the same. “Do you not feel me in you?”

Sasuke blushed despite himself at the intimate question, shaking it off. “I'm dreaming. You left...and I'm dreaming.”

“Do you dream of me often? I'm flattered.” Itachi teased, looking around the darkness. “This is depressing Sasuke. I was hoping to at least see the Kyuubi.”

“Sorry for letting you down.” Sasuke replied, arms crossed as he watched Itachi. Was he actually there? How could that be possible without the necklace? “What day Itachi?” He asked him again, already knowing that answer.

“Don't pretend like you don't know. You're thinking about, so I'm thinking about it.” Itachi grabbed Sasuke, twirling him around and pulling him in a backward embrace against his chest. “Shall we watch?” He leaned in closer, mouth on Sasuke's ear. “My brightness, I do so hate it when you're angry with me.” When he said it the world around them exploded in color, becoming like a three dimensional screen around them. He showed Sasuke exactly what Itachi was referring to.

Sasuke sullenly stared down at the water on the bridge in the Uchiha village. How long since he had come here? It had been years. Lately he couldn't even bring himself to visit the graves anymore. It hurt. Everytime he did he thought about what had caused it, or rather who. Itachi Uchiha, the source of his greatest pain and anguish. The murderer of his clan. The ruiner of his life.

He threw a rock into the water, the side scummy and overran, just like this village had become. He didn't know why they even kept it standing sometimes. Perhaps it served as a reminder. A warning almost to the rest of Konoha. He didn't need anymore reminders though, he had that everytime he looked in the mirror and saw his brother's face. Sometimes it didn't hurt so much, but days like today it was like a sword in his chest.

He had graduated from the academy today and become a genin, top of his class. There was no one around to see it. There was no one around to congratulate him, or tell him `that a boy' or that they were proud of him. There was no one because they were all dead. Decomposing worm food that used to be his family, that was Sasuke's legacy. He saw their looks at graduation. Pity...that's what he got. Pity or fear, he wasn't sure which one was worse. He was just as bad as that damn Uzumaki brat. He didn't have any family either, but at least he didn't know what he was missing.

“I'm proud of you son.” Sasuke said, imagining he saw his father's face staring back up at him. “I knew you could do it...not as quickly as your brother Itachi, but then again you also didn't murder your entire clan to do it. So I guess you get a B+” He laughed at his own cynical tone. He couldn't even make his father proud of him in his imagination.

“This is pathetic.” A voice said from behind him, and Sasuke froze. He recognized it, of course he did. But he hadn't heard it in over four years. He spun around, gasping to see Itachi right behind him, sitting on the bridge. How had he not felt him? He was a genin now!

“Itachi!” He cried, springing up, maddening anger beyond anything he had ever felt rushing through him as he felt his chakra surge. “I'll kill you!” He ran at him, pulling a kunai out of his pocket as he lunged towards the killer's heart.

Itachi caught his arm easily, twisting it behind him and forcing him over, holding it just to the point of breaking. “Relax. You can't fight, so don't bother trying. I'm not here to settle our feud.”

“Then what are you here for?” Sasuke asked through clenched teeth, struggling even though his arm was ready to break.

“I'm here to watch my baby brother graduate.” He said easily, still holding the arm. “Top of your class verrrryyyyyy impressive Otouto.” He mocked him. “Did you come here to tell mother and father?” He asked, yanking Sasuke up so that he could watch him. “Do you think they're still proud from the grave?”

Sasuke struggled even more then, reaching for another kunai in his pouch, determined to kill this bastard even with the one arm. Itachi avoided it easily though, grabbing his other arm and forcing him over the side of the bridge. He forced him to stare at his own reflection in the dirty river. “Why are you doing this?” Sasuke asked him, staring into those sharingan eyes in the river. “You already took my family away from me. Why would you come here to rub salt in the wound?”

“I'm your family Sasuke.” Itachi told him. “Don't forget that. We're brothers, which means it goes beyond anything. I took away distractions that would have held you back.”

“They weren't distractions.” Sasuke said, eyes watering. “They were our parents...our grandparents...our cousins.” He sobbed. “They were everything.”

