Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Dead By Eclipse ❯ Chapter 3

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

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Naruto.

A/N: O_o I missed that one! Sorry. I do my spell checks with the human eye. Anyways, here's the correction:

Exhasterbated is suppose to be exasperated. A thanks to Starsurfer for pointing that out to me.

Sasuke: How the hell did you miss that Sheol?

Sheol: ...

Sasuke: It's like missing a hippo in your house.

Sheol: ... shut up.

Sasuke: Well, aren't you gonna go back and fix it.

Sheol: NO!! The last time I did I accidentally deleted the whole chapter and.. I'm.. sort of computer illiterate. Heh. *sweat drops*. Now on with the story!

Sheol: I would also like to thank everyone for their reviews. :)

Sasuke: Dobe...

Definitions:
Sedentary- not active
Bustled- noisy, energetic activity

Warning: chapter contains references to sexual content and possible obscene language.

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Chapter 3- Let It Begin

I quietly inched towards the stair well pressing my back against the wall hard. I cringed as I felt the unfinished wood of the cabin scratch my back through the thin material of the shirt. I peered out the stair well down the stairs. The living room was dimly lit by a lamp near the door to the kitchen. I could see shadows flickering out into the living room through the door. I slowly trailed my eyes across the room to the front door to my potential freedom.

I looked to the front door, then back to the underbrush that hid the porch from view. Kisame stood near the underbrush watching me with amusement, his shark like teeth casting a strange terror to his smile.

"What's the matter kid. Scared?" Kisame chuckled.

I looked back to Itachi who had begun to walk towards the front door. I eyed him suspiciously. He had been acting strange since we left Konoha... Not to say he was not himself, but...

"Aren't you going to tie me up or lock me in a room?" I continued to eye him, watching for any sudden movements.

Itachi stopped, and turned his head slowly to reveal a single bloodied eye. I felt my heart quicken as he held me in his gaze... and I could feel the familiar discontent seep across the porch to me. It has been just like this, ever since...

"You like bondage, Otouto." Itachi stated, the amusement dancing in his eye.

But why would Itachi want me here if he has discontent for me? Kisame chuckled, I turned around sharply to glare at him, a light red blush forming on my cheeks.

"I don't think your brother gets it, Itachi." Kisame chuckled. His smile widened until it appeared his teeth had become deadly knives consuming their inner cavern. It was then that I decided he wasn't human, for no human mouth could be so deadly. "Let me lock him up. I want to see which he prefers."

"Otouto..." I jumped as my brothers hot breath flowed across the nape of my neck, chilling my skin as the cool cave air rushed to reclaim it. As he spoke the next words, I could feel the blood against my skin ice as his cold blood eyes burned their winter deep into my skin.

"You will not leave me." Came his calm, commanding reply.

I felt a trickle of sweat roll down my brow, then across my cheek as if it were a tear. I turned slowly to meet my brother's eyes, my heart pounding against my chest at the mere thought, and he was gone. The door hung open from where my brother had already left. It was then that my body shook... I never even heard him.

Kisame chuckled from behind me, as he crossed the porch to the front door. As he passed me his deep voice spoke out to me as low as humanly possible, reverberating in my skull to this day.

"If I were you, kid,... I'd choose the locked room."

I took a deep breath, has I inched my first foot onto the top step. Slowly, as quietly as humanly possible, I slid my body behind the foot until I was completely on the steps. I felt my breath shake as it left my body. I close my eyes tight, stilling my spinning mind inside of my head. Calm down, Sasuke, you can do this. I relaxed every muscle in my body and quietly counted back from ten as I reopened my eyes and looked down the stairs. It suddenly seemed a lot farther from the front door.

Slowly, I took another step and began to repeat the steps like a machine, focusing on just the right amount of pressure to not squeek the boards. I felt my hand begin to tremble as I tried desperately to steady my body with the rail. Finally, I reached the bottom of the stairs. My eyes slid to the kitchen door which was at just the right angle I could not see into. I watched closely as the shadows flickered out into the living room, and carefully began to make my way towards the door.

"Come on, Itachi. There's always long breaks between missions this time of year... It's always like that. It'll pick back up."

My heart beat wildly in my chest the closer I got to the door. I could see them now. Kisame sitting across from Itachi still eating his food. Itachi was crunching on an apple holding it loosely in the air with his elbow propped on the arm of the chair. I let out another shaky breath trying desperately to steady my breathing. I was so close. My pulse threaded throughout me transforming my body into one living pulse.

"This sedentary life bores me." Itachi's smooth voice nearly crawled me out of my skin.

