Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Dead By Eclipse ❯ Chapter 8

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

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Naruto.

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

Chapter 8- Release Me

two hundred fifty one... two hundred fifty two... two hundred fifty three...

I sat, arms bound, head down, I could feel the ropes biting at my wrist as the cold stung my skin through my clothes. The smell of mildew and sweat and everything that is old filled my nostrils. I shifted slightly, the hard concrete scratching against my bare legs.

two hundred fifty four... two hundred fifty five... two hundred fifty six...

The clock tick-tocked through the silence, deafening in such a still room, as I counted away the seconds. My breath was perfectly synchronized with it, and the seconds flowed through me exitting my body with every second I approached death just that much sooner.

two hundred fifty seven... two hundred fifty eight... two hundred fifty nine...

I fluttered my eyelids open and slowly tilted my head up just a little... just enough to gaze through this thick darkness... through what little light this darkness continued to swallow... to you, brother. And you sit there calmly, with those cold maliced eyes shining through the dark like a demon, the strongest most deadly light coming from your eyes. And you are watching me, waiting, satisfied, but for what?

five hundred... or is it three hundred?... what was it, how long, how much time...

lost?...

I twist my wrists trying desperately to free them, the harsh bond boring into my skin allowing the cold to sting me that much deeper. And you are still just watching, aniki, taking it all in with such apathy. I can see the the dark chew away piece by piece at the light, threatening to consume me in this black pit you have created for me. I open my mouth to call out to you, but the darkness swallows my voice.

desperate...

I silently beg for you to release me, as I frantically wring my wrists inside the ropes. I can hear my breath exceed the tick-tocks of that damnable clock as time slowly runs down. And you are watching me with intent, those bloodied eyes burning through the darkness cutting through it to me. But I can feel the cold of the dark still gripping me, holding me in place. The sweat on my skin only intensifies this ice biting through me. And I wonder, is your intent to save me from this prison, or is it to kill me here?... or do you even care either way?....

tick... tock... tick... tock...

I watched as your arms shifted in your lap, the movements deliberate and smooth. I felt my body freeze, is this it? Will you finally release me now? I saw a shadow move into your palms, small and round, as you set the shadow by your feet. Light filtered through onto the object, and my breath stilled as the clock became just that much louder. Naruto stared back at me with blank lifeless eyes. His skin ghostly and clinging to his bones, his mouth fell open limply in hollow silence. I stared at Naruto, my life suspended for a moment in this time, as I slowly realized his head had no body.

The ticks and the tocks boomed in my ears like my body's pulse, beating me through this chilling moment. I watched your hand settle over his face, as if shielding me from it, as you slowly stroked back over the top of his head possessively, in an almost loving manner. And a pang of jelousy shot through me as I watched from my cold prison how you bestow your attention on Naruto, who is so close to you right now. And I wondered if you would ever stroke my head in such a loving manner, as this jelousy seeded through my body.

You rose before me, standing so swiftly and silently that I had to consider if you really stood at all, or if it was just some illusion in my head, as you began to cross the floor to me... and Naruto watched in haunting silence. You stand before me now, looking down on me, those scarlet eyes burning its cold flame, and I stare back in expectance. I expect you to release me now, I beg for it with my eyes for this stinging cold as bled through my every flesh and marrow and it now holds my heart waiting to consume it like a savory dish. I can feel its icy grip on my heart, aniki, and I stare up at you waiting for this final release.

tick... ... tock... ... tick... .... .... tock... ... ... ...

But I can hear my time wind down to its final show... and you are still only watching, waiting, and is that discontent in your eyes now, aniki? I can see this discontent bleeding through those bloodied eyes, littered with the souls of our clan, as this cold darkness begins its slow squeeze on my heart. And it hurts, how my heart is clenching in my chest, twisting, turning, tearing, bleeding before you. And will you release me now? Please,...

You lift your arm, as you slowly extend it out to me, and I can feel my heart still once again for you, as my breath catches in my throat and eyes widen. A single finger extends out as your arm stills before me, and you are pointing to me now as I sit in my place before you down on my knees. I watch as your lips slowly form the word... 'you,' and your eyes hold me in the deepest, darkest discontent. And I can only just shake my head as my voice comes out weak, forced. No...

"you and me..."

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Ryoko sighs deeply as she trails behind her partner, her short red hairy bobbing in the breeze. "Hey, I think it's your turn to carry him now." She spoke through huffs of breath as she shifted the unconscious Sasuke on her back in a search for better comfort.

Kira flashes her violet eyes behind her, and chuckles lightly. "Keep shifting him and you won't have much left to reveal."

Ryoko innocently blinks a few times and glances down to see her short blue kimono had slowly crept up her thighs and was now riding just below her waist. A deep scarlet blush flashes over her cheeks as she quickly grabs the bottom of her kimono and pulls the cobalt garment back down to her mid thigh.