“I'm everything. You're everything. They're nothing...they never were.” Itachi told him. “Only us...that's all there is Sasuke.” Sasuke met those cold eyes in the water, shaking his head in denial.

“There is no us. You left me.” Sasuke reminded him, tiring from his struggle.

“There will be. I promise you that.” Itachi assured him, yanking the tired genin up and turning him to face him, hand gripping Sasuke's chin. “You're mine Sasuke...and one day very soon I will show you exactly what that means. Do you understand?”

Sasuke shook his head, tears falling freely down his face as he tried to figure out what to do. Why was Itachi here? Why would he come here and say things like this? “I don't know what you're talking about!”

“Honestly Otouto, tears?” He asked him, and Sasuke's entire body froze when Itachi leaned forward, licking them away.

Wide black eyes stared into red as that tongue traveled up his skin, licking the salty wetness away and causing a shiver to go down his spine. Revulsion mixed with something else entirely. “Stop it.” He said with a gasp, shivering as he watched Itachi. For some reason he couldn't look away from those eyes.

“I don't think you want me to stop.” Itachi assured him, tilting his head as he watched Sasuke. “You're not ready though...not for that...not yet.” Itachi's lips pressed to his cheek. “But you will be.” He pulled back, letting him go completely. “I've brought you something. A gift for all your hard work.”

“I don't want any presents from you.” Sasuke hissed, still trying to wrap his mind around just what Itachi had been talking about.

“Are you sure Otouto?” Itachi asked, voice skeptical. “Not even if I give you a promise?”

“You break all your promises.” Sasuke bit out, eyes still teary. “Why'd you come here today?” Why did he give him hope? Did he care? Had Itachi ever really cared about him?

“When I take you...and I will take you Sasuke...I promise you one thing.” He grabbed Sasuke's spikes, yanking him forward so their foreheads were together. “You won't ever be rid of me again.” He swore. “Until then...a token to my younger brother.” He held up a ring, silver with what looked like ruby stone inside it. “This will protect you if you wear it.” He slipped it onto Sasuke's finger, the metal sliding off and dropping into his palm. “Looks like it doesn't fit you yet.” Itachi pressed it into Sasuke's pocket. “Take it anyways. You're an Uchiha after all. It belongs to you.”

Sasuke stared at Itachi, eyes big with disbelief and distrust. “Why are you giving me this?”

“Because you've earned it.” He flicked Sasuke in the forehead. “But when I see you again...I will try to kill you. Don't forget that.”

“Pervert.” Sasuke said, leaning into Itachi's arms as they finished the memory. Darkness was once more surrounding them. “You were hitting on me...a 12 year old.” He murmured, content with Itachi's arms around him, missing it.

“That's what you took from that? My desire for you?” Itachi asked, amused.

“Not like it was hard to see...and I thought I had it bad.” He actually smiled when Itachi bit his neck in play. “It's funny...I hated you so much back then, but you planned this all along, didn't you?” He asked him, turning to look at Itachi. “All of it.”

“For you.” Itachi agreed, kissing where he had once bitten.

“For my eyes.” Sasuke corrected. “Such a romantic notion.” He mocked. “I didn't keep the ring you know?” Sasuke murmured. “After you left I threw it into the river and wished it caused you pain.”

“I know you didn't keep it.” Itachi assured him. “If you had we could have had conversations like this a long time ago.”

Sasuke was about to ask what that meant, but then he realized he already knew. “You put part of the stone in the ring? That's why you gave it to me.” He shook his head. “Bastard.”

“I promised I'd have you.” Itachi reminded him. “I've kept that promise.”

Sasuke hummed in his throat. “I suppose you did. I hate you still...funny how that works.”

Itachi kissed his neck again. “You'll forgive me. I have a plan.” Sasuke rolled his eyes at that.

“You're an idiot...and still all in my head.” He reminded himself, knowing this was a dream. “You're nicer in my head.”

“Did you want me to be nicer?” Itachi asked him, curious.

“I don't care what you are to be honest...as long as you don't try to fuck me anymore.” He murmured, sighing as he was pulled even closer, Itachi's lips at his ear.

“No promises there Otouto...not with you being so in control.” Sasuke felt Itachi grin against his neck before the world around them began to fade. Figures. Itachi only ever was nice to him in his dreams.

