Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Dead By Dawn ❯ Scars ( Chapter 3 )

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

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Naruto.

A/N: I originally wrote this chapter with Itachi shirtless and in high cut hip-hugging denim shorts, but Sasuke kept forgetting his lines... and then he just stood there staring at Itachi, then his mouth began to foam, and he collapsed into a coma from Itachi's sexiness....
Yeah, so I had to rewrite the whole chapter with Itachi fully clothed.

Yeah, Sasuke is a little out of character in this story. But not for the same reason as in the other stories I've written. In the other stories, I didn't even bother trying to keep him in character, cuz he was not the focus of the story. In this one, I'm trying really hard to keep him in character. But he's a pretty complex character, and his personality is hard for me to type. And I'm having a hell of a time typing these chapters... this third chapter was especially hard for me cuz I'm not as morbid today as I was earlier this weak. lol. So this is the best in character I can do. As for Itachi... I don't know why he's easy for me to write. He just is.


Warning: blood and gore, violence, uchiha-cest... chapter contains references to sexual content.

Chapter 3- Scars

"Aniki! Aniki!" I whined in a needy voice.

I sat five years old at the foot of Itachi's desk tugging his pants legs repetitively. The room was pitch black save for the warm light of the study lamp. Itachi was hunched over his books, brow lightly furrowed in that form of concentration. Mother had said if he kept this up, his face would be stuck like that, and it appeared she was right, because lately his brows were lightly furrowed even when he wasn't studying. And light lines had begun to deepen beneath his eyes from the long nights of studies.

Itachi looked down to me, withdrawing his hand from his forehead, his ebony hair falling loosely into his face matted with sweat. I looked up to him with large, brown eyes glistening with undropped tears, face puckered into a look of sour.

"I am studying, otouto." Itachi said in a smooth voice.

"But you said you'd play with me an hour ago!" I whined some more, bottom lip now jutting out.

Itachi looked away ignoring me, and I gave the hardest tug I could redirecting his attention back to me, where it should be. His eyes hardened as he glared at me for bothering him. I glared back at him best I could.

"You promised!" I yelled, then I held my arms out to him in a demanding manner. "Pick me up! Pleeeaaase!"

Itachi looked at me, a moment of contemplation behind his eyes, then he reached down and gently lifted me onto his lap. My childlike glare turned to a bright beaming smile as I squirmed into a comfortable position in his lap. Itachi then reached around me and picked up his pen yet again, attempting to work over my small, squirming form. His indifference to me obvious as he began moving like I was an object in his lap, a presence that was simply there, nothing more.

My look turned once again sour and I threw my arms around his neck pulling him down closer to me. "No! Pay attention to ME aniki!"

Itachi ignored me, making me even more mad. I lightly nuzzled my neck into the nook of his.

"Itachi, touch me please." I whined.

His body froze. I could feel every muscle tense beneath my bottom.

"Don't you want to touch me, aniki?" I asked in a begging, pleading voice.

Itachi met my eyes, his were suddenly darker than mine, burning into my own. His powerful eyes, freezing me in place, holding me to where I was. I could feel them seep into my soul.

"You have no idea, otouto."

I stood outside in front of the door to Naruto's apartment in the hallway lined with other doors. I had been standing there for what felt like hours mustering up the strength to knock. I couldn't believe I had even come here. What was I thinking?

I adjusted the straps of my back pack. Ever since Itachi's visit, I couldn't focus. I had to return to my house twice since I left because I kept forgetting... supplies. Beg me. Like when you were young. A deep blush returned to my cheeks and I look down to the mat. 'There's No Place Like Home' it read in large blue letters. I couldn't help but chuckle.

Suddenly, the door opened causing my head to snap up. Naruto stopped shortly before running into me, a look of utter surprise on his face. I looked down from his bare chest to his orange boxers, and cleared my throat as I shifted uncomfortably and looked away.

"Why don't you put some clothes on before answering the door, dobe." I snapped.

Naruto blinked a few times dazed before blushing and glaring at me. "Well, how was I suppose to know you were here? You never knocked! I was just gonna get a soda!"

I looked back to him, still glaring. "Well, aren't you going to invite me in? Or are you just going to let me stand out here all night."