I watched Itachi closely as my arm shakily reached for the door knob and grasped it. My palm was slick with sweat, and the metal slid beneath it as I tried to turn it. I mentally cursed myself as my skin refused to adhere to the metal. My eyes kept on Itachi as my mind began to whirl into a panic waiting for those orbs of blood to turn to me. I could picture it, that calm face locking onto me in a calm manner, as if knowing all along.

Desperately, I wiped the sweat slick hand on my newly claimed shirt, and then reached out for the knob. Slowly, silently, I turned the knob, satisfied that it did not even click, and slipped out the door, shutting it behind me just as quietly.

"So it begins." Itachi said calmly, as if in disinterest, turning his sharp crimson eyes to the now closed door.

Kisame watched his partner in interest. He had become attuned to a few of Itachi's characteristics over the years, and this was the one that interested him the most. "You going to go stop him now?"

"No." Itachi's smooth voice stroked the air, as he began to turn the new red apple in his hand eyeing for the choicest skin to break first. "Let him run first."

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I walked slowly through the village taking it all in. It reminded me of Konoha in a way, how the streets bustled with life. Shops lined the street and families went to and from them busily.

I paused and watched as a young child tugged at his mother's skirt eagerly. Obligingly, she leaned over and scooped him up. As the child nuzzled the nape of his mother's neck, I felt a pang of jelousy shoot through my heart. Painfully, I turned away.

An apparel stand stood to my right, and cautiously I walked towards it. I wonder where I am... how far from the leaf village. A man sat behind the counter eyeing me suspiciously, while I scanned his merchandise for what I was after. I need a back pack and at least one change of clothes that fits me. And food... yes, I need food. I wonder if the leaf village even wants me back...

"You don't look from around here boy." The man spoke in with a slight country twang.

I ignored his question. "That black back pack and blanket. How much."

"Where ya from boy." The twang of his voice made my nerves burn with fire.

"That's none of your concern. You want the money or not." I spoke in a sharp, curt tone.

Not good... I don't even know if this village is friend or foe. I could feel my heart pick speed while I focused on keeping my composure. Even breath, steady sharp eyes. Yes, I have to keep my breathing steady, in and out, in and out. I could feel my muscles tremble lightly beneath my skin. Where am I... where did you bring me Itachi... The clerk did not seem to notice my anxiety... most people didn't, except for him.

The man continued to eye me suspiciously, then spoke. "Twenty dollars."

I glanced over the clothes, and thought it best not to stay longer in case I get too much of his attention. "Alright."

I pulled out my wallet, and began thumbing through it. I was surprised to see Itachi did not take any of my money, but then again, my brother was a murder not a thief. I heard a high pitch whistle and looked up to see the wide-eyed clerk staring down at my wallet.

"Thats a mighty fine penny you got there boy." He scanned his eyes up to my face to regard me with even deeper suspicion. "What a boy like you doing with so much money?"

I glared at him menacingly and shoved twenty dollars under his face. "Take it. And shut up." I spat sharply to him.

His eyes widened a bit further momentarily, then shrank down to a slight narrow as he took the money and gave me the pack and blanket. I stuffed the blanket inside of it, then slid it onto my shoulders and quickly walked away. And it was then that I noticed the eyes...

The shop keepers watched me walk the streets with narrow eyes. The families whispered, looking to one another on edge. I felt the air thicken, and swallowed as a thick lump slid down my throat. This isn't good... I better leave and find another village. I held my head down in an attempt to hide a bit more of my face, and sped up gripping my new pack nuckle tight.

"Aniki, where do babies come from?" My eight year old voice chided.

Itachi looked up sharply to me, his dark eyes holding me in disregard. I heard mother fumble a dish in the sink. She chuckled lightly as she washed it off and put it in the rack.

I looked up into my brother's calm face that was now looking at me with slightly furrowed brows. I stuck out my lip at him. "Aniki! I asked you a question!"

I felt my mother's small hand land on my head and playfully rufle my hair. I tried to shake out of her hand, but she chased my head and finished her attack on my hair.

"Moooom! I'm a big boy now!" I whined, trying desperately to smooth my hair.

Mother only laughed lightly. "You will find out about babies when you are older. Leave your brother be. He has an important mission today." And with that she strolled out the room humming leaving a scent of lilacs in her absence.

And that was mother. She was smiles and songs and spring lilacs. Her smile was warmer than summer, and her hands were gentler than water. And her absence was a knife deeper than hell.

I turned to my brother who had since regained his interest in the mango he was now chewing. I pouted, as my brown eyes widened to him.

"You're not really leaving again aniki, are you?" I whimpered.