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

Sasuke opened his eyes slowly, not wanting to leave the world in his head. It was becoming more and more of a problem lately, but he knew he had to. He knew Itachi was back. He inhaled, mouth watering at the smell. He pushed himself up off the bed roll, fixing his side of the cave as he headed towards the fire. “Won't this draw out our location?” He asked his brother. Itachi had been gone for five days. He didn't know why he was back, or why he had brought food.

“No one is following us. I made sure of that.” Itachi murmured, turning the meat on the spigot in the flames. “Are you hungry?” He asked, never looking up at him. Sasuke's eyes narrowed a little as he examined him. Itachi was acting strange.

He reached out then, fingers tracing down the back of Itachi's neck, a very specific spot at his nape. He watched the shiver pass down Itachi's back at the contact. So it was him then, not an imposter. “Where were you?” He asked, voice sleep ridden. He never seemed to get any rest when he was in that world in his mind.

“It doesn't matter.” Itachi said simply, and Sasuke realized his own fingers were tracing over that spot he knew drove his brother insane. “Stop.” Sasuke smiled sardonically at the breathy tone.

“Forgot how much that gets to you.” He said, sinking down next to Itachi. “At least I didn't kiss it.” He pointed out, quieted by the look Itachi shot him.

“Stop it Sasuke.” Itachi hissed at him, this time making it a command, face a cold brick of ice. “Would you like some rabbit?” He asked him then, dragging it out of the fire and handing it over.

Sasuke took it slowly, biting into the meat as he watched his brother. The grease coated his lips as his eyes traveled down Itachi's chest, landing on his crotch that was half hard. He bit his lip at just the thought, pushing it back as he tried to focus. When he finally drew his eyes away he noticed Itachi staring at him. “Seems like you have a problem there Aniki.” Sasuke said, grinning despite himself as he took another bite.

“Don't suppose you want to do anything about that problem?” Itachi asked him, eyebrow raised in question.

“Don't suppose I do.” Sasuke agreed, taking a bite with a grin on his face. “You should really take care of that though. I already took care of mine this morning.” He whispered. Actually...Itachi had...in his head and it had been one of the least fulfilling orgasms of his life.

Itachi glowered at him, grabbing his own food out of the fire. “Should we discuss just what the plan should be since you succeeded in killing every aspect of what used to be our lives?” He asked Sasuke, voice a dangerous hiss.

“You killed half of it.” Sasuke reminded him. “We can't go back to the Akatsuki.” He pointed out. “Not after what happened with Kisame.”

“You're welcome by the way.” Itachi said, and Sasuke noticed how Itachi's eyes were glued to his stomach.

“What's your obsession with it?” Sasuke asked, amused as he slowly drew up his shirt, letting Itachi see the scar. The scar that was now marred with the seal for the Kyuubi. “Is it because I almost died?” He assumed, knowing better than to ever assume Itachi cared for him.

“Yes.” Itachi said, and Sasuke almost choked on his next bite of rabbit. “Kisame has been my partner since I left Konoha. I had never anticipated him hurting you. I knew you would try something to help the Jinchuriki.” Itachi said, Sasuke noticing how he avoided Naruto's name. “I made a decision. I won't regret it. I don't regret any of my decisions.” He said pointedly. “But now we face the fact that we're homeless.”

Sasuke thought about that, and how he had burnt every bridge he had ever come across. He thought about how he had cut ties with Konoha, with the Akatsuki, and even with Orochimaru. “You're all I have left.” He admitted, leaning back as he thought about it. They were on their own. “You could go back to the Akatsuki. They'd let you back.”

Itachi snorted. “Right...because after running off to save you I'm sure I'd be welcome back with open arms.” He murmured. “Especially with that thing inside you.”

“Well they'd for sure let you back in if you gave them me.” Sasuke pointed out, watching Itachi.

“I have something else planned for you Otouto.” Itachi said, looking over. “I didn't put it in you just to have it ripped from your body.” He seemed to be struggling with himself, but in the end he reached out, drawing Sasuke's hair behind his ear.

Sasuke shut his eyes at the touch, trying to once more steel his heart against Itachi's efforts. “What do you have planned for me?” He asked, Itachi's fingers traveling down his neck.

