Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/14022711.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Naruto
  Relationship:
      Uchiha_Itachi/Uchiha_Sasuke
  Character:
      Uchiha_Itachi, Uchiha_Sasuke
  Stats:
      Published: 2018-03-19 Updated: 2018-03-25 Chapters: 7/? Words: 32256
****** No Safe Word ******
by RedDelirium23
Summary
     Sasuke disappears but is not forgotten. Battling his demons proves to
     be a little easier with the help of his Persona. Itasasu. My first
     fic
***** Chapter 1 *****
A group of teenagers made their way through the congested late afternoon
streets in Tokyo. Cars, motorbikes, cyclists wove their way through narrow
streets packed with pedestrians – school kids, office workers, vagrants. Shop
fronts stood invitingly in the sun, doors and windows open trying in vain to
catch any stray breeze. Street vendors hawked their wares – fruit stands
offering fresh cool juice, offers fried and savoury street food – with stalls
crammed into any opening available on the busy streets. Beggars moved with
hands out from pedestrians to the vehicles stuck in the afternoon traffic jam.
The teens made their way expertly through the throng, weaving and winding down
the street, the group splitting and coming back together when they met a
roadblock. They had relaxed smiles, bubbling and babbling. The smiles were
accompanies by navy suits with fine red stripes criss-crossing over the
jackets, pants, and skirts, identifying their particular school allegiance. The
building they stopped in front of was well-known to them – a common destination
after a long day at school. Midterm exams were over and their shoulders were
lightened from the load of studying.
A bell chimed as the group entered the small cafe-lounge that was their
destination. A chorus of “ohayo” rang out as the staff greeted the group
entering the busy shop. They were able to find a table just as another small
group finished their meals and drinks, and the teens settled into their seats
with the warm buzz of conversation and laughter washing over them.
“Ohayo! Welcome to Akari!” The teens placed their orders of milkshakes, iced
beverages and light snacks, and chattered amiably about the past week of exams
as they awaited their well-deserved treats.
“How is it every year, every exam is harder than the last? It’s supposed to get
easier!” exclaimed a bright-eyed youth as he ran a tanned hand exhaustedly
through his blond hair. His shoulders were slumped, tail down and ears drooping
as he leaned heavily against the table on his elbows. He looked as if he had
just barely survived through many sleepless nights.
“It gets easier if you actually study, Naruto,” the second blond at the table
replied. Her long hair was tied high into a single ponytail, giving her face a
rather taut appearance.
The black-haired boy seated next to her yawned as he stretched back leisurely
into the black upholstered seat, a contrast to the light pine floor and cream
tables. “But Ino, studying is just so troublesome.”
“What did you think of the second part of Kurenai-sensei’s test, where she was
asking …” the group carried on discussing their responses in detail (a practice
Naruto hated), bemoaning discrepancies and trying to tally up their expected
grades. As they delved into the questions in more detail than Naruto recalled,
he let his gaze wander around the familiar and comfortable setting.
The café walls were covered with a soft periwinkle damask wallpaper and rustic
red brick, contrasting sharply. Three walls featured large windows that let the
bright afternoon sun filter lazily through the haze of steamy beverages in the
busy space. The fourth wall was occupied by the bar and a small food prep area.
The small space behind the bar was a hive of activity with baristas buzzing
back and forth.
There was another door at the back of the bar area that masked the cacophony of
the larger kitchen behind the doors. Next to the bar was an elevated stage
housing a grand piano, currently sitting alone and seemingly grabbing the dust
particles floating through the sun beams. Behind this were two closed doors
–one leading into a private booth and the other into an employee-only area.
Naruto knew there was a spacious meeting room in this back area as well as a
wrought-iron staircase that spiralled up into a second level.
Naruto saw a familiar face appear from those doors, silhouetted with dark bangs
and hair tied back into a loose ponytail. His face fell and his blue eyes grew
distant and subdued. “At least we get to write exams,” he stated quietly.
The others followed his gaze to the man entering the café from the employee
area. As the man’s dark eyes fell on the group of carefree teens, his face
flickered with grief. He approached their table and the soft lilt of his deep,
gentle voice greeted the blonde. “Naruto-kun, how are you?” he managed to smile
wearily through the pained expression on his face.
Naruto returned his smile with one just as worn, face portraying an old wound
not yet healed. “Ohayo Itachi-san. We just finished midterm week. It was a
tough one! Stuff like this was probably a breeze for you though.”
“Is that so,” Itachi replied and glanced toward the server approaching the
table. “Studying requires time and effort, even when I was in school –
otherwise you are not trying your best. Congratulations on completing a week of
difficult exams.” He turned to the server as she set their orders on the table,
“These are on me today.”
The teens erupted into a chorus of protests which Itachi waved away smiling. “I
own this place and I insist you allow me to make this gesture. You come here so
often, after all, and I appreciate that you would choose to celebrate by coming
here today.” The teens murmured their appreciation as they excitedly tasted
their drinks.
Itachi’s eyes met Naruto’s, exchanging unspoken words as he held his gaze, as
they were both thinking the same thing in that moment. I wonder where he is
right now … If he were here, would he be complaining about exams too?
As Itachi took his leave and walked away, the group fell silent. Finally Ino
spoke quietly, “You still think about him, don’t you Naruto?”
“Yes,” was all Naruto replied. What more could be said, or needed to be said?
Yes, he still thought of his missing friend, and yes, it still hurt.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Itachi waved as the group of teens finished their drinks and left the café.
Seeing them laughing and enjoying the beautiful sunny day caused a painful pang
in his chest and his throat to tighten. He should be here, enjoying this day …
He sighed and tore his eyes and thoughts away from the kids. Reaching for a
glass, he prepared the next drink on the line. One of their staff had called in
due to a family emergency so Itachi was covering during the busy moments for
the day. He worked efficiently until the afternoon rush died down, crafting an
assortment of drinks and food fare that his café had become popular for. The
double doors to the kitchen whirled continually as order after order was
completed and staff rushed to attend to the waiting customers. Itachi was
grateful for the distraction of work, especially after seeing Naruto and his
friends. The memories were still raw, and he did not like to dwell on them.
He pushed his raven bangs out of his sweating face and heaved a sigh as the
bustle died down. Removing his apron, he made his way out of the bar area and
to the employee-only portion of the cafe. Behind the heavy doors in the cool of
the shaded hallway, he leaned heavily against the wall, long lashes brushing
his flushed cheeks as he closed his weary eyes and let the memories – that he
was trying so hard and failing to keep down – flooded over him, leaving him
gasping for air.
x-x-x-x-x-x (flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x
The 5-year old gripped his mother’s arm with his chubby fingers and peered at
the bundle in her lap with wide, curious raven eyes. They were sitting on the
couch in their small, quiet home. His mother had arrived home from the hospital
only a few hours ago, and strange scents he could not place hung to her –
something sharp like soap, something musky, something sweet. The breeze from
the half-drawn blinds lifted the new smells and swirled them around the
perceptive little boy.
Matching raven eyes met his, a tiny rose mouth cooing up at the boy and pudgy
fingers reaching up to grab at his long ebony locks. “He seems to enjoy playing
with hair,” his mother Mikoto laughed warmly at the bundle in her arms.
Itachi wrapped his hand around the smaller one tangled in his hair and gently
removed it. The cherub’s face scrunched up and the rosy bundle babbled his
displeasure as he flicked his little black tail. The tiny fingers tightened
around Itachi’s hand with surprising strength for something so small. Itachi
looked at the smaller hand gripping his fingers and felt a flutter in his
chest, a breathlessness that the 5-year-old did not fully understand.
Mikoto regarded the two affectionately – her rays of sunshine. “Sasuke, this is
your oniisan Itachi.” The tiny neko babbled away happily as he clutched his
oniisan’s fingers. “Do you want to hold him?”
The toddler looked uncertainly at his mother. With a soft laugh Mikoto shifted
the infant onto his brother’s lap, hand still clutching tightly at the elder’s
fingers which he had given up trying to extricate. Itachi cradled him in his
lap, breathing in his scent as he leaned over his baby brother. Sunlight
filtered through chiffon drapes and fell across the neko’s face, soft shadows
from his thick eyelashes falling on rosy cheeks. Itachi’s hand tightened on his
brother’s, making a silent promise in his heart as he handed it to the innocent
child. He leaned over him, pressing his face gently into the soft, wispy raven
locks as he memorized his scent – a heady mixture of mother’s milk, baby
products, and new life. He gave his heart willingly in that moment, and the
younger consumed it happily, giggling and clutching at the elder’s awestruck
face.
x-x-x-x-x-x
“Should we have the surgery done?” his father’s voice was hushed, instantly
piquing Itachi’s curiosity. He had quietly followed behind his mother as she
went to put the sleeping infant in the crib in her room. When he glimpsed the
anxious expression on his father’s face, he had stopped outside the room and
turned to leave, but the man’s tone had drawn him back. The toddler now stood
hidden by the open doorway.
“He’s so small right now – “
“They say it is better to have it done when they are little. That way they
don’t have chance to get used to … to the ears and tail.”
His mother sighed, and Itachi could guess what was going through her mind. He
knew that some people had cat-like features. They ranged from ears and tail to
whiskers and even fur. No one knew why some people had begun to be born this
way. Itachi knew that many people treated the nekos badly, and some hid their
traits because of this.
“I don’t want to harm him.”
“He will be discriminated against his whole life if we leave him this way. And
think of what people will say when they find out – “
“I don’t care about what other people say! And since when have you been so
worked up over nekos?”
“My political career could be affected by this. It’s easy to remain indifferent
until your life becomes affected. We have the chance now to make him normal – “
The toddler jumped as he heard a smack. Did okaasan just hit otousan?
“I am not cutting off pieces of my son for the sake of your bloody career. I am
serious Fugaku, I will not stand for it.”