"Kira! You could've told me sooner! If Sasuke had woken up-" Ryoko is cut off mid sentence by a loud thump behind her. She slowly turns behind her to see an unconscious Sasuke sprawled across the ground. Her blush deepens as her golden eyes flash in concern. "Eeeeeek! Are you okay!"

"..." Kira's violet eyes narrow to a dull expression. "He's unconscious." She folds her arms in front of her and sighs. "Congratulations. You just knocked him out for the rest of the day."

I moan as I slowly blink my eyes open. My vision is a blur as it slowly slides into focus on a red head girl who is leaning over me inches from my face. I can feel her soft hand cupping the side of my face and as my mind clears, I can see the concern written over her features. Her worried eyes slowly fade into bright, vibrant lights as a smile spreads over her face.

I slowly look from her face down her body which is lined directly over mine with both knees planted on either side of my hips in a straddling manner. I look to her suspiciously as a light blush spreads over my cheeks. "What are you doing?" I snap.

Ryoko looks confused at first, and then her face began to turn every shade of red as she screeched and fell off of me sideways. "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! IT IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE!!!" Ryoko hugged herself tightly as her face continued to redden to shades I never knew existed.

I sit up gripping my ears as the painful ringing of her shriek faded to a dull buzz. "Whatever, just quit screaming."

I gave my head a few more affectionate rubs to dull away the soreness. A flash shot through my head, an image of Itachi affectionately rubbing Naruto's head, and a pang of jelousy. And I wish this was Itachi's hand stroking my head...

"Are the two of you done?" Kira's serious voice echos through the commotion.

My eyes shift upwards to the brunette who is clad in black. Her violet eyes were eyeing me in annoyance with arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently.

"Sorry Kira." Ryoko muttered as she stood slowly clasping her hands in front of her and head in a slight bow.

"Just where are we going anyway." I spit as I stand up with Ryoko dusting myself off.

Kira was silent for a moment as she studied me intensely, her eyes scrutinizing every part of me. And I felt for a moment that it is Itachi studying me so carefully, as I glare back as strongly as I could into those violet eyes of her, a cold chill crawling up my spine at the thought of Itachi watching me so closely. And if they were blood red, her eyes could easily pass for Itachi's. My glare deepens at this knowledge, as I made it as venemous as possible.

Ryoko glances from Kira to me, then back to Kira. "Umm, guys?" She mutters in confusion.

Kira looks me over once more before she snaps her head to the side. "Hmph. We just left the River Country. We are in the Fire Country headed for Lightning Country. That is where our bounty is."

Fire Country... My eyes widen in shock as every muscle in my body refused to move. I could feel my pulse quicken beneath my skin as the new knowledge paralyzes my senses.

"Is something the matter, boy?" A small smirk forms at the corner of her mouth.

My eyes lock onto that smirk as they slim back down to a scowl. My calm composure returns to me as my muslces relax. "I'm fine... so we will be passing near Konoha then, correct?"

The smirk remains on her face as she slightly nods. "Of course. We are headed for Lightning aren't we? It's the quickest path."

With that, Kira turned quickly on her heals and motioned us forward. I watch her for a moment, her brown french braid swaying across her back, before I followed her with Ryoko.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Heh... that lying vixen." Kisame smirks as he watches the three leave from the tree tops. He grasps the hilt of his sword lightly, shifting it across his back. "I'm sick of waiting, Itachi. Samehada has not seen battle in a while. Why are we always waiting?"

Itachi is silent for a moment as he humms lightly in thought tilting his head while looking down at Sasuke. "It appears the stakes have risen."

Kisame glances to his partner, his shark-like teeth shining like razors in the moonlight. "So you think she is bringing him there, too?" Itachi remains motionless in the dark of the night, nodding his head so slightly the motion could have never existed.

"Hmph." Kisame looks back to the three travelers. "I say we take them out now."

"Eager, are we?" Itachi speaks calmly, as he rises from his crouched position on the branch. He leaps onto the next branch and begins following the pursuers, moving silently through the night air.

Kisame frowns a bit as he watches his partner for a moment. For being so eager to kill the red head a earlier... he certainly is calm now. I wonder... Kisame leaps onto the branch quickly catching up to Itachi.

"This is a dangerous game Kira is playing." Kisame speaks in a low, deep voice, eyeing his partner in interest. His smile becomes eager, waiting to hear a piece of his partner's intent.

Itachi remains calm, face expressionless, as he regards the prey below him with apathy. His cold blood eyes watch them, carefully following their every movements. His voice finally answers Kisame softly, a hint of cold lacing them. "I am not playing."

Kisame's eyes spark with interest as he chuckles in amusement. "Then when it is time, I'll cut the vixen's legs off to keep her from running."

Kisame chuckles once more at the thought of a legless Kira trying to run, nubs kicking on the ground helplessly, while Itachi continues to watch the three travelers unphased by Kisame's bloodlust.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Jee sh! This is taking forever! Are we there yet?" Ryoko exclaims, as she let loose another yawn in the late morning sun.