“I'm going to get you to forgive me.” He whispered, leaning down to kiss Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke clenched his fists, fighting everything in him not to turn to kiss Itachi. “Stop it Itachi.” He hissed, using the same words Itachi had with him earlier. He shoved him away, noticing the amused glint in his eyes. “I told you. No more. Not ever. I may be stuck with you, but we're done.”

“We're not done.” Itachi assured him, getting up. “We do need a plan though, and it starts with getting you up to speed with your new powers.” He motioned outside. “Come on....we're going to take that thing off your head.”

Sasuke's mouth dropped a little, running after Itachi into the sand. “What are you talking about?” He asked, excitement and relief coursing through him. “You're going to take the diadem off?” Why would Itachi risk that? “I could kill you.” He pointed out.

“No you couldn't.” Itachi assured him. “But you can think you can if it will help you.” He told him. “Now, when I take it off you're going to feel a rush of chakra. Too much chakra. Do you remember how you lost control the last time?”

“I remember wanting to eat you.” Sasuke reminded him, watching Itachi through narrowed eyes.

“Is that right?” Itachi asked, amused smirk on his face. “I find myself wanting to eat you out all the time.” He said, smirk widening as Sasuke blushed.

“Just take the stupid thing off my head Itachi.” Sasuke bit out, cock twitching in his pants.

“Control yourself Sasuke.” He murmured, making hands signs and chanting, the diadem falling from Sasuke's head, disappearing.

Sasuke gasped at the rush of it all, falling to the floor as his hands gripped the ground. Chakra flooded over his body, the foreign red chakra coating him as he looked up at Itachi, all of the suppressed anger and hate coming back full force. He looked up towards his brother, chakra flaring around him as his teeth sharpened. His eyes were both red, one with the chakra, the other with the mangekyo sharingan. “Itachi…” He growled, chest vibrating with it as he stretched up. He lounged on all fours as he watched his brother.

Itachi let the sharingan flood his eyes, but other than that he seemed almost calm. “Otouto...that's a good look for you, but how do you expect to ever fight if you let the chakra control you so easily?”

Sasuke grinned at him, teeth all sharp needles in his mouth. “I can fight, don't worry Aniki.” He said, tail beginning to wag behind him. “Can you fight?” He said mockingly, feeling the strength inside of him. All of it. He ran towards Itachi then, animalistic in his approach as he sprang forward.

Itachi dodged the attack, eyes tracking the movement as they started to fight, flying through the sand as they moved almost too fast to see. “You can keep up because of your eyes?” Sasuke taunted. “For how long? What can you really see?” He asked, another tail growing as they moved even faster as they sparred. He had never been like this with Itachi before. He had never been on his level.

“Don't worry, you're not a match for me yet.” Itachi assured him, disappearing right before Sasuke connected. “Even with my eyes.” He flipped backwards, landing on top of the mountain. “Speaking of eyes. Use yours.” He motioned to his own. “Focus on mine and draw me in.”

“You want me to use Tsukuyomi on you?” Sasuke asked him skeptically, chakra starting to retreat more and more as he fought, as if he were getting control of it without ever even realizing it.

“I don't think it would be possible for you to use it yet.” He assured him. “I just want you to use your eyes. Genjutsu...surprise me.” He taunted, watching Sasuke calmly.

Sasuke focused, growling a little at the slight as he watched Itachi, focusing his chakra and sharingan. His windmill eye began to swirl, the world around them losing focus as reality began to warp. He focused more chakra, the sky melting into the blood red of the world Itachi always took him. He turned the world behind Itachi into a nightmare as his brother stared on with that same level of calm.

“Is this seriously the best you can do?” Itachi asked disapprovingly. “You have an almost unlimited amount of chakra. You could do anything you wanted with this power.” He taunted him, egging him on. “Hurt me Sasuke. I've tortured you so many times with my eyes. Don't you want to make me suffer? Don't you want your revenge?” He pushed.