“We have to consider his best interests as well. You know how these people are
treated …”
The conversation moved further away and the words drowned out by the sound of
water running from his parents’ bathroom. But he had heard enough. The thought
of cutting off Sasuke’s extra little ears and tail was horrifying to him. He
hoped his mother would stand her ground on this matter. She was a terrifying
force to stand against when she wanted to be, and he had seen even his father
powerless in front of her.
He thought of the other aspects of the conversation, about how people would
treat his brother because of his appearance, but then dismissed the thought.
How could anyone mistreat someone so sweet?
x-x-x-x-x-x (end of flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x
A young adolescent lounged on a large circular bed in a deceptively comfortable
room. Deceptive, because nothing about what happened in the room was
comfortable for the boy involved.
Large inky, jaded eyes gazed distantly out the window set next to the open
balcony. Birds hopped through the crawling vines clinging to the wooden
balcony, singing and dancing, and occasionally swooping into the large room.
Stone walls rose around the room, interspersed with tall windows granting an
impressive view down into the well-kept grounds below. Rich mahogany and
crimson velvet furnished the lofty room, reminiscent of a castle.
It was part of a large compound off-the-radar and off-the-map, the boy had come
to learn during his time there. The large rectangular structure was unassuming
from the outside, set several kilometres away from any major roads and with few
windows opening to the exterior of the compound.
In the center of the compound was a large courtyard kept open to the elements,
and it was into this courtyard the boy now gazed. Intersecting cobbled pathways
were lined with trimmed hedges and floral arrangements, offering those
wandering there some welcome shade against the sweltering spring sun. A large
terraced pond lay to one side of the courtyard, currently occupied by two
younger adolescent boys playfully wrestling in the warm, clear water.
A man wearing the garb of a security guard strolled by – exactly on schedule.
Every 15 minutes a guard would stroll past, the boy knew, as they had done for
the past four years. There were 23 cameras in the courtyard – that he knew of –
and many more in the hallways and rooms of the compound. There were currently
twelve children in the compound, but he had seen others come over the years.
The only way he had seen them leave was in a body bag through the solitary,
well-guarded entrance into the compound.
The dark-haired boy watched as the wresting in the pond morphed into urgent
touches and hungry kisses as the two boys ground against one another in
desperation. Clothes were discarded, tongues intertwined as the gasping duo
moved against each other in a rhythmic motion, creating waves in the water. A
head was thrown back as moans filled the air and their ecstasy approached a
peak.
As the guard walked past again – 15 minutes already? – he paused to watch the
two young boys fuck, who continued while paying the guard no heed. They had
nothing to hide, and nowhere to hide. There were no locks on the inside of the
doors to their rooms, and the concept of privacy was as foreign as freedom.
Nothing was done in private. Their bodies, words and actions were meticulously
sculpted by their owner, their architect. They may harbour dreams of escape,
but in reality their only escape was in each other.
They boys reached their climax in the churning water, holding each other close
in their afterglow. The guard continued on his patrol route. The birds chirped
and twirled outside, as the dark-haired boy fought off memories of a better
life.
x-x-x-x-x-x
His client looked down at the dark-haired boy now tied up on the chaise with
red silk ribbons. The chaise was a beautiful piece in dark mahogany and deep
red velveteen upholstery. The man thought the boy kneeling on the chaise was an
even lovelier piece, pale skin standing out starkly against the dark furniture.
The red silk ribbons cut into his flesh and kept him from moving. He was on his
knees, bent forward over the arm of the chaise with his ass raised towards his
client. The evening he had paid for came with complementary toys and
paraphernalia which were strewn across a nearby table.
The man reached for a cock ring – red leather, he decided, would look lovely
against the boy’s member. The boy himself was blindfolded so could not see what
the man was doing behind him. His muscles tensed as he heard the man walking
towards him. He hissed as the man reached between his legs and grabbed his limp
cock, stroking until he was fully erect then slipping on the cock ring. He
checked the boy’s bindings, ensuring they were tight enough as he ran his hands
over his tense, lithe body.
The man continued stroking the boy’s cock as he moved a black tail aside and
spread his ass cheeks to lower his mouth to the boy’s puckered pink entrance.
He pushed his tongue past the tight anal sphincter – part of the children’s
daily routine included some physical activity to keep them lean and tight. He
tongue fucked the boy now squirming and moaning wantonly underneath him, tail
flicking from side to side and ass thrusting back to make the tongue slide in
deeper. The man added two fingers to fuck the boy along with his tongue,
stretching his entrance as the boy mewled in such a way it sent a pulse
straight to the man’s own dripping erection.
He released the boy’s quivering, engorged cock and removed his tongue and
fingers from his twitching anus. The boy lay panting, wriggling his ass to
entice his client to continue his ministrations. He had learned long ago that
playing along and pleasing the client tended to be much less painful, and often
resulted in a shorter session. He heard the man walk away in the direction of
the table where he knew several sex toys lay. For a while there was silence –
aside from his continued panting and the occasional desperate moan. Then he
heard the man approach him again, and tensed in anticipation, not knowing what
he would do next.
He felt something cool and wet against his entrance, then without warning it
was shoved in. It was large, but he was used to pain. He still cried out – as
was expected of him – and lay squirming as the dildo was shoved repeatedly in
and out of him.
The man continued to stroke the neko’s cock, matching the rhythm of the
pistoning dildo. Abruptly he stopped, leaving the boy moaning with the dildo
shoved to the hilt into his round, tight ass. He heard a click and his entire
world was reduced to the sensation of the dildo vibrating inside him,
stimulating the sweet spot inside him. He did not have to fake his cries and
moans this time – the overstimulation together with the cock ring preventing
any sort of release left his cock engorged and balls aching.
Another click, and the vibrator turned off. He lay bent over, ass twitching,
cock pulsating, saliva hanging out of his mouth. He felt flesh nudge his open
lips and the salty taste of precum on his tongue as the man eased his cock into
the boy’s mouth. He obligingly took the appendage into the hot, moist cavern of
his mouth, flicking his tongue just here, letting his teeth scrape there, and
suppressing his gag reflex to have his throat fucked raw as he had been
trained.
Complying with the man’s desires was better than the pain associated with the
alternative, he had learned. The punishments were severe. The rewards of doing
as was expected were much better. He would get to use the recreation room –
which meant he would get to use the canvas and paints locked away in the
precious room if he did not fight back. Sweet escape, a moment away from this
place – he would do anything for this. So he obediently swallowed around the
cock currently shoved down his throat.
His client gripped his hair and fiddled with his pointed ears, slamming
relentlessly into his mouth, leaving his lips bruised and swollen red. His eyes
were tearing and face flushed from lack of oxygen. He heard the man moan above
him then the click of a switch as the vibrator was switched on again. His cries
of pleasure were muffled by the cock in his mouth, and the man cried out as his
throat closed and vibrated around his cock. The boy’s hips bucked wildly,
desperate for release. He felt the man’s balls tighten against his face as he
shoved deep into his throat, then he lost complete awareness as the man
released the cock ring and allowed the boy’s painfully swollen testicles to
release their load. He rode out his orgasm, cock chafing against the chaise.
It’ll need to be reupholstered. He lay there in the afterglow, noting the taste
of cum in his mouth and some dribbling on his face.
He heard shuffling behind him, then his cock was roughly grabbed – making him
hiss and tail puff as the sensitive flesh was over-stimulated. He was stroked
to a full erection as the dildo was removed and the man’s cock eased in
instead. As he started fucking him, the man leaned in close to whisper in his
ear, voice low and hoarse, “I want to see you really squirm, like the first
time I fucked you.”
The boy immediately placed the voice of his patron – a man who had paid to take
his virginity all those years ago, and visited regularly over the years. He had
bought, bruised, bled and broken the boy countless times. To this day he did
not know the man’s name, only his scarred face, priest’s gown, and vicious
eyes.
“I know your tolerance for physical pain,” the man continued as he moved his
cock in and out of the boy’s ass, “because I was the one who broke you. Such a
wonderful feeling … I want to break you again, now that I know who you are …
Sasuke.”
What?!
The boy’s body tensed as he heard his real name. “You … how … who are you?! How
do you know me? Why are you doing this? How long …?” Questions tumbled out of
the boy’s mouth as he frantically tried to process this information through his
stunned mind.
The man bit down on the back of his neck, drawing blood and making him cry out
in shock. He lapped at the blood as the boy struggled underneath him, pulling
at his bonds as he tried to remove his blindfold and turn around to confront
the man. Damn it! They’re tied too tightly!
The man groaned as he felt the boy struggle underneath him – this was what he
was after. He watched in ecstasy as the red silk ties cut into the boy’s
straining limbs, scarlet on white. “I was visiting an old business associate …
and saw your picture there …”
 
~~~ “This boy … I have never seen him with you. Is he …?”
“He … he went missing many years ago. My younger son, Sasuke.”
“I see … I am sorry to hear about your loss, Fugaku-san. I can only imagine
what a burden it must be for a parent to lose their child.”
“Mikoto and I have come to terms with the loss, but will always mourn his
absence. Thank you for your considerate words, Danzo-san.” ~~~
 
“Your father,” the man continued as he fucked the struggling boy, “… Uchiha
Fugaku, apparently still mourns you.
“You know my father! Why are you doing this?”
“I could barely hide my smile, knowing I have brought him such pain. Now I have
the privilege of cleansing the wretched man’s vile offspring. Know this – “ he
growled into his ear “ – you will never leave this place.”
Sasuke fought wildly against the ungiving silk ties, thrashing underneath the
larger man and crying out in desperation. The man groaned as the boy moved
helplessly on his cock, gripping his hips tightly in his hands as he came
inside the boy.
“No! Fuck you! Who the hell are you? Why – “ he was cut off as a rough hand
shoved his face down against the cum-covered chaise, face rubbing against the
soft fabric and sticky fluid. The man groaned again as he slid out of the boy
and smacked his ass, before releasing him.