"For the last time, no. You asking won't make our arrival any sooner." Kira snaps, a note of irritance in her voice.

"But we've been traveling all night!" Ryoko hufffs as she crosses her arms behind her head. She scrunches her face in disapproval as she attempts a rather poor glare at her partner.

I watch Ryoko, her arms crossed behind her head and face scrunched, and an image of Naruto flashes into my mind, arms crossed behind his head and face scrunched with eyes in small slits of annoyance. A chuckle lightly at the resemblance, as I watch the image of Naruto look over to me.

"What's so funny." Ryoko demands, a slight bit of curiosity on her face. "What are you smiling at?"

I could feel the slight warmth in my heart begin to fade as the image of Naruto aged with time, and the pang of guilt burrows itself a little deeper now. My smile fades as I stare at the phantom before me, and I began to wonder if her face will twist into disbelief and pain from betrayal when the time comes like his. And I lightly shook the image from my head.

"So you wanna sleep near me, Sasuke." Ryoko giggles, her golden eyes flashing with life and warmth. "We're camping here, right Kira? That's why we stopped."

"Mmhm." Kira humms as she folds out the sleeping bags. "Now help prepare camp, and stop flirting."

Ryoko blushes. "I'm not flirting!" She cries defensively.

I cannot help but stare at this phantom of Naruto, and I can still hear the clock ticking to its expire in my ears. These thoughts, these feelings, -Itachi- are killing me gently. When will it release?... It feels like so long ago, and yet it has only been mere weeks since I left Konoha. It feels like this phantom is just here to tease me, to remind me of my betrayal. Her likeness, the resemblence... the way those eyes are so full of life while mine slowly ticks away...

"You going to help, or not?" Kira asks me calmly, almost too calm. Her eyes regard me as I begin to silently gather some loose wood for a fire.

"If you keep ordering me around, you can do it all yourself." I snap at her coldly.

"Yeah, but that would be so boring." Ryoko adds lightly. "I hate sitting still. When I sit still, I have to think about things. It's much nicer when things are in motion, when I don't have to think about what I am doing or what is happening..."

My hand froze on the wood as my fist clenched it tightly. I could feel the wood threaten to give beneath my grip as my muscles clench and stomach turns over violently. Her words seep in deeper with every breath I take, my pulse threading quickly beneath my ghostly skin, and my knuckles paled to white over the wood.

"Do you know what I mean Sasuke?" Ryoko smiles sweetly, unaware of how she just tore me asunder. The life in her eyes shining like a beacon over the deadly waves that are drowning me now, a light I can never obtain... just like Naruto's.

"You don't make any sense at all." I shot to her, a light glare in my eyes.

Her face contorts in a hurt manner, while she looks away sadly to her blanket she just laid out, and for a moment I felt guilt for causin her such pain. I thought of what has been set in motion, and how painful my muscles are clenching them, and how I would love to just keep running deep into the Fire Country, the motion of my legs silencing my mind.

I would love to run away from this nightmare...

I suck in air greedily and shut my eyes, forcing my death grip to release from the wood as I focus on relaxing my muscles. I gather the wood and move towards Ryoko, throwing the wood into a pile.

Kira look at the pile of wood and sigh. "Didn't anyone teach you how to build a fire." She then begins to arrange the wood properly.

I move my blanket near Ryoko's and sit down on it. Ryoko looks over to me slightly confused. She blinks innocently as a light blush forms on her cheeks.

"I'm sleeping near the fire. Don't get too close to me, got it." I say in a commanding voice, as if I was giving a decree.

Ryoko looks at me for a moment, her golden eyes watching me shining with a life I could envy for the rest of mine. Then realization settles into them, and those golden gems flash with vigrance. She giggles as a red tint darkens her cheeks a bit more. "Of course Sasuke. I understand."

"Then goodnight." I mutter as I lay down on my back folding my arms behind my head. I stare up into the late morning my sun and then squeezed my eyes shut against it, the sun's red light shining through my lids.

Perhaps if I sleep long enough, I can wake from this nightmare somewhere far away. Perhaps if I focus hard enough, I can release myself from this prison and Itachi will vanish forever, that apparition, I will be free from this dream. I will find my way out. I clench my fists beneath my head, a pulse forming in the tightness of my hands... Itachi... I envisioned us younger, a child of my likeness riding on Itachi's back smiling brightly... you and me...

Now time to sleep... release me.

Itachi watches his little brother from the trees as Sasuke's eyes slide closed, his face calm and eyes calculating every next movement to make. He whispers low, his voice taking on the calm depths of the ocean.

"Sleep well, Otouto."

A/N:
A reminder to all, the characters travel at night when it is cool and sleep during the heat of the day. I hope the clock thing in the beginning was not too cheesy... I just thought it would fit well with the theme.

I'll leave you to decide how Itachi meant the 'sleep well.' Lol.
Please review. :)