Sasuke pulled the chakra from inside of him, focusing it on his powers as the world warped even more. “Why do you want me to get so strong Itachi?” He asked him. “Why?” They were surrounded by water, Sasuke warping the genjutsu to an ocean of red. An ocean of blood. He was waded in it up to his hips. “Come join me Aniki.” He motioned towards him. “Or maybe I'll drag you down with me.” He said, making a wave crash up behind Itachi, hitting him hard in the back as he flew off the mountain and towards him. Sasuke stopped him with his mind right before he hit the bloody water.

“What's your obsession with water Otouto?” Itachi asked him then, still no hint of distress on his face. “It's red this time.” He observed.

The statement was so shocking that Sasuke lost his focus, dropping Itachi down into the blood, the world spinning around them as it threatened to disappear. “What?” He asked him, backing up in the blood. Itachi had righted himself, seemingly comfortable being bathed in blood. “What did you just say about the water?” Sasuke asked again, watching Itachi's fingers trail through the blood. Flashes towards this morning came to him. What he had let Itachi do to him in his head. “You bastard.” He hissed, the red chakra building once again.

“Don't look at me like that.” Itachi told him. “Like I betrayed you in some way.” He waded in the blood towards Sasuke. “We're the same Sasuke.”

“You lied to me!” Sasuke yelled, feeling dirty in this world of blood.

“I never lied.” Itachi assured him. “If anyone is the liar, it's you.” He lashed out, gripping Sasuke's neck. “I shouldn't have control over you in this world.” He hissed, and Sasuke struggled for breath. “I shouldn't be able to get one hand on you.”

“Sorry to be such a disappointment...yet again.” He managed as Itachi let go of his neck. “Why did you lie?” He asked him. “You acted like a completely different person Itachi!” He accused him, the world around them beginning to tremble. “In that world…”

“In our world.” Itachi agreed. “It's simpler to be with you. The real world isn't simple. It's hard and full of death.” He walked closer. “But we'll rule it all the same. We'll start with Akatsuki.” He stood right in front of Sasuke, both completely covered in blood. “We'll kill anyone who won't follow us, and continue what they started with the Jinchuuriki.”

“I'm a Jinchuuriki.” Sasuke reminded him, almost breathless at Itachi's bold statement. He wanted to take over the Akatsuki? For what purpose? “They'll want the nine tails as well.”

“They'll want it.” Itachi agreed. “But if you're strong enough, they'll bow to you instead.” He tilted Sasuke's chin. “My unbeatable little brother.” He whispered, eyes having shifted to the mangekyou. Sasuke was locked in those eyes.

“They hate you.” Sasuke argued. “They hate us.”

“They fear me.” Itachi corrected. “The Akatsuki is an organization made up of some of the strongest shinobi in the world. We can control everything. We can make them bow to us Otouto.”

“Your delusions of grandeur have always ended in slaughter.” Were they really going to do this? Had this always been Itachi's plan. “They think I'm a traitor.”

“You are a traitor.” Itachi pointed out. “You've betrayed every organization you've ever belonged to, but you've never betrayed me.” Itachi grinned cruelly. “Your new Leader.”

“I thought we were going to lead Itachi?” He asked spitefully. “I'm not your servant. I'm the one with the Kyuubi inside me.”

“Precisely.” Itachi agreed. “A welcome tool for our success.” He tilted his head as he watched Sasuke. “In fact...you have the unique power to get them to follow us. At least two of them.”

“Sasori and Dei?” Sasuke asked. “I don't think Dei will be too forthcoming to join us once you take his eye.”

“Your eye.” Itachi corrected. “I'm just taking it back. He can have his scope.” He said pleasantly. “We'll plan that later. We have to get you ready first. If we can't over power them, we'll never be able to conquer them.”

He watched Itachi as the world once more began to shake around them. Itachi was playing him. He didn't know how yet, but he knew he was. “And after we take them over? What then?”

Itachi didn't answer, eyes scanning the crumbling horizon. “You need better control of your genjutsu. It's falling apart.”

“What then Itachi!?” Sasuke screamed at him, the blood flying everywhere, surrounding them in a bubble, raining blood down on the both of them.

“Stop being so demanding.” He hissed at him. “How can you speak to me like that when you can't even hit me? Get better with your jutsu Sasuke.” He snapped, and the blood around them all formed into spikes, closing in and piercing Sasuke on all sides with it.