The sudden weight lifting off him left the struggling boy off-balance and he
fell to the floor. His blindfold was ripped off and he looked up into the man’s
scarred face. “Fuck you!” he spat, arching off the floor as the ties continued
to restrain him. The man only chuckled as he got dressed in his priest’s robes
and headed to the door. “Until our next session … Sasuke.” And he left without
another word.
Sasuke screamed as he lay there, tied up and covered in cum, helpless and
confused. He wasn’t sure how long he lay there, but by the time the door opened
again and another boy came in to help him, his arms and legs were numb and
there was blood drying along the edges of the silk bonds where they had cut
into his skin as he struggled. His eyes were glazed over and he looked up in a
daze at the man now standing in front of him, long dark hair lifting in the
slight breeze from the open balcony … the man with whom this had all started.
“Orochimaru …” Sasuke growled, and the pale man’s eyebrow arched at the tone of
his voice. Of course the boy had fought against him when he first came here,
but he had long since been broken and had not used such a tone with him in many
years.
“You fucking bastard! Who the hell is that man? How does he know who I am?!” He
struggled onto his knees as he was freed from the wretched ties, wincing in
pain as blood flow returned to his limbs. He ignored the cuts on his body and
pain in his ass, eyes raging at the man who had taken everything from him.
“My dear boy … Sasuke,” The elder turned his name into something vile as it
rolled off his tongue, “What does it matter? It will not change anything. You
are his to purchase and do with as he pleases. His identity does not matter.”
Jaw clenched, muscles tight, Sasuke trembled as the pent-up emotions washed
over him. Resentment at the man who stole him … the fear and helplessness of
having the control over your life wrenched out of your hands … self-loathing
for the degradation of his body … grief …
Did his father really mourn for him? His family … his mother, did they …? His
brother …
His head was pounding. Orochimaru was speaking but he could not hear the words
over the roaring in his ears. His chest felt tight. He struggled to breathe.
The emotions whirled and merged into one pulsating sensation. Rage.
His body surged forward, all inhibitions forgotten as he lost focus of
everything outside of that intoxicating burn in his veins. He let the rage
consume him as his fist struck against the startled man’s jaw. He heard a
crunch and saw the blood on his knuckles but felt nothing but the rage.
I won’t …! I won’t take this anymore! I’d rather die!
He suddenly felt a lurching sensation as if being wrenched forward. He closed
his eyes against the sudden wave of nausea and the pressure inside his head and
chest. What the hell …?
The motion suddenly stopped and his eyes sprang open, ready to defend against
his captor … who was no longer there. He blinked and rubbed his eyes … for he
was no longer in his room. Wide eyes took in the crumbling coloured paint,
flashing neon lights, and empty rides of what was clearly an amusement park.
Am I … dreaming? I don’t remember being knocked out … hallucinating?
He rubbed his eyes again but the amusement park was still there. His tail
flicked in confusion and ears twitched as he peered around for any signs of
life.
His tail doubled in size and he jumped when he heard a chuckle behind him.
Whirling around, he was met with the sight of a spectre-like figure hovering
behind him, swathed in flowing red and black robes and wielding a long katana
dripping with blood.
Sasuke leaped backwards and cried out in alarm, not sure if this was a carnival
trick. But this is a dream! Right? There’s no way this can be real. So I
shouldn’t have to worry about this … thing.
“Who – what – are you?” Why am I talking to a figment of my imagination?
The creature chuckled again, “I am not in your imagination, and this place is
not a dream.”
“You – how did you know what I was thinking?! This can’t be real!”
“I know what you were thinking because I am you. I am your Persona, and my name
is Kirin. I was awoken by the breaking of the chains on your heart. I will
explain more later. For now, I will help you escape this place.”
Sasuke stared incredulously at the figure, mouth open. What the hell is he
talking about … chains on my heart breaking? Persona? But one thought stood out
more than the rest. Escape? He can’t mean it for real … but what’s the harm in
going along with it? If this is all in my head nothing will happen anyway, and
if it’s something not in my head … The neko shook his head, not knowing what to
make of that line of thinking, and decided.
“Alright, I’ll believe you for now,” he said, “Now how do I get out of here?”
 
 
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! Tell me what you think. Is having nekos in the universe
too much for the story? I can change back if you guys feel that may work
better. I am also planning on really fleshing out the Persona universe – I have
fallen in love with it. Any ideas or reviews are appreciated!
***** Chapter 2 *****
Hiding behind a cotton candy booth, Sasuke peered cautiously around the corner.
There were two carnies up ahead near the entrance to the mirror funhouse.
He had made his way from where he started in the amusement park by carefully
hiding and sneaking past the carnies. His dark clothing helped him blend into
the dark corners and shadows.  When did I get clothing? Sasuke thought, looking
down at his gloved hands. The leather gloves were black with the knuckles cut
out. They stood out sharply against his pale arms which were bare. He had a
tight sleeveless black shirt on and dark pants with a stylish blue sash that
added a colourful flair. There was a mask covering half his face, slightly
pointed and reminiscent of a beak.
The first time he saw a carnie – dressed in a garish combination of purple,
yellow and orange – Sasuke’s first instinct was to ask for directions. Kirin,
his Persona, had stopped him from doing so. He told Sasuke that the carnie was
in reality a shadow, a distortion, that would undoubtedly attack them and draw
attention to their presence. He then faded away – he seemed to come and go as
he pleased.
Up until now he had made his way undetected, but it seemed it was going to be
impossible to get past the two up ahead without being seen. They had found a
stand full of maps of the carnival – how convenient, Sasuke thought – and the
Persona suggested heading to the closest emergency exit, as exits in this world
would represent an exit back to reality.
Grabbing a stirring stick from a shelf in the cotton candy booth, he tossed it
against a hot dog stand further to his left. The stick clanged noisily against
the other stand and clattered to the ground.
The carnies immediately rushed over to the source of the sound and Sasuke
slipped forward, crouching low to the ground and quietly stepping toward the
funhouse.
“Intruders!” one of the carnies cried out when Sasuke was still several steps
away from his target. Despite his better judgement, he turned around to stare
wide-eyed at the carnies running towards him. His pointed ears flattened
against his raven locks in fear as the previously human-looking carnies morphed
into monstrosities of bulging eyes, clawed hands and pointed teeth. He was
frozen to the spot, the only thought in his head, this can’t be real!
One of the creatures struck out a clawed hand towards the terrified teen. Right
as it was about to gut him a spectral sword cleaved through the claw. Sasuke
looked behind him to see Kirin standing over him, sword in hand.
“Focus now. Break the chains of terror and unleash your inner strength.”
The neko felt a warmth surge though him as Kirin’s presence enveloped him. He
felt a connection to the spectral being and he knew what to do. He let those
liberating emotions wash over him again – rage at the injustice done against
him, a desire to be free.
Flames swirled in the air around him and leapt toward the two monstrous
carnies, engulfing them completely. They screeched as their flesh blistered and
burned. Kirin leapt forward with a flurry of strikes from his sword, silencing
the screams.
As quickly as the confrontation had started, it was over, leaving only piles of
ash as evidence to the battle. The Persona hovered a moment longer before once
again fading away. Sasuke looked down at his now trembling hands as the
powerful emotions coursing through his body faded away as well – leaving him
shocked and shaken, ears alert and tail tense.
The sound of footsteps and raised voices running towards his location reminded
him of what he had been doing. He turned around and ran into the funhouse, all
attempts at stealth abandoned.
A dizzying array of identical nekos met him, stretched and shaped into absurd
proportions. They all shared the same pointed black ears, sleek black tail and
spiky raven hair. He looked around at all the mirrors, looking for a way
forward out of the room – and found an area that seemed to be mirror-free. He
headed in that direction, slowly finding his way through the maze of distorted
clones. When he entered a circular room lined with mirrors he stopped in his
tracks at the sight that met him. His owner, the man that had taken his life,
was waiting for him with the same bloodcurdling grin on his face as always.
Only … he was different. For one he appeared much younger, as if he had stopped
ageing many years ago. And his clothing was outrageous – a glamorous piece of
purple velour and gold sequin. He had seen Orochimaru in many different outfits
during role-playing sessions but never anything so extravagant.
Even though this Orochimaru was clearly different, he still bore the face of
Sasuke’s master. Seeing him suddenly send a wave of terror through the boy,
rooting him to the spot. He did not fear him as much as his body and mind were
simply conditioned through years of abuse to react a particular way to the man.
The man’s arm suddenly shot out, stretching as if made of elastic, and ripped
off Sasuke’s mask.
“My my … my dear Sasuke. What a naughty kitty you’ve been. I think you should
let master punish you, don’t you?” An abnormally long tongue ran across the
man’s lips, “Take off your clothes, kitten.”
Still reeling in conditioned shock, Sasuke did not – could not­ – respond.
Orochimaru lurched forward and slammed into the unresponsive boy, who flew
backwards and crashed into the mirrors behind him causing them to shatter. He
winced and cried out in pain as he landed on the broken shards.
Pain!  The pain felt so real. It shook him out of his startled daze and he
leapt to his feet, fists clenched and teeth gritted, eyes blazing despite the
small cuts and glass shards all over his body. He charged toward the man –
Persona forgotten, along with everything else aside from the person standing
smirking in front of him.
He swung his fist toward his jaw but the grinning man swatted him away
effortlessly. He flew backwards to once again land on the pile of broken glass.
Crying out in agony, he managed to crawl to his knees, biting his lip hard to
try to ignore the pain from the glass. This isn’t real! He thought desperately.
“It is a distortion of reality, but reality it still is,” Kirin was suddenly
next to him, enveloping him in his presence. “The man you see in front of you
is a distortion just like the shadow creatures. He is a projection from the
real world, from the man’s own perception of reality. This place is his mind’s
creation, but damage done to him here will have an impact on the man in
reality.”