Naruto shut the door and appeared a few minutes later in his orange jumpsuit to let me in. I walked a few feet into the small apartment and began looking around. Small would be an overstatement. Naruto smiled ear to ear and began pointing at everything telling me what it was. He pointed to a small table to the left of me. "That's where I eat." Then to some cabinets that were pressed against the wall next to it. "That's where I keep my food." Then to the counters across from me that held a sink, a stove, a microwave, and some more cabinets. "That's where I cook and wash dishes." Then he pointed to a door to the right of me. "That's where I bathe." And then he pointed to a bed sheet that was nailed to the wall towhere it draped over what appeared to be a closet, substituting for a door. "And that's where I sleep."

I walked over to the curtain and pulled it back, and stared in shock at the small space. There was a small, futon bed, with cuby holes in the wall above the bed that held his clothes and personals. I let the sheet fall back to cover the opening and turned to Naruto in shock, who was still giddy with excitement.

"You live here? I can walk across the apartment in a few steps."

"Yeah, it's pretty cozy, huh." Naruto said oblivious. "Sit down! I was just making some ramen."

Naruto turned back to the microwave as I sat down at the only chair at the table. I slide out of my back pack and took a shaky breath as I removed two small unmarked bottles from my pack. I set them on the table and laid my hands flat, then began sucking in deep breaths to calm myself. The silence began to fill the room, pressing down on me like a weight.

"So where is your family?" My voice broke through it much louder than I expected.

"I don't have one." Naruto answered off-handedly, as if it was a normal everyday answer.

I blinked a few times, surprised. He doesn't have one either? I took in another deep breath and let it out. "Did they die?"

"Nope. I just never had one. Because of the kyuubi. No one wanted me." His voice was cheery, and he began to humm lightly.

I curled up my fingers raising my palms off the table. A sweat imprint of my hand rested beneath them. "How can you be so cheery? You're all alone." I barked in an irritated voice.

"Yeah, well, you know, time heals all wounds."

But the scars will never fade.

He reached into the cabinet above him pulling out some seasoning. His back still faced me, remained turned to me this entire time. I bore my eyes deep into his skin, seething over his indifference. How can he be so calm about this? He doesn't have a family! He's alone. Like me. All alone. His happiness- it's wrong. It's dead wrong.

"But family is everything Naruto. Everyone needs family- it gives you your name, your heritage, your pride! It's impossible to live without family!" My voice had slowly risen to a shout. I leaned up slightly on my elbows, the chair screeching against the floor.

Naruto turned to face me, startled. "What's your problem Sasuke? It's not your family."

I stared at him for a moment, swallowing a large lump of my anger down. My body shook lightly as I sat back down in my seat, my eyes refusing to meet his. The anger racked my body, and I desperately tried to breathe it out in large breaths before it consumed me. He doesn't understand. He's alone like me, but he doesn't understand. If time heals all wounds...

Then why is mine still bleeding?...

Naruto pushed a hot cup of ramen up to me, and sat down on an upside down garbage can he had transformed into a chair. He looked me over once, a look of concern forming on his face.

"Sasuke, are you okay? You look a bit flushed."

I met his eyes for the first time that night, and felt a pain jolt through my heart. What am I doing? His blue eyes stared back at me laced with concern.

"Yeah... I'm fine."

"What's in the bottles?"

I looked from his eyes to the bottles. Instantly, I felt my heart rate increase.

"... It's sake. I didn't want to drink it alone."

Naruto looked a bit disappointed now. "Where underage. Besides, only losers drink."

I forced a light smirk on my lips. I could feel the pulse spread throughout my body beating beneath my skin as a trickle of sweat ran down my neck.

"What's the matter. Afraid you can't keep up with me?"

"What's that!"

"You know I'll out drink you. It's okay. Save yourself the embarrassment."

Naruto instantly slammed his hand down around the bottle, face flushed with anger. The table shook slightly beneath his fist. "Oh yeah! I'll show you! I can drink way more than you!" He popped the lid off the bottle and chugged it down in one gulp, wiping his mouth afterwards with the back of his hand, a large smile plastered on his face.

I watched him sit there, white nuckles gripping my bottle. My pulse had long since pushed into my head, gripping and releasing it, gripping and releasing it, to a maddening beat. I began to feel a bit light has I watched Naruto intensely for any changes. Then suddenly, the bottle shattered in my hand, shards cutting deep into my palm as the clear liquid covered my skin running across the table.

"Sasuke, you alright?" Naruto yelled at first. Then he blinked a few times, as the victorious smile returned to his face. "Yeah! I win! You can't drink it now!" Then he laughed loudly holding number one on his fingers.