The jutsu was broken as Sasuke came back to himself, kneeling down in the sand. He reached up, unsurprised to feel the diadem back in place. That suffocating trapped feeling was back, as was the numbness. “Why did you put it back on?” He asked, looking up to see Itachi just above him. “I was doing fine.”

“You were doing terrible.” Itachi corrected. “And I'm not a fool Sasuke. If I leave it off you'll try to kill me, and I haven't gotten your forgiveness yet.”

“You won't earn that.” Sasuke hissed, panting from the exertion of all of that chakra. His hand went to his eye, his head pounding. “Does it always hurt like this?” He asked, drained from the Mangekyou.

“Everytime.” Itachi assured him, grabbing Sasuke and yanking him to his feet. “I want you in my bed tonight, and so we'll do this now. I'm tired of waiting.”

Sasuke was exhausted, leaning into Itachi as he couldn't seem to hold himself up on his own. “What are you talking about Aniki?” He asked, hand to his face as he couldn't get his head to stop pounding. “I just need sleep.”

“You remember the day at the bridge?” Of course he did, Itachi had shown it to him. Made sure the memory was fresh.

“The day you came and watched my graduation?” He answered, knowing this would go faster if he played along. He glanced up at Itachi then, surprised to see soft black eyes staring back at him.

“I gave you something that day.” He told him, and Sasuke fought off his headache to focus on Itachi's voice.

“Not something I wanted. I told you I threw that ring away.” He reminded him. “Another trick by you that I happened to not be caught in.”

“It'll improve your sharingan.” Itachi countered with.

“It'll help improve your control over me.” Sasuke corrected. “It had a piece of the stone in it. Just like your necklace.” Itachi nodded.

“I put a piece in that ring you casually tossed aside.” Itachi agreed with him. “That ring was priceless.”

“It didn't fit me.” Sasuke reminded him, headache beginning to ebb the more and more Itachi touched him, and he didn't even want to know what that was all about.

“Sasuke?” Itachi asked as Sasuke leaned in, laying his head on that shoulder. “Do you really blame me for what happened to you?” He asked him.

“Is that what's been bothering you?” Sasuke asked, rolling his eyes as he inhaled Itachi's scent. “You feel guilty?” He tried to drag his head away from Itachi's shoulder, but found he didn't have the strength. “It wasn't your fault.” He said, letting him off the hook. “It was mine. I told him about you.”

“Why?” Itachi asked quietly, holding him in the middle of the sand. “You knew how he would react.”

“Because I missed you.” Sasuke admitted. “I missed you, and I told you where I was. It was my fault. My weakness.” He had gotten Naruto killed. He had gotten himself raped. He pulled himself away, headache gone as he looked up at Itachi, eyes widening at what the other was holding. “Wha?” He managed, locked onto that silver ring. The same one Itachi had once tried to give him.

“You're my weakness Sasuke.” Itachi told him. “You always have been. I was supposed to kill you that night along with all the others. The Uchihas had been causing problems in the village. There was talk of mutiny, of war. The Hokage bid me to take care of it, or they would. Not only that, but a sacrifice of this magnitude would give me the perfect opportunity to join the organization the ANBU had caught notice of.”

“The Akatsuki…” Sasuke whispered, surprise overtaken his features as Itachi revealed to him the biggest secret of his life.

“I hated the Uchiha. They had lost sight of what we really were. I had no problem following orders and killing them.” Itachi explained. “Then it came to you. Looking back on it, you must have realized I had become afflicted with you even then.” He told him, talking about him like he was a disease. “I couldn't kill you.” He whispered. “I wanted you too much, so I left you there in your pool of hatred. I followed my orders as I should have, and I waited.”

“Itachi…” Sasuke whispered, letting all of it run through him. Everything he had ever thought he knew was a lie. Konoha, the village he had been sent as a spy for, already had a spy. They had murdered his clan. They had been the ones to take everything from him, not Itachi.

“It's time you knew the truth. When we take over the Akatsuki...the first thing we will do is destroy the village that took our future.” He watched Sasuke, gauging the other's response.

“Destroy Konoha?” He asked him, breath ragged, blood pressure through the roof as his heart was pounding. “Alright Aniki…” He agreed, staring into those black eyes. “I'll help you.”