Sasuke did not fully comprehend what he was being told. He was focusing most of
his energy on not falling unconscious from blood loss and pain. I’ve been
through worse, he reminded himself, this is nothing!
Orochimaru slowly walked towards him and Kirin charged forward, sword flashing.
The man seemed to easily dodge all his swings. The Persona pulled back and let
flames erupt forward to engulf the room. Sasuke watched them blaze, heart
pounding … then falling as Orochimaru walked through them unharmed. He struck
aside the Persona and charged at Sasuke, pinning him to the wall with one hand
on his throat.
One hand reached down to slide into his pants while the other held him up by
the neck. He gripped the boy’s crotch and leant in close, voice a hiss. “How
would you like to be punished, my little kitten? How about you be my pussy?”
Orochimaru gripped his cock and started stroking him to an erection. He watched
in horror as his tongue slithered out and stretched all the way down to his
pants. It gripped the hem of his pants and yanked them down, then reached
between his legs to probe at his entrance. Sasuke tried to push the man back
but he was weakened from blood loss and the tight grip on his throat. The
tongue pushed into him with one hard shove as the vile man continued to stroke
his erection. Sasuke closed his eyes, willing everything to go away, as the
tongue roughly thrust in and out of him.
Suddenly the hold on his neck was gone as the man was wrenched away from him.
Kirin had gotten a hold of him and pulled him backwards off of Sasuke. As the
man slowly got back to his feet, Kirin turned to Sasuke.
“Some opponents are too strong for us now. Run!”
Sasuke did not have to be told twice. Pulling up his pants, he quickly looked
around the room to get his bearings, then followed what he hoped was the path
out of the nightmarish maze. He knew form the map that the emergency exit was
approximately halfway through the funhouse and hoped there would be a sign
pointing it out.
He ran as fast as he could through the dizzying rooms, whirling round and round
to make sense of his surroundings. In the mirrors he glimpsed Orochimaru
following him, the undulating surfaces making him appear even more horrifying
in the dimly lit corridors.
Sasuke’s hopes were realized as he caught sight of a bright green exit sign and
dashed towards it. His lungs were burning and body stinging from the cuts, but
he did not slow down. At last his hand reached the handle of the large, heavy
door. He pushed against it with all of his remaining strength and it gave way
to blinding light, leaving the terrifying amusement park to fade away along
with Orochimaru’s laughter.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
The sun shone brightly on the sparse traffic heading down a narrow road. The
harsh asphalt wound its way through the stubborn brush growing in the dry heat.
The sun did nothing to alleviate the anguished thoughts of the driver of a
modest white car speeding by.
He was a firm believer that day-to-day actions were pre-determined, pre-
ordained. This removed much of the fuss out of his daily activities and
actions. It made things simpler – (and suffocating, a voice screamed inside
him) – for everyone involved when everything that happens to your life happens
for a reason and can be attributed to fate.
Yet he did not know how today’s discovery could be tied to his fate, nor what
purpose it served in his existence.
He had noticed the boy when he was driving to a neighbouring town for an art
exhibit. Now that he thought about it, had he not been going to the exhibit the
boy may never have been found. Had he not had a passion for art, he would not
have been forced to go to the exhibit by his superior. And had he not found the
boy, he would have continued on to the art exhibit that he hadn’t truly wanted
to go to in the first place – (too many sycophants and pretenders).
So in a way everything was connected. At least his mind was desperately trying
to make connections to make some sort of sense as to why this was occurring.
He had been focused on the road while driving, but his pale, perceptive eyes
were constantly scanning the horizon for stray wildlife that could decide at
the last minute to kamikaze him. He saw a movement in his peripheral vision and
slowed his car down as he glanced over – then slammed on the brakes.
There was a boy staggering through the deserted brush. He had cuts over his
body and was bleeding and bruised. From the way he was staggering, he was
likely suffering from blood loss or heat exhaustion under the pounding sun. And
he was completely naked.
The boy in the car blinked and rubbed his eyes. There were no towns or rest
stops for at least 50km either way. Was this real? After a few blinks and
plenty of rubbing, the staggering boy was still there.
He could choose to ignore this strange occurrence. He could continue driving
his car to the exhibit and continue driving his life on the preordained track
it was currently on.
But what if this is preordained? What if I was supposed to find this boy out
here in the middle of nowhere? He thought about it for several long minutes,
mind running in circles and hands running through his long brunette hair. He
watched the boy continue to stumble his way through the wilderness. His mind
was made up when he felt a pang of pity as the boy suddenly collapsed forward.
He put on the hazard lights and grabbed his water bottle and emergency blanket.
After a moment he also donned the gloves from his emergency kit – the boy was
bleeding a lot.
He jogged over to where the boy lay unmoving, face down on the ground. He was
slim to the point of skinny, pale, with a shock of dark hair. He noted the
black tail and pointed ears … a neko, huh? He was well aware of the general
dislike for the nekos, had even expressed his own distaste on a few occasions –
(“They are a corruption of the human form,” he would say, “what purpose could
they possibly serve?”). Even so, no one deserved to be treated in such a way.
Now that he was seeing him up close he could see the angry red welts, rash of
cuts that continued to bleed, and bruises blossoming on the boy’s pale skin.
Kneeling down next to the neko, he wrapped the emergency blanket around the
smaller frame as he turned him over. Judging from the neko’s face and size of
his body, he guessed he was a few years younger than him.
He gently shook the boy, but got no response. Opening his water bottle, he
poured some water into his hand and sprinkled it on the boy’s face which
twitched in response and his bleary eyes opened to look up at his rescuer.
“What are you doing out here? Are you OK?”
The boy stared up blankly at him, then his eyes widened and he sat up abruptly.
The elder put a hand on his shoulder to steady him as he looked like he was
about to pass out again from the sudden movement.
Once the boy was steady he looked around him with his ebony eyes opened wide,
disbelieving. “Where … where am I? Who are you? Is this … is this real?”
Sounds like he may be hallucinating. He eyed the boy cautiously and replied,
“My name is Neji. We’re about halfway between Konoha and Suna. What’s your
name?” He spoke slowly and clearly as if to a hurt child.
The boy gaped at him, “We’re … is this … outside?”
Definitely hallucinating. Neji edged backwards a bit. “Yes, we are currently
outdoors. I think you may need medical attention. I can drive you to the
closest hospital – that would be in Konoha.”
The boy slowly nodded at him, then struggled to his feet with Neji’s help. “My
name is Sasuke … Uchiha Sasuke.”
Where have I heard that name before? Neji knew it sounded familiar but could
not recall why. He got an uneasy feeling that this was more than just a test of
his good will. Putting it to the back of his mind for now, he helped the boy to
his car.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- (Sasuke’s Perspective) –o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
When Sasuke had woken he was greeted by the pounding sun and bright blue sky.
He could feel the hard, sandy earth underneath him and heard birds twittering.
As the world came into focus, so did his mind. He was outside. He sat up,
unbelieving. The world swam suddenly and he shut his eyes as it settled. He
noticed then he was naked, as he had been when he was last at the compound,
before the amusement park …
Was all that real then? How else would I have gotten out? Unless this isn’t
real …
He refused to think about that possibility. He wanted this to be real, he
wanted desperately to believe, to have hope.
He slowly got to his feet as he took in his surroundings and condition.
He was bleeding heavily from the cuts he had gotten – so the injuries received
in that world are real. He had no idea where he was. Nothing looked familiar.
He was surrounded on all sides by low brush and sandy earth.
He noticed a glint in the distance, the sun reflecting off something for a
brief moment … a car?
He made his way in that direction. In his current state – bleeding, abused,
exhausted and in shock – the distance seemed to grow exponentially. His feet
were leaden weights, slicked with sweat and blood as they stumbled forward.
Another blight glint, and another – yes, that must be a road.
He did not make it much father before his foot caught on a mass of twisting,
dried vines and he fell forward into the dirt and brambles.
As he lay there, he decided he should rest … just a bit … and his eyes slowly
closed.
The sharp sting of cold water woke him abruptly. Confused and dazed, he looked
up at pale eyes and long dark hair, trying to make sense of what was happening.
The other boy spoke, and words tumbled out of Sasuke’s mouth in response, his
mind barely registering the conversation. I’m so tired … I just need … a little
sleep …
A familiar word caught his attention and he tried to focus … Konoha.
More words … was that his own voice?
The other boy helped him as he struggled to his feet. Hospital, he had said,
and Konoha. Was it really possible? Was he really going to Konoha?
Was he really going home?
The boy helped him into the back of the car and Sasuke lay down on the warm
seats. The windows were slightly open to let in some warm air as they drove
through the sun-drenched landscape.
The boy was talking to him, but his body was aching and his mind was numb. He
let the sun warm his body as the car lulled him into a dreamless slumber.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Itachi flipped the sign on his cafe to the closed side, stretching out his
tense muscles with a groan. They would close every day from 4:30pm to 5:30pm to
tidy up and empty the cafe of any underage kids in preparation for the
evening’s lounge activities.
The staff waited for him around the bar, chatting amiably with one another.
Itachi was glad to see that his staff got along well with one another, nekos
and regular humans alike. Itachi made sure to offer equal opportunities to
nekos and tolerated no discrimination at the cafe. They had some rough patches
over the 3 years they had been in operation – as any business will have – but
had managed to work through it by doing precisely what they were doing right
now. Every day at this time they would start by having a group huddle to
debrief – to address concerns or offer acknowledgement and support to one
another. The morning staff had not yet left, and the evening staff had just
arrived so the team discussion included as many people as possible.
While they were discussing the possibility of hiring another part-time server,
Itachi’s phone rang. He took it out and dismissed it, pausing a moment when he
noticed the caller was his mother. She had not called in quite some time, no
doubt at his father’s behest. Nonetheless he did not wish to disregard his
employees’ concerns, so he made a decision to call his mother back later.