I just stared at the rivelets of blood, as they coursed their way over my hand diluting as the water hit them. I slowly looked up at Naruto in astonishment as he laughed. He drank a whole bottle of that sedative... the one Tsunade gave me after Itachi used the tsukoyami on me to calm me down. I just never drank it. I didn't want it to interfere with my training...

"How you like that Sasuke!" Naruto shouted some more, still celebrating his victory.

Of course... the kyuubi... I looked back down to my hand, disappointed in my attempt and relieved at the same time. I could feel every muscle relax in my body, as my nuckles turned back from white.

"You know, Sasuke, it's about time you come over. I've only been inviting you and Sakura for months now, and neither of you ever came over." I looked up to Naruto. He was staring off happily at the ceiling, eyes glowing. "It's nice having someone else in the apartment, you know. It feels less empty now."

Empty

My mind wandered back to my house. It's large empty corridors that echo with my every movement. The cold wind that blows through there at night. Their presence that still reigns in the building, and makes it colder with their further imprisoned spirits.

A chill ran up my spine... Were they watching, when Itachi was....

"Yeah. The company's nice." My voice sounded weak. Naruto's smile widened at my confirmation.

"So what you doing coming over so late, anyways? Don't tell me it was just to find a drinking partner."

Silence. "I couldn't sleep. I have trouble sleeping since the massacre." It felt odd, opening up to him, and I shifted uncomfortably in my chair from it. But I just couldn't think of an excuse.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." I looked to him, surprised. He does... "I have trouble sleeping at night too. I always have. It's just hard, you know, sleeping in an empty house." His voice had a hint of sadness now, as he looked to me with an expression of understanding.

It was then that my stomach turned. This is wrong. I reached down and gripped it, face etched in pain. He's the only one who could ever understand. The only one who will know how it feels. And I'm going to kill him?... I doubled over, letting my body fall against the table, the wetness seeping into my shirt from the liquid.

"Sasuke, you okay?"

How many times does that make that question tonight? How pathetic.

I felt him help me sit up. The sweat was dripping down my skin, and I felt weak now. "I'm fine. I just, I have a fever."

Naruto's concerned face brightened with an idea. "Hey! I know, let's take a walk! The fresh air will make you feel better."

I nodded lightly, besides, I needed to clear my mind.

I could feel him. I could feel him pressed up against me, between my legs, his body burning into mine. Hot flames of fire running over my skin, his fingers, circling my skin like a vulture waiting to devour his meal. His mouth, pressed against my skin motionless, his breath, wetting my skin. I closed my eyes, taking it all in, as his hips thrusted deep into my body making the clothes a constraining nuissance, each thrust poisoning me further, clouding my mind with his blood lust.

"Beg me." His silky voice flowed into me, vibrating from his mouth across my skin, causing goose bumps to rise to the surface. I could moan for him now. I can feel it catch in my throat. "Like when you were young. Beg for my touch." His attention... it's all mine, intoxicating me.

"Sasuke, why are you blushing?" Naruto's voice snapped me back to the present. He was staring at me like I was some oddity.

I blinked myself fully back to earth. I could feel the heat burning my cheeks in this chilled wind. I shivered lightly and brought my arms up to cover the goosebumps forming on them. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm fantasizing about my brother now. My brother! My murderous brother. I felt a bitter sickness settle in my stomach, as I became fully disgusted in myself. I hate him. I hate him for doing this to me.

"I hate him." I muttered to myself. The bitterness in my voice reassuring me of my devout hatred.

"What'd you say?" Naruto asked me, puzzled.

I stopped walking causing Naruto to stop next to me. We were on the bridge now crossing the stream. I stared down into the black midnight water, the koi fish swimming beneath it shrouded in shadows. I could see small drops of white pettles floating over the surface like stars as the still water reflected the sky.

"Naruto, do you love someone? Are there people you love?" My voice unsure, as I continued to stare at the shadows of the koi beneath the white petal stars.

Naruto looked at me strangely, caught off guard by the question. "Yeah, sure."

"Would if you could save them, but it meant losing a part of yourself, and someone else close to you? Would you do it?" My voice was almost pleading, desperate for the answer.

Naruto was silent for a moment. "I don't know. It kind of sounds like a sour deal to me. Why? Are you and Sakura in trouble?"

My eyes went wide in shock. I watched as the stars sank into the black water, deep beneath the shadows of the koi fish, deep where I could never reach them. Naruto loves me?

"What did you say?" I stuttered, as I looked to Naruto in shock.

"Sasuke, you're out late. Naruto." Kakashi's voice interrupted.