“I want you to do more than help me.” Itachi said. “Allow me to explain. When I acquired the stone from you, I learned of its power. I knew what it could do for a sharingan wielder such as myself. Not very long after that the Hokage came to me with his plan, and I accepted.”

“What do they have to do with each other?” He whispered, hands coming out to press to Itachi's chest, making sure he was real. Itachi's heart was beating almost as fast as his.

“My soul. I put part of it into each of the stones, allowing for me to connect my mind with them. In essence, a part of me that no longer exists is in those stones. My old self.” Sasuke felt himself go weak in the knees as he realized the implications behind those words.

“So when you're in my head...it's you...it's a different you.” He managed to get out, watching Itachi nod.

“The one that loves you...the one capable of it.” He grabbed Sasuke's hand, not seeming to notice that it was trembling. “I had wanted you to have this that morning of your graduation. To have someone with you as you grew up.” He slid the ring onto Sasuke's finger, neither Uchiha was surprised to find it fit perfectly. “I want you to have it for a very different reason now. I could have been the person you wanted me to be, once, but I don't know that I can.” He pulled Sasuke to him at that, their bodies aligned as he cupped Sasuke's cheek. “I don't know if I can give you what you want all the time Brightness, but I'll give you my soul if that will be enough. Perhaps you can find your happiness with it.”

Sasuke melted then, letting go of the steel around his heart, of his hatred. He let go of everything beyond the implications of what Itachi had just told him. The ring was perfect on his finger, and knowing it was, what it and the necklace really were, made him quiver. “Itachi…” He breathed, pulling the elder down to his lips. The universe exploded around them as Itachi kissed him back, their tongues dancing as Sasuke groaned into his lips. Sasuke jumped then, Itachi catching him on his hips, holding him easily as he ate into his mouth. “I love you so much…” He managed against that mouth, kissing him over and over, not able to get enough. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that alone.” He kissed desperately down his neck. “I'm sorry I have always let you take this burden.”

He met Itachi's eyes, the other seemed far away, lost almost. “I want you...but…” he hesitated. “What if it doesn't feel the same?” He asked. “What if you don't like it anymore?”

“I don't care...I want you so bad it hurts Sasuke.” He admitted, drawing Sasuke's ringed hand down to feel just how bad. Sasuke didn't hesitate in pushing past Itachi's pants, grabbing onto the engorged erection.

“How long have you been hard?” Sasuke murmured dirtily, pumping him as he heard Itachi growl in frustration.

“From about the time you let me slip that ring on your finger.” He admitted, dropping to his knees with Sasuke sitting in his lap. He didn't hesitate in drawing Sasuke's mouth back down to his, the two only breaking so Itachi could draw the younger's shirt up over his head. He threw it away, and Sasuke began to move his hips on top of Itachi, hand moving with the same rhythm. Itachi ripped the hand out of his pants, drawing Sasuke's fingers to his mouth, taking them in one by one as the other groaned, continuing to ride Itachi's thin hips.

“Mmm...what are you doing?” Sasuke asked, eyes half lidded at the feel of Itachi's mouth on his fingers. “It feels...god it feels…” He managed, bucking on top of him as Itachi's mouth covered the ring he had just given him. Itachi pulled back, shoving Sasuke back into the sand, dragging his pants easily off and over his sandals, leaving him bare while the other was fully clothed. “Prep yourself.” He commanded, kissing at the inside of his thigh. He drew his own top over his head, working to get his pants down his hips. Strangely enough Sasuke was reminded of the night before he had left to kill Orochimaru. Itachi never took it slow like this.

He dragged his wet appendages between his legs, hesitating as he swirled them along the tight ring of muscle. What if he was ruined? What if Itachi didn't like it anymore? “Aniki?” He asked, begging for his help, not thinking he would get it.

Surprisingly Itachi's face almost softened, leaning down to kiss him as he grabbed his hand, helping to push two of his fingers and one of his own as they broke through the tight ring. “You're fine…” Itachi managed. “You're perfect.” He panted, moving the fingers in growing impatience, stretching Sasuke open. “So tight…” He managed, biting Sasuke's shoulder to try to hold off as he used his other hand to draw open Sasuke's legs. He yanked out the fingers, bringing them to Sasuke's mouth this time, letting him taste himself as he sucked on his own fingers.