Once they finished debriefing, Itachi went up the spiral steps in the private
portion of the cafe, to the second level – to the loft that he lived in. It was
a bright, spacious area with large windows and red and black brickwork. A
balcony looked over the shops on the street. At the other end of the large open
area, a few steps led up to an elevated portion of the loft which was blocked
off with delicate rice paper folding screens, the translucent material
providing privacy for the elevated bedroom area. In one corner was a large
kitchen, outfitted in stainless steel and light pine. A distressed ash shade of
hardwood flooring ran diagonally uninterrupted through the entire flat.
Itachi sat on the red couch and took out his phone, sighing as his finger
hovered over the screen. Their last conversation had ended with her in tears,
begging him to come back home and him refusing. He could not go back to that
house, to that life … especially now that he had felt how liberating it was to
live on his own terms.
Once perhaps, when he had someone to stay for, someone whose admiring gaze
motivated him to take on the world.
He thought of his little brother, but all his mind could conjure up was vague
features, pointed fluffy ears and a soft black tail. His face … why couldn’t he
remember his face? Dropping the phone, he fought off waves of nausea as he
rushed up the few steps to where his closet was located. He flung open the
wardrobe and fell to his knees, shoving boxes and shoes aside, hand reaching,
reaching –
It found the familiar etching of the small wooden box and Itachi pulled it out,
holding it reverently in his trembling hands. Sasuke had made the small box for
him as part of a project in third grade. He lifted open the lid, and the
familiar face met him. He picked up one of the pictures and drank in the
beloved features, willing them to imprint onto his eyes, etching the soft
contours into his memory. How could he forget this face?
He sat there for several long minutes, poring over the old pictures and painful
memories. The sound of his phone ringing brought his attention back to the
present, face etched with a frown. It was unlike his mother to call again. He
placed the treasured pictures back in their box, and made his way down the
steps to the couch where his now silent phone lay. Yes, his mother had called
again. He suddenly felt dread creeping up his spine – what has happened?
He dialled the familiar number, and his mother answered on the third ring. Her
voice was panicked and shaky, “Itachi!” He tensed at the tone of her voice – it
had been tired and strained ever since Sasuke disappeared, but he had not heard
this note of panic since that fateful day four years ago …
“What is it? What’s happened? Is father alright?”
“Itachi you have to come quick” she spoke rapidly, words falling over one
another, “The hospital, they called, it’s – Sasuke, he’s –” Itachi’s breath
hitched at hearing that name, his heart seemed to stop. “They found him! He’s
here Itachi! Sasuke is here, he’s at the hospital.”
Itachi sat frozen, not daring to believe, not daring to breathe lest he woke up
and the moment slipped away. His chest felt tight, painful, throat constricted
and eyes unable to focus. His mother’s voice called out to him but he did not
hear her words.
Alive … he’s alive! Found! Safe! … safe? Is he…?
“Is he –” his voice sounded distant, hoarse, unfamiliar. “Is he alright?” Why
is he in the hospital? Is he hurt? Four years …
“He’s unconscious, in ICU right now. They said he’s lost a lot of blood and is
unresponsive.”
Itachi couldn’t breathe again. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he managed to
say before hanging up and grabbing his coat, rushing as if his brother would be
snatched away again if he took too long. He felt a sudden wave of nausea as he
remembered that day, four years ago …
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading! Hope you guys like it! Any reviews are appreciated. Next
chapter the brothers finally meet…
***** Chapter 3 *****
Itachi couldn’t breathe again. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he managed to
say before hanging up and grabbing his coat, rushing as if his brother would be
snatched away again if he took too long. He felt a sudden wave of nausea as he
remembered that day, four years ago …
x-x-x-x-x-x-x (flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x-x
“Sasuke, it’s time to go,” Itachi smiled at the little neko. He was lying on
his elbows on the floor, feet kicking back and forth, tail playfully swishing.
A little pink tongue poked out between plump lips as he focused on the drawing
on the floor in front of him. Itachi idly admired the curve of his body through
his thin yukata, a lovely dark blue with a beautiful periwinkle obi, before he
realized what he was doing and abruptly looked away.
At only 9, he had impressed Itachi with his artistic inclinations. His figures
became more realistic each day, the colours more evocative.  Sasuke could get
lost in his artwork for hours – often to the detriment of his other work – and
would zone out the world around him when focusing on making the flowing lines
and colours come to life.
He finally looked up at his brother’s voice. He had called him twice from the
bottom of the stairs but Sasuke had not heard him. He was already dressed and
ready to go, and had decided to sneak in a few minutes of pencilling while they
waited for their mother.
They piled into their car and made their way to a decorated hall downtown.
Another political event of their fathers’. There would be awards and
entertainment. Food and drinks. Subtle bribes and hidden handshakes.
The adults and Itachi mingled with the other guests in the crowded hall. Sasuke
sat alone at their table – he had snuck in a small sketchbook in which he was
now absorbed, for the moment unnoticed.
His activities did not continue unnoticed for long, however. As the lights
dimmed and the crowd returned to their seats, Fugaku sent a sharp glance at
Sasuke who had stopped his sketching when the room grew dark but could not hide
the sketchbook quickly enough. He knew his father would be speaking to him
about it when they got back home and he looked down at the table, chagrined.
Focus quickly shifted to the comedian who had appeared on stage as the night’s
entertainment. An acquaintance of their father joined them at their table and
his father poured another glass of wine to share with the man. They started
talking, drawing Itachi into the conversation. Mikoto was laughing with another
woman at a rather bawdy joke the entertainer had made, cheeks flushed and lips
stained from the red wine. In fact most of the jokes were targeted for an adult
audience, and the younger guests soon grew impatient and started wandering and
playing together around the darkened hall.
Sasuke slipped away when he thought no one was looking. But Itachi was
watching. He felt sympathy for the boy – he looked completely lost amidst the
loud, drunken voices and age-inappropriate jokes. So he said nothing when
Sasuke slipped out of his seat, sketchbook clutched against his small chest in
search of a brighter area to draw.
That was the last time Itachi saw his little brother.
He lay awake on countless nights after that with that scene playing over again
in his mind’s eye, wishing desperately he could go back and stop the boy from
leaving. Entire days were spent haunted by the image of the neko slipping away
from his seat into an unknown darkness, ears flattened, brow furrowed, eyes
downcast, tiny hands clutching at the tattered book. His heart was left a
broken mess by his decision that night.
After about two hours the audience had risen for a drunken standing ovation and
started mingling to give each other their final goodbyes. The lights came back
on again. Itachi went to look for his brother as he usually did at such events.
He glanced at the kids running and giggling carefree around the hall, but
didn’t see the familiar dark ears and tail among them.
Remembering the direction he had headed in searching for a brighter area,
Itachi walked towards the hallway leading out to the lobby. Guests had started
filing out of the hall into the lobby and Itachi slipped through the gathering
crowd with slowly growing dread that he pushed down.
Dark eyes scanned the crowd and the benches. Across to the coat room. The
revolving doorway. Cold air stung his eyes as he headed outside. His breath
came out in small visible puffs in front of him as he stood at the top of the
stairs outside.
Pages fluttered in the cold wind, graphite etched onto tattered pages. An obi
was caught on the hedges – a beautiful periwinkle shade.
That was all they found of his brother. With his father’s status and his cousin
Shisui’s family’s involvement in the police force, the search for the missing
child was extensive. Street security footage was reviewed. Guests questioned.
Staff detained. Witnesses sought after.
48 hours – he had been told that was the most critical period. His feet were
sore, fingers numb as he circled the hall, looking for something – anything! He
walked in growing concentric circles keenly aware of the minutes passing by as
if a countdown to his execution.
He despised time – passing by him inexorably. He was sinking into a dark place,
pulled down further by each passing minute.
48 hours passed and Itachi sank exhausted, lost, onto the living room floor.
When did he get there? They would continue the search, the police were saying.
Don’t get your hopes up, they were saying. He let the blackness overtake him.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It never got easier. They would tell him it would. But it never did.
He made his feet move, words come out of his mouth. But the entire time his
eyes were looking. Scanning the crowd, each face he came across. Always looking
for his way out of the dark waters in which he lay afloat. There! The swish of
a black tail … but never the one he was looking for. There! Raven locks … but
never the ones that haunted him.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x (end of flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Itachi hadn’t left the hospital since arriving 3 days ago. He had boarded the
first bullet train leaving downtown Tokyo, knowing it was the fastest way to
the outlying, suburban Konoha. Half an hour later he was glaring at the white
door which held the promise of the eyes, ears, smile that he had been looking
for – always looking – these past four years.
They weren’t allowed to go in yet, not until the doctor gave medical clearance.
His parents had confirmed the younger boy’s identity but now they were not
allowing anyone in as he was still in critical condition. Itachi patiently
waited. Others came and went – police, acquaintances, relatives, his father.
Even his mother would go home at times to rest or freshen up. Faces swirled and
passed by him as he continued to wait.
He would dash into the nearby lavatory when unavoidable and race back, heart
pounding and head throbbing, terrified that if he left for too long it would
all disappear. The curtain would be lifted and it would be revealed to have all
been a perverse farce, and he would sink into the memory of soft hair, a tiny
hand in his, black eyes enveloping his world until the darkness was the only
thing left.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The noises came to him first. Beeping, voices talking, footsteps. He tried to
open his eyes, but shut them again at the blinding light that pierced his
tender retinas. He cautiously opened them, slower this time, becoming more
aware of his surroundings.
White walls, a window, sunshine, bright lights. All new, unfamiliar. But no …
not unfamiliar. White sheets and an uncomfortable bed. Machines, a needle in
his arm. A hospital … I’m in a hospital, the battered boy thought blearily.
Inky eyes opened wider as he recalled the events of the last few hours … at
least he thought it was hours. How long had he been here? As he struggled to
sit up a nurse came rushing towards him, worried hands fluttering around him
like birds.