I turned to face him, my back now to Naruto. Kakashi approached us slowly in a lazy stride, his hand waving carelessly to us. He stopped a few feet away.

"What are you doing out?" Kakashi asked. I could hear the hint of suspition in his voice.

Naruto pulled a bag of bread crumbs out of his pocket, a childish bright smile on his face. "Feeding the fish! Plus the fresh air. It gets cramped in that small apartment."

"Right. Sasuke, can I talk to you?" Kakashi said in a forceful tone, cutting straight to the manner.

I stared at him for a moment. "Sure." I slowly began to cross the small bridge to his side. I heard Naruto rip open the bag and began to giggle as he tossed the crumbs onto the stream.

"What do you want to talk about." I muttered as casual as possible.

Keep calm. He's just your sensei. I silently encouraged myself, concentrating on relaxing every muscle as I looked him in the eye. He stared back deep into mine, burrowing as deep to my soul as he could come.

"The guards saw you entering Konoha tonight. What were you doing outside the wall? You know you're not allowed to leave the wall after dark. You're a genin now, not a civilian." His voice was stern, demanding.

I stared into his hard eyes, his erect posture. If I lie, he'll know. I'm sure of it.

"Well?"

"I couldn't sleep. I took a walk to clear my mind." I was impressed by how steady I kept my voice, but Kakashi didn't seem impressed.

"You went to your house afterwards, then returned to it two more times before walking to Naruto's."

I didn't like the accusations in his voice, even if he was right. I could feel my muscles begin to tense, my heart beating out of my chest. Does he know? My throat began to close in fear. I took a deep shaky breath, concentrating on pushing the fear out of my body. I watched Kakashi watch me, his eyes analyzing me for the truth.

"Why don't you ask what you want to ask." I demanded.

"Okay then. What are you really doing? This is a lot of walking for someone just clearing their mind."

He must not know. He didn't mention Itachi at all... but is Itachi really that good to slip past a jonin when they are purposely watching me? For the first time in my life, I prayed that he was.

"I couldn't sleep. I was walking to clear my mind. I do it every night. I'm surprised you just now noticed." My voice was firm, despite my trembling insides. I was satisfied at my regained composure. "Just ask Naruto."

"Okay then. I will."

Kakashi passed by me. I could see Naruto look up at him questioningly. "Why is Sasuke with you." Kakashi practically demanded.

Naruto looked at Kakashi funny, giving him a 'why does it matter' look. "Sasuke couldn't sleep. He said that's why he came over to my apartment. Then we went for a walk."

"Really." Kakashi didn't sound convinced.

"Yeah. He said it happens every night since the massacre."

"It's not good to wander the streets at these hours. You both need to head back home."

"Awww." Naruto moaned.

"That means you too Sasuke."

"You're not my father." I spat in response. "I'm not going back."

Kakashi turned slowly and stared at me, hard. The last thing I needed was Kakashi staring me down and watching my every move. He slowly crossed the bridge back over to my side and stood in front of me for what felt like forever. I could feel my pulse synchronize with his gaze as he penetrated my heart.

"What are you really doing out so late, Sasuke. Your walks never last this long." I felt my heart stop for a moment as my eyes snapped up to meet his. He's known all along? "You can tell me."

No, I can't. I felt my heart begin to beat again, as the blood rushed through me like a heat. This is too much. Because this deal is unforgivable.

"I'm here for you when you need me. But I can't help if you keep it a secret."

A flash in the shadows caught my eye out of my periphery. I turned my head to the trees quickly to see it, but it was gone. I felt a cold chill rush through my body, a sense of being watched, like on the night of the massacre. I could feel Itachi all around me, his presence filling this place, and I suddenly felt stronger.

I will not shame myself in front of him again. I am not weak.

I met Kakashi's eyes. "Would if you could have Obito back."

Kakashi stared at me hard as surprise filled his eyes, caught off guard. "He's dead. You know that." His voice was bitter. The pain was evident.

"But would if you could have him back." I bet Itachi could bring him back too. With the rest of my clan.

Silence. "Where are you going with this Sasuke?" Pain and irritation now.

I swallowed slowly. I focused all my energy on keeping my breath steady as I spoke. "I could bring him back for you. All you have to do is leave me be. Look the other way just this once."

Kakashi stared down at me, gaze unmoving, as I waited for his answer.

A/N: No, this chapter isn't a filler. It has it's purpose. I'm slightly upset by the lack of Itachi in the chapter... I wanted to put more but couldn't cause of the plot progress in this chapter. :(
Please review. :)