Sasuke groaned, sucking just like he knew Itachi liked it, letting him watch as the other positioned himself between his legs. “Aniki…” He panted, cock swollen and dripping into his naval. He wanted this so bad it hurt. Six months, it had been six months since they had touched each other in any way at all beyond that night when everything had gone wrong.

“Otouto…” Itachi whispered, drawing his face to his own. “You now know all of my secrets. You know me...so forgive me for not protecting you. Everything I've done in my life, it is my only regret.”

Sasuke nodded, having forgiven Itachi the moment he held out the ring. He pulled him in close, gasping as that cock pushed slowly inside. His hands gripped into Itachi's hair, legs wrapping around him as he took him in inch by inch. “Itachi...gods…”

Itachi kissed him to quiet his pleas, sheathed fully inside of him. The sand was sticking to their sweaty bodies, but neither cared as they began to move. Sasuke was so full, and it was perfect. He pushed down thoughts of Naruto, of what had been the last thing to transpire between them. There was only Itachi now, as it should be. “Aniki... “ He managed, using his hips to flip them over. He gripped Itachi's hands as he sat on his hips, riding him as he pushed Itachi's arms above his head, their hands entwined as he rose up and down on that cock.

He leaned down to kiss him, moving faster as pleasure dragged up his spine. Itachi rolled them again, leaving their marks along the sand as he slammed Sasuke down, opening his hips up wide as he thrust so hard inside Sasuke could practically feel it in his gut. “You're still perfect.” Itachi husked, thrusting harder. So hard it hurt. So hard it felt like he was losing his mind. “Still mine...I promised you, didn't I?” He murmured into his ear, biting along his neck. “Once I had you, I'd never let you go.” He thrust particularly hard, making Sasuke scream as it hit his prostate.

“Itachi...I can't...I can't…” He begged, heels digging into the back of Itachi's thighs. He yanked him back to his mouth, crying into it as pleasure exploded in his vision and he came screaming between them, Itachi following quickly afterwards as he flooded his insides with his claim.

Itachi collapsed on top of him, panting into his neck as they both recovered. They were both messes, covered in sweat and sand, Sasuke sticky with the matted cum. He sighed as Itachi kissed him, trailing his lips down his neck, his clavicle, the juncture of his throat. “I don't like it when we fight.”

Sasuke nodded his head in agreement, pulling him deep inside one more time, before allowing Itachi to pull out of him. He pet Itachi's long hair as he kissed down his stomach, the other stopping at his scar. Both hands came to it then, feeling it as Itachi kissed it over and over. “I'm fine.” He promised him, the other beyond weird about it. “Itachi...hey look at me.” He pulled up on his hair, drawing him back up and to his lips.

He didn't know how long they were like that, long enough for the sun to begin to go down over the mountains. “We should get back.” Itachi said, lounging on Sasuke's stomach. “We're out in the open...exposed.”

“Very exposed.” Sasuke agreed, laughing a little as Itachi's hands gripped between his legs. “So the Akatsuki, huh?” Sasuke asked him, receiving a hum of agreement as Itachi busied himself with the inside of his thighs, making him moan. “We need a plan.”

“I have a plan…” Itachi said dirtily, mouth covering the other's cock. Sasuke groaned deeply, hardening fully in that wet cavern, hands gripping that hair. Itachi moaned against him, sucking hard on the tip as his tongue traced up along the vein. ...So much for the plan.

When they finally could draw away from each other, which was two blowjobs, and three very interesting positions later, Itachi had found them a spring in one of the mountains. They were now back in the cave, Sasuke seated in Itachi's lap, not able to keep his mouth off of him. Itachi's hands were on his ass, drawing him nearer as they kissed. Sasuke finally managed to drag his mouth off of Itachi's, laying his head down on his shoulder. “We need to get close to Sasori and Deidara...that's our way in.” Sasuke whispered, nose nuzzling Itachi's neck. “I can do it.”

“I know you can.” Itachi agreed, holding him there. It was the closest to approval he would ever get. “We'll start tomorrow.” He murmured, yanking Sasuke's head back up and back to his mouth.

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.