“Don’t push yourself too hard, dear!” She said in a soothing voice as she
helped him to sit up in the bed. “Are you thirsty? Hungry?”
Sasuke shook his head, too dazed to be able to fully process what was
happening. Am I in shock?
“Let me go get the doctor, dear. I’m sure you have a lot of things you’re
wanting to ask about. You just push this button over here if you need anything
at all,” she said, pointing to the red call button on the bed before leaving
the room.
After a moment the doctor came in. She was a big-busted woman with blond hair
and a kind smile. She pulled up a chair to sit by the hospital bed as she
introduced herself to the nervous teenager.
“Hello Sasuke-kun. My name is Tsunade, and I have been in charge of your care
for the past 3 days –“
“3 days?!” Pointy black ears rose up in shock.
“Yes,” the doctor patiently replied, “You have been unconscious for the past 3
days. You must have a lot of questions for me, which I promise I’ll answer. The
police have some questions they need to ask you as well, and then we have
arranged for a recovery program which I will talk to you about when you feel
ready. Of course, your family has been patiently waiting –“
“My family!” The boy cut her off again in his shock. “Are they here? Wait … how
do you know who I am?” Is this really real? Or am I dreaming? He left that
burning question unvoiced.
“The young man that found you and brought you here – he told us your name.” A
strange look flashed across her features. “Even if he hadn’t, we would have
recognized you. Your family has continued to put your picture in ‘missing
child’ posters and milk cartons all these years.”
They’re still looking for me … after all this time? He didn’t know what to make
of this information. Furthermore, he had no idea what he was going to tell
them.
The doctor was asking him about the truth of Neji’s story – he was currently
being detained as a suspect. He shook his head slowly, “He’s telling the truth.
He found me and helped me, that’s all.”
“The police will want to talk to you about that as well … I told them they will
have to wait until I give medical clearance. Physically you’re stable, but …
you’ve been missing for 4 years, and you evidently sustained a significant
amount of physical damage.” She paused, thinking of how to phrase her next
words. Black eyes stared at her blankly, lost in their own inner struggle. She
looked at the small battered boy swathed in white sheets and remembered seeing
his 9-year-old face on her milk carton just last week. He had been smiling then
…
“I am recommending a psychiatrist who has significant experience with childhood
trauma. He has agreed to see you specifically at my request.”
Psychiatrist? Do they think there’s something wrong with me? That look … that
look of pity… Sasuke decided he did not like that look, like one would look at
a wounded animal. That familiar, sweet rage tingled through his veins.
“I don’t want to,” Sasuke gritted out with his jaw clenched. I can take care of
myself! “I don’t need to. I’m fine.”
“Tch,” her eyebrows knitted together, but she was not completely surprised. She
realized this was a touchy subject for most people. Looking at the stubborn set
of the boy’s jaw, with a hard glint in his eyes, arms crossed over his chest
and tail flicking, she decided not to push it.
“You may feel ok now,” she conceded, “but if at any point you change your mind
I will leave you his contact information.”
“Hn,” was his noncommittal reply. Whatever. Just stop looking at me like that,
lady.
“Would you like to see your family now? Or are there any questions you would
like me to address first?”
At this the neko tensed and ears drooped, an anxious look overtaking his
downcast features. What am I supposed to say to them? What are they like now?
Will they be disgusted when they find out everything? … Maybe I don’t need to
tell them … but then what do I tell them …? His thoughts whirled relentlessly
as he stared at the white floor for answers. He vaguely remembered his mother’s
laughter, father’s stern features, his brother’s kind smile … It’s been so long
… will I even recognize them? What if they don’t want me back after they find
out everything…?! In his mind his mother’s laughter turned mocking, father’s
gaze morphed into a disgusted scowl, and Itachi’s smile twisted into a vicious
smirk.
“Sasuke-kun!” Tsunade grabbed the boy’s shoulders as he suddenly hunched
forward, hands gripping the sheets and face drained of colour. “Are you
alright? Are you in pain?” She reached for the IV drip.
“No,” the boy shook his head, “I … I … it’s nothing,” he refused to meet her
gaze. I know she’s looking at me like that again … what if they all look at me
like that? An image flashed through his head of the familiar faces looking at
him like they were supposed to feel sorry for him – he didn’t know which mental
image was worse. “Don’t the police want to see me?” He tried to stall for time.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Well, yes, but they can wait. I think
seeing your family is more important right now.” She paused then, her keen,
experienced eyes taking in the hunched figure in front of her. “Given your
age,” she began, cautiously – she did not want to set him off again and risk
having him close off to her, “I have decided you are competent to make your own
medical decisions, unless I find reason otherwise.” The boy looked up at her,
unsure where she was going with this.
She sighed and plunged forward, “I have disclosed no specific details of my
medical findings to your family. You get to decide how much or how little you
tell them.” She had hit the nail on the head, she could tell, judging by the
boy’s wide eyes and sudden nervous swallow. “Furthermore, I have cautioned them
against asking any prying questions, due to the damage such a line of
questioning could do.” Psychotherapy should only be undertaken by a trained
professional, after all. The potential risk of harm was too great to consider
otherwise. “They’re just happy you’re alive and well, Sasuke-kun,” she
reassured.
Sasuke took in this information as he considered seeing his family again. Of
course, he had dreamed of such a thing for years, but now that he was actually
faced with it …
I don’t have to tell them … but surely they’ll know. How could they not? It’s
obvious, isn’t it?
“You’re such a dirty kitten, Sasuke-kun,” he could hear Orochimaru’s voice
clear as day and resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder. He did not want
them to think he was crazy.
“Won’t the police …?” He didn’t have to finish his question – the perceptive
doctor had anticipated it.
“The details of your case will remain between you and the police, unless you
request otherwise.” She waited expectantly as he stared up at her with
uncertainty and a hint of mistrust. Finally he gave a slight nod and Tsunade
smiled.
“I’ll go get them then,” she said as she walked towards the door.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The hated white door opened again, and Itachi looked at the doctor expectantly.
Shortly before, the nurse had rushed out of the room to get the doctor. Itachi
knew this meant something had happened and he wanted answers.
The blond woman reached over to a switch near the door, and the green ICU sign
turned off.
“He’s awake … and ready to see you. Wait!” She said as Itachi moved immediately
towards the now open doorway, “I will state again that you are not under any
circumstance to pry into the events of his life these past 4 years.” She looked
at Mikoto and Itachi in turn – Fugaku had been called away for one reason or
another, Itachi cared not. “Your only focus needs to be that he is here with
you now.” She moved out of the doorway, letting the two Uchihas inside at last.
Itachi looked at the floor, suddenly afraid to look at the figure on the bed,
What if the eyes-tail-hair-mouth he sought were not really there? What if they
were wrong? Could he take another blow like that?
His mother had no such reservations. “Sasuke!” she breathed and ran to the
figure on the bed. Only then did Itachi look up.
Inky eyes met his. The face was not as he remembered. But it was the same. He
stood there and took in every inch on the figure highlighted by weak rays of
sunlight coming from behind the half-drawn blinds.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
“Sasuke!” He looked up at his mother’s voice, not daring to believe this was
real. His mother – it’s really her! – rushed over and was about to hug him but
hesitated when she saw the bandages and other medical dressings and devices
poking out from under his hospital gown.
Words seemed to be stuck in his throat as he looked at his mother. She had the
same kind smile and gentle eyes, but now they were surrounded by more fine
lines and her eyebrows were drawn in concern.
He swallowed hard and felt the sting of tears starting to form behind his eyes.
He glanced over at the figure standing behind his mother, and his eyes met his
brother’s intense gaze.
Something tightened in his chest as treasured memories flickered through his
hazy mind. A warm hand taking his to lead him through a crowded market square.
Long hair falling through his fingers as he helped his wash his hair in the
bath. Running through the soft grass as his bubbling laughter spilled forth in
endless fields of swaying green and burning fireflies. So much time together …
so much time lost. The years they should have had. What was he like now? Would
he still share whispered secrets under the warm comfort of darkness and a soft
blanket? Would they add to his box of treasured moments?
Realizing he had been staring, he shifted his eyes back to his mother and
forced his heavy tongue to form words.
“Okaasan, Oniisan ...” he managed a small tired smile to let them know he was
ok.
“Sasuke … oh, I’m so glad you’re safe,” Mikoto choked back tears as she
cautiously approached her youngest son, “My baby,” she sniffed as she gently
embraced him. Sasuke accepted her embrace but his own arms lay heavy by his
side as he dazedly lay his head on his mother’s shoulder.
He felt … numb. He thought he would be happy. He had dared to dream of this day
for so long. It was finally happening, yet he couldn’t seem to find the right
emotions – or any emotions, for that matter.
He looked over at his brother – his hero – in the hope that would trigger
something in him. But his mind still felt as if it were in a fog and he was
just a spectator watching some other boy being embraced by his family.
His mother pulled back and Itachi stepped forward and pulled him into a soft
embrace. His jacket smelled of soft, worn leather, coffee, and spice.
“Otouto,” was all he said as he held him there, hospital room forgotten. He
said nothing else as he slowly pulled away. He had always been reserved with
his speech. And nothing needed to be said in that moment. His furrowed brow,
searching eyes, lingering hand in the younger’s hair said enough. Why don’t I
feel anything in return? Sasuke thought with rising panic as he sat there
motionless and mute.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Unsure what to say, Itachi gently took one of Sasuke’s leaden hands as his
mother took the other. Conscious of the doctor’s warning, and of Sasuke’s
silence, his mother was cautious with her words.
“Are you hungry, honey?” A shake of the head. “When you’re feeling a bit
better, why don’t we get something to eat? Or I can make your favourite meal
when you get home … Your room is the same as before …” her voice hitched,
“We’ve missed you so much. Are … is there anything you wanted to talk about?”
At this Sasuke’s hand seemed to tense a bit. “No, there isn’t,” he replied
curtly.