Itachi turned to me as he swallowed the fruit. I began to fidget nervously beneath his dark gaze which held me tightly in its grasp. Itachi leaned forward until he was level with my eyes. He held out his arm steady, and flicked me hard on my forehead. I whimpered as I backed up rubbing the red spot which began to swell in its wake. I watched my brother's eyes as it locked onto the swell, and watched, drinking in every second of the after math with hunger.

"Aniki! That hurt! Why do you always do that?"

"Go play." Itachi said calmly, still leaning over near my face.

I became attuned to his warm breath now, as it spread over my skin. I stared up into his deep dark eyes, a bottomless pit of nothing. Aniki's eyes were truly empty, and nothing swallowed me.

"Aniki... where do babies come from?" I chirped, ignoring his command.

Itachi only ignored me further as he sat up straight and returned his attention to his mango. I pouted further extending my lip. My aniki would be gone soon, and I was not going to give up this attention without a fight. I swiftly slid out of my chair and into his lap. Squirming, I redistributed my weight until I was strattling him with my legs on either side and sitting on his lap facing him.

I waited impatiently for his attention to be given to me, but Itachi acted as if I was not even there as he took another bite of mango and chewed it to a pulp. I let out a small, impatient huff as my brows furrowed and lip settled into a permanent pout. Reaching up, I grasped a tuff of hair on either side of his head, and tugged on it hard.

My aniki complied and allowed his head to be pulled downward until he faced me. I let out an excited squeel and wiggled in his lap. I watched as his eyes briefly darkened considerably, as an emotion shot through his eyes hungrily consuming me. I felt my heart race as I drank up this emotion, this flash that shown only for me. And then as quickly as it came, it left, as if it never even existed.

"What is it Otouto." Itachi said smoothly.

"Aniki, I need to know! I need you to show me where babies come from!" I whined innocently, my eyes begging him in a deep desperate pout.

It was then that his eyes took on a new hunger, one that made my heart race with a fever.

"You will show me, right aniki?" I whimpered.

Aniki's eyes deepened considerably. His voice took on a low, smooth tone as it calmly, carefully flowed out into the air wrapping around me tight.

"Otouto, you have no idea."

I felt my blush deepen as I walked the near empty streets of the next village. It was dusk, and the sun was escaping quickly past the trees. The final few shoppers were leaving the outside market, as the last of the shop keepers were closing up. I studied the people carefully, almost holding my breath, but none of them even seemed to notice my presence. I let out a sigh of relief.

I felt a cold breeze chill my bones as I wrapped my arms around my torso. It felt as though it was icing through to my bones, as I felt the hairs stand on the back of my neck and air creep up my spine... The sudden sensation that eyes were on me, watching this air assault me, sliding over my skin like some ravenous predator. I turned quickly, my eyes searching desperately for the source.

The keepers and the shoppers remained chatty, unaware of my presence. The children still laughed, chasing one another in circles. I shook my head as my heart paced back down to its original beat. I brought my hand up to my head, the skin felt warm in the cool brease. I must be losing my mind...

My eyes caught the sign of a nearby inn, and I crossed the street to its door. I studied the inside as I crossed the room to the desk. It was spacious and warm... the appearance of it sang of home with flowers littering the various vaces scattered across the room. The walls were a warm deep violet hue and the aroma smelled of... lilacs.

Mother...

I felt my heart wrench as I stopped at the front desk. The woman sitting behind it stood up from her seat, stretching a warm unknowing smile out to me. Unknowing, for she has no idea what that smell is doing to me.

"One room for the night." She sang. I nodded.

"Sasuke," mother laughed, "You have to chew in between bites! Slow down, you'll choke."

"We have a room with a jacuzzi and a king sized bed, a suite with a balcony, a jacuzzi, and a king sized bed,..." The woman began to sing as she looked over the list of available rooms. This must be a tourist town. That must be why no one even noticed me. "And a smaller room with a full sized bed and... oh! It has a balcony too!"

"Anything smaller." I almost whispered.

Mother took me into her arms, lilacs encircling me with her embrace. "You are so precious to me."

The woman looked at me perplexed. "No, we only have those three. I take it you want the one with the full sized bed." I nodded.

"There! All better." Mother giggled as she covered the burns on the side of my face from the fire ball jutsu with a bandaid. I blushed lightly. "Thanks."

"Let's see, that will be... forty five dollars." The woman smiled pleasantly.

"I love you sweetie." Love... it has been so long since someone has said that to me... it seems like some sort of ghost from the grave, but I can almost hear it, right now, with the lilacs in the room invading my senses to steal the last remaining bits of my sanity. I can almost feel what those words once brought to me... but it is torn away as the words rip my heart with my mother's blood.