Sensing a shift in the room’s atmosphere, and noticing his brother’s guarded
response, Itachi intervened. “There will be plenty of time to talk later,
Okaasan,” his voice was gentle, eyes fixed on Sasuke even though he was
addressing Mikoto, “We should let Sasuke rest.”
“Of course! You must be tired, honey. Go ahead and rest. Your Oniisan and I
will stay here with you, ok?” Mikoto smiled reassuringly.
Not sure what else to do, Sasuke nodded and lay back against the hospital bed.
Once he did, he realized how tired he really was. He let his heavy eyelids
droop shut, the image of his brother looking at their intertwined hands
carrying him into a dreamless slumber.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Another week passed much the same way. Sasuke would undergo different medical
assessments throughout the day as he recovered from his physical injuries. The
injuries beneath the surface remained untouched. The blond doctor would inquire
daily if he wanted to speak with the psychiatrist, but he declined every time.
The numbness remained. He felt like he was dreaming and nothing was real. His
mother and brother came and went throughout the day but he barely remembered
anything they said. Maybe this is that other world … and when I wake up I’ll be
back at the compound. But his IV line felt real, and the feeling of the needle
the nurse slid into his arm to withdraw some blood. His brother’s arms felt
real, his mother’s warm hands. He wanted it to be real, so badly that panic
would overcome him and he would be left shaking and gasping for breath as the
nurses fluttered around him.
His father’s absence did not go unnoticed by him. That, at least, is realistic.
He came to the hospital once to greet his long-lost son, then stated he had to
leave as he was in the midst of an important campaign. Sasuke tried to care, to
feel the hurt that he should be feeling, but he only felt a distant ache.
The police came too. That day he felt something, sharp and unexpected. He felt
fear.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading! And thank you for your patience while I get through some
of the character-building and world-building. I know we all want to see some
brotherly love! It will be coming! Please review and let me know what you
think, or if you have any suggestions.
***** Chapter 4 *****
Two officers entered the room and introduced themselves as the ones
investigating his disappearance. One was short and burly, and seemed to always
be trying to catch his breath. The other was thinner and taller, with dark
beady eyes set in an unfriendly, sallow face. Sasuke did not like the look of
either of them, instantly mistrusting them. And it’s not just because I don’t
want to talk about this!
His concerns were reinforced when the taller turned to his partner and spoke
something quietly into his ear. The shorter man nodded and left the room,
leaving Sasuke alone with the other officer.
“He’s just gone to get us some coffee,” the man’s attempt at smiling was
horrific.
“Couldn’t you worry about coffee at another time?” Sasuke did not hide his
irritation.
The man didn’t reply, instead sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed and
pulling out a notebook.
“Let’s see … Uchiha Sasuke … reported missing at the age of 9, found four years
later wandering naked several miles out of town.” The man looked up
expectantly, eyebrow arched, ignoring Sasuke’s obvious discomfort at the topic
of conversation. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Sasuke had been dreading this. His tail flicked anxiously behind him as he
thought about what to do. He knew he had to tell them about Orochimaru’s
compound – there were still others trapped there, he couldn’t just leave them
all there. But he didn’t need to tell this man the details about what happened
in that place …
Making up his mind, he took a deep breath to steady his nerves and thought back
to the day it all started…
x-x-x-x-x-x (flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x
The grown-ups are so noisy when they drink that stuff, the little neko thought,
looking in distaste at the glass of wine in his father’s hand. He was speaking
animatedly to another man and had dragged Itachi into the conversation. His
mother was speaking to an old friend nearby.
He fiddled uncomfortably with the obi of his blue yukata. “Periwinkle,” his
mother had said when Sasuke asked what the lovely soft blue-violet colour of
his sash was. He had tried to replicate it with his colouring pencils but
hadn’t found the right combination yet.
He felt more stares in his direction and looked up to glare defiantly at the
elderly couple he found looking in shock at his tail and ears. I have to be
brave, like Niisan said! He didn’t fully understand why people treated him
differently, but knew it had to do with the extra appendages that he had.
The couple shook their heads and finally looked away, and Sasuke’s shoulders
slumped.  He felt exhausted, and the room was too noisy and smelled of perfume
and alcohol, making him slightly dizzy.
He glanced up at his father who was completely immersed in his conversation.
Clutching at the small book hidden against his chest under his yukata, Sasuke
made his way to their table. Taking out the book, he tuned out the room around
him to focus on just the scratch of pencil on paper.
He stopped when he felt the sudden buzz of activity around him and the lights
dimmed. People were making their way back to their seats. He hurriedly tried to
hide the book but was too late – his father’s disapproving gaze had already
caught sight of it. Sasuke knew he was going to be in trouble now when he got
home. They might even take away all his art time! Face red, tail tucked and
tears stinging the back of his eyes, he sat quietly as a man came onto the
stage.
He didn’t understand why everyone found the man on stage so funny. He supposed
it was something only adults understood. Judging from the kids that had grown
restless and began running around and playing at the edge of the hall, they did
not care for the entertainment either.
He chanced a glance up at his parents – they were focused on talking with the
other adults. His aniki noticed him though, but when he looked away without
saying anything Sasuke saw it as permission to slip away from his seat and join
the other kids.
Except he didn’t really want to play with them. They were also too loud, and
Sasuke’s head was starting to hurt. He noticed the room they had entered from
still had lights on so he made his way over to the double doors leading out of
the hall.
Stepping into the lobby, the raucous noise from the hall became a distant roar
as the doors fell shut behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief, but the aching
in his head did not go away. There had just been too much noise, too many
smells, and the prospect of this father’s wrath …
He sought to escape again in his art book. He looked around for a brightly-lit
area, and decided on a bench near the front door with a light right above it.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed. He vaguely noticed the coatroom clerk
leaving to go into one of the dark hallways with a woman from the party. Noise
would occasionally spill out from the double doors as people stumbled out for a
smoke or to disappear into a secluded hallway.
Sasuke’s large dark eyes ignored it all, focusing instead on the graphite lines
in front of him. He barely spared a glance as the bench creaked next to him
under the weight of another person. The neko ignored the newcomer, shoulders
hunched over his book and hand moving frantically across the page as he tried
to release the images in his aching mind onto paper.
His reverie was shattered by the silky voice of the man who had sat next to
him. “You’re quite talented for someone so young. What’s your name?”
Sasuke glanced up at the man that had interrupted his escape. He had premature
white-gray hair in a ponytail and round glasses on his pale face. He was
smiling at the neko but his eyes remained cold.
Niisan says not to talk to strangers, the boy thought as he started to get up.
As if guessing what he was thinking, the man spoke again.
“Please don’t go! I really do like your drawing.” Sasuke blushed at this – he
did not normally get praised like this. “My name is Kabuto,” the man continued
to smile as he spoke, halting Sasuke from leaving, “I thought the party was too
loud, and boring!”
“Me too!” Sasuke blurted out before catching himself. Niisan says not to talk
to strangers. But the party really was boring, and too loud. And if this man
was at the party too, maybe he even knew his father and brother! And he said he
liked his drawings…
Reading his mind again, the man shifted closer, “Can I see more of your
drawings?”
Sasuke could hardly contain his excitement. Someone really wanted to look at
his drawings? His brother and mother would look sometimes, but Sasuke felt they
were just being nice.
So he placed the book on the bench between them and flipped through the pages,
animatedly describing each sketch. The man asked questions about the drawings
and Sasuke’s tail was perky, swishing happily and his face was flushed from
excitement.
When they had gone through all the sketches the man asked again what this
wonderful artist’s name was.
“Sasuke!” the neko stated proudly, blushing and eyes glittering at the
compliment.
“Well, Sasuke …,” his name rolled off the man’s silver tongue like honey, “let
me tell you a secret about myself.” He leaned closer to the captivated boy,
“I’m a bit of an artist myself. I left my sketchbook outside though, I wasn’t
as brave as you to bring it inside. Would you like to go see?”
Niisan says not to talk to strangers.
Curiosity won and Sasuke slowly nodded. After all, he wasn’t really a stranger
anymore, right? Smiling, the man walked over to the entrance. The lobby was
deserted, and it was dark out. The raven-haired boy followed the man out into
the cool night air, small hands clutching his sketchbook tight to his chest.
As the cool air hit him, he suddenly longed for the warmth of indoors. He could
hear cars in the distance, other vague noises drifting through the night air.
The man turned to look at him questioningly in the dim light offered by the
lamps lining the concrete steps.
“What’s wrong, Sasuke? My car is just over there,” he said, pointing to the
dark, crowded parking lot.
But suddenly Sasuke wasn’t sure about being outside alone. The cold night air
had washed away the warmth and certainty he had felt just a moment ago. He
shook his head, “I think I should stay inside.” But as he turned for the door a
hand clamped over his mouth as another grabbed around his waist and lifted him
up.
His first instinct to scream was thwarted by the hand clamped tightly over his
mouth. Dropping his book, he reached both hands up to try to pry the hand off
his face, but the man’s grip was too tight.
“Relax, I’m just going to take you to my car like I said.” Sasuke started to
squirm frantically in the man’s grip as he started walking down the steps.
Panicked tears blurred his vision as his muffled cries faded unheard into the
night.
He desperately clawed at the hands holding him, digging into the man’s flesh as
hard as he could. The man grunted in pain behind him and the hand around
Sasuke’s waist loosened a little. He squirmed and kicked, trying to get out of
the man’s grip.
Suddenly he was dropped to the ground. Not expecting it, he fell hard onto his
knees and tumbled forward on the steps, knees and hands scraping against the
concrete. His pained cry rang out into the darkness. He tried to crawl away
quickly but the man lurched forward and grabbed his obi. The soft sash tore
away easily but halted him long enough for the man to reach him. Before he
could do anything else the man grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up. He
cried out again from the pain and fear, tears streaming down his face. His
scream died into a whimper when the man violently backhanded him, leaving his
vision swimming and his ears ringing. His last sight was of the obi that had
been thrown aside into the bushes by the concrete steps – it had been such a
pretty colour. He had one last thought before blacking out…
Niisan says not to talk to strangers.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x (end of flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x-x
“When I woke up I was in the building that I spent the next four years.” Sasuke
paused as he thought about the compound. It still seemed surreal that he was no
longer there.