I slid off my back pack and opened it to retrieve my wallet that I had stuffed into the pack beneath the blanket... and my heart stopped. I stared into the pack in disbelief, as my heart rate quickened inside of my chest threatening to beat out of it. I could hear the pulse in my ears consuming all sounds around me as heat flushed to the surface of my skin sending a cold, chilling sweat down my face.

Laying on top of the blanket was a blue piece of fabric with my clan's insignia on it... the same insignia Itachi ripped off of my shirt. Drawn across the insignia was a thin trail of fresh blood marking the clan out. I stared at it in disbelief wide eyed.

"Sir, are you okay? You look feverish." Came a concerned voice.

My eyes darted up to meet her concerned ones. Should I just leave?... Should I stay here?... When did he even...? Then a familiar cold settled in my chest. This pack as been on me this entire time. I didn't even hear him come near me...

If I were you, kid,... I'd choose the locked room.

"I'm fine." I handed her the money.

She nodded slowly, looking me over carefully, and took the money as she handed me the keys.

"This is the only key, right?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"Yes, sir... are you sure you are okay, sir?"

With that, I turned and headed quickly for the stairs. I ghosted the two flights and entered the room, slamming the door behind me. I leaned against the door greedily sucking in the air harshly as my eyes darted throughout the room looking for any movement. I quickly locked the door, and felt the unquenchable need to secure every possible entrance as the full meaning of Kisame's words sank in.

He didn't mean to choose the locked room as a prison... My heart began to race into the back of my throat choking me at the realization. ...He meant choose the locked room to keep Itachi out!

I went to the balcony doors and checked to ensure they were locked. They were, but the lock was loose and I quickly tightened it down hard. My mind whirled at the thought of Itachi, his eyes thick with my blood drinking up every drop of it. His brows furrowing in displeasure. You are mine now. I crossed the room quickly and looked in the bathroom. With a shaky hand, I grasped the shower curtain, and held my breath as I flung it open. My heart skipped a beat as it quickened, then slowed to normal at the sign that it was clear.

I let out a long sigh, as my muscles slowly began to relax. I could still feel my body shaking in its skin, as my rattling breath slowly steadied, and my heart beat out this newly found high.

I entered the room and looked around. The pale blue walls shone in the setting sun as the curtains shimmered in its late light. It was eerily peaceful, shining out its false sense of security, like some sort of past notion that I now know to be a lie. It was then that my eyes settled on an object resting on the neatly made bed. I crossed the room and peered down at it, only to have my breath catch in my throat again.

Resting on the bed was a photograph... of me in the previous town. It was a close up shot from the waist up, and I was not even wearing my back pack yet. I set the room keys on the bed and lifted the photo towards my face. I felt my skin chill considerably... he got this close to me? I thought back to the cloth in my pack and was chilled even further.

I could feel my heart race beneath my fingertips that now gripped the photo staring in disbelief. A trapped sensation washed over me, like a rat in a cage, and this room was the cage. The air began to thicken and press down on me hard threatening to suffocate me.

I ripped open the door and ran, down the stairs, through the corridor, and out the front of the inn while a desperate inn clerk called in after me.

Because on the back of that photograph, written in fresh blood were the words...

Prey...

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. It will be a while before I get to update the fourth chapter. I work very long shifts on the weekend, so I know I won't get a chance to write any.
This chapter was so far my favorite one. I'm hoping it is a bit more like the prequel than the previous chapters... It was my intention of having a very similar style to the prequel as far as the writing style is concerned. Though it will be impossible to make it exact given the nature of the sequel, which I have come to accept. Besides, I never wanted to make it exactly like the prequel, just come close in style. Dead By Dawn was a very special fanfic of mine in that it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. None of my other fanfics did, but that one was by far my best work in my opinion. I'm hoping to achieve the same with this one.... But Sasuke is a pain to write. Itachi is a bit easier to write... but still a pain.

Sasuke: You are a pain too, Sheol.
Sheol: grrr.... I will kill you off if you aren't nice.
Sasuke: ....
Sheol: Or make you wear women's underwear. *evil grin*
Sasuke: !!!!

Anyways, I think I messed up some on the first two chapters... I reread them and it wasn't quite the atmosphere I wanted to create, so now I'm hoping I fixed it and made the story a bit more suspenseful, angsty, and dark like the prequel was. I thank Starsurfer for pointing out the difference to me.
Please review and let me know if you like where I am going with this, or any other thoughts or comments you may have. I love reviews. :)