“How did you manage to escape? Orochimaru is a very careful man, his security
is flawless.”
Sasuke’s ears twitched as he thought back to the strange apparition – his
Persona – and the twisted amusement park … the shadow Orochimaru …
Suddenly Sasuke’s tail puffed up, growing twice its size as every hair on his
body stood on end.
He had said nothing to the officer about Orochimaru.
Fighting down the chokehold of fear gripping his throat, he slowly turned his
head to look at the man. His sallow face had a vicious look to it as he leaned
forward, “Orochimaru says hello, and that he misses you.”
Eyes wide and hands shaking, Sasuke willed his body to move, but it wouldn’t
listen to his reeling mind. This can’t be happening.
“Just in case you thought you were going to see Orochimaru arrested, he sent me
here to tell you that will not happen,” the man said coldly. “Even if you name
him, it will be pointless. The authorities will investigate the building you
name – and they will find it is empty, an old nursing home perhaps, no longer
in use. No one will believe anything you say after that,” he leaned in close to
the petrified boy, voice dropping to a cruel whisper, “That is what will
happen. That is what always happens.”
He moved away from Sasuke at the sound of the door opening. The second officer
returned with two coffees in hand, chubby face flushed red from exertion and
breathing heavily.
“I … had to … take the stairs…” he panted as he handed a coffee to his
colleague.
“We’ve just finished here,” the taller man’s eyes never left Sasuke as he stood
up to leave. “Sasuke here doesn’t recall anything specific about his kidnapper
or where he was kept. Probably shock…” he took a sip of his coffee, “Right,
Sasuke?”
In Sasuke’s mind he was already back at the compound, lying on his round bed
and staring at the stone walls as he waited to be defiled. Waking up to the
same fate every day with no hope of escape. The scarred man’s twisted smile as
his hand slid between his legs…
No! The warm sensation of rage pulsed through him as he leapt off the bed. Only
then did he realize he was alone in the room. He had not even noticed the two
men leaving.
He was furious with himself. How could he have been so weak as to let that man
get to him like that? He grit his teeth and steeled his resolve.
He would not let Orochimaru or any of the men who had harmed him get away with
what they had done. He thought of the scarred man, whose name he still did not
know, and his final taunt. If he couldn’t get to them through the police force,
he would find another way. He would not leave the other children to their
dismal fates. And he would not let Orochimaru get the better of him again.
He felt a familiar pull as his resolve hardened and the remaining tendrils of
fear lost their grip on his heart. The hospital room seemed to flicker before
Sasuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm the pounding blood in his
body. The air stilled and when he opened his eyes all he saw was the familiar
hospital room.
No carnival. No spectral beings or surreal monsters.
Just the monsters in the real world that wore human faces. But he vowed to take
them down. He would have his vengeance.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
After over a week in the hospital Sasuke was finally allowed to go home. He had
been excited to leave the hospital but grew more apprehensive as he saw his
childhood home. The modest home seemed smaller than he remembered, the rooms
darker. His footsteps echoed in the hallways and a heavy silence hung in the
air. The warmth and comfort he remembered were only in his memories, replaced
by awkward shuffles and uncertain glances.
Not that they didn’t try. His mother’s smile never left her face as she
prepared dinner. She probed for safe topics of conversation as they quietly
ate. But the conversation felt forced to Sasuke. And his father barely said a
word or even glanced at Sasuke. Did he really miss me at all?
His brother, like always, was efficient and to the point. “Now that you’re back
home Sasuke, what would you like to do? You’re only 13 – almost 14 in a few
months. Technically you should still be in school. Of course, it would take a
significant amount of work to get caught up to your peers. Still, if that is
what you want to do then we will do everything we can to help you.”
“Do you mean … go back to school? I don’t know…” Sasuke had not been in a
classroom in four years, since grade four. To go back now seemed so strange. To
have homework and assignments, exams, classmates …
“Itachi, don’t you think it’s too early to be thinking about something like
that?” Mikoto admonished, but Itachi continued, “Your friend Naruto still asks
about you, you know.  He will be glad to see you again.”
That caught Sasuke off guard. That blond idiot …?
Even hours later in the darkness of his room, staring up at his ceiling, Sasuke
felt choked. After all this time, his friend still asked about him … remembered
him. If he saw him again, what would he say? What would he think of him? They
had been bitter rivals when they had met in first grade – the loudmouth had
rubbed Sasuke the wrong way. Yet as they grew older he was glad to have another
neko in the class. Eventually – Sasuke was not exactly sure how or when – they
had become friends. The teasing from the other kids lessened when they saw the
hyperactive blond with Sasuke. And Sasuke found a welcome break from the
rigidity of his home life.
“I … don’t think I would like to go back to school,” he had responded.
“Understandable,” Itachi nodded, “Is there anything else you would like to
pursue? Do you still enjoy art?”
At this Sasuke’s eyes lit up.
“You always loved drawing and painting,” Mikoto laughed, “You always had pencil
smudges and paint all over your face.” The conversation had moved onto
reminiscing about older days, a topic Sasuke found difficult to think about.
Yet it was impossible to avoid – the past was everywhere around him.
The house was largely unchanged from how he remembered it. There were minor
improvements and some furniture had been replaced. The faces in the photos were
older – except his 9-year-old face – but the frames were the same.
His bedroom had been left untouched. Sasuke had walked almost fearfully around
the room, collecting memories. He found his old art supplies, clothing – now
far too small – and collection of comics he would swap with Naruto. He felt at
that moment overwhelmed. How was he supposed to pick up the pieces of his old
life and move forward?
He lay there thinking about his past, his future, as the moonlight streamed
through his open window.
x-x-x-x-x-x
His father was barely around. That hasn’t changed at all. His mother was often
gone as well to tend to various tasks. Itachi would sometimes leave as well to
manage his cafe, but was always home during the evenings and weekends. Sasuke
noticed the strange tension between his father and brother, but didn’t know why
it was there.
At first he did not realize that Itachi had another home. They had not wanted
to overwhelm him. He only found out from a conversation not intended for his
alert, pointed ears.
“Your father is meeting with the CEO of ANB –“
“Do not misunderstand, mother,” Itachi’s level voice had cut in, “I am here for
Sasuke, but do not mistake this as me moving back in or returning home. I have
no intention of doing so. I will remain as long as necessary, but I do not
intend to renege on my previous decisions.”
Oniisan … doesn’t live here anymore? He had found it strange that Itachi had
opened a cafe instead of pursuing a political career – it was completely
against what he had trained for so many years, what their father had wanted…
He felt a moment of panic break through the prevailing numbness he normally
felt. Itachi … will leave eventually… How long would he remain here? How often
would he see him once he left? His questions remained unanswered because he
could not bring himself to ask them. At night when he was sitting next to his
brother quietly watching a movie, he felt his brother’s hand on his but
wondered if he was really there at all.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Several days and nights passed much the same way. His family members carefully
manoeuvred around him as if worried they were not giving him enough space. But
now that he had freedom, Sasuke was uncertain what to do with it. He withdrew
into the solitude of his room, fingers smudged with graphite and face streaked
with drying paint. He lost hours in canvas and brushstrokes, trying to sort out
his new life. When he was sure he was alone he would slip into the shadow
world, determined to learn more about the strange place. The shadows followed
him back into his room and sprang to life on the canvas.
As the edges of his reality blurred, the nightmares started.
He had vivid dreams of being back in captivity, nameless men panting over him.
Their featureless faces morphed and twisted inevitably into the faces of the
men who had captured him and broken him. He would startle awake in a panic,
clothes drenched in sweat. In his panic he didn’t recognize the room he was in
– he was so used to seeing the same room for four years.
Throwing aside the covers and leaping out of the unfamiliar bed, he would
stumble around, collapsing onto his hands and knees as his body wretched and
hyperventilated before realizing where he was.
He was at home.
But then doubt would eat away at the corners of his fraying mind.
The shadow world, Personas – it was too much to believe. Maybe this was all
just his imagination. After all, even now, Orochimaru could still get to him,
couldn’t he? He had officers and God knows who else to do his bidding. How was
it possible he was free? How could all this make sense? He could wake up any
moment now and be back in that stone room. He could feel the lecherous hands on
his body, grabbing and groping and choking –
And he couldn’t breathe. He would crash against the floor, body bruising at the
impact. But it didn’t matter anyway, because any moment now he would wake up.
He didn’t know how long he would lie there, face wet with tears and mind
reeling. But eventually the world slowly lightened as dawn approached. His mind
fell back into a black numbness, exhausted from running in panicked circles and
rejecting all versions of reality it was presented with.
Black eyes spent countless hours staring up at the ceiling, trying to decide if
it was real or imagined.
He would sometimes wonder if he should see the counsellor that the blond doctor
had mentioned – but then would dismiss the thought. He did not want some
stranger in his mind.
During the day it was easier to accept that he was back home and that really
was reality. When he slipped into the shadow world the boundary would blur
again. The worst was at night, when the darkness came alive unopposed.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
After several weeks – he wasn’t sure how many – he decided he wanted to leave
the house. Seeing the same rooms every day felt uncomfortably similar to being
held captive. For a change of pace Itachi suggested seeing his cafe – “I can
make you anything you like,”he had said with a smile. He had also suggested
that Sasuke meet his old friends. Although at first opposed to the idea, Sasuke
knew he could not remain hidden at the house forever.
He now sat at one of the large comfortable booths in Itachi’s cafe, taking in
the busy but relaxed atmosphere and smell of coffee. His brother had been
called away by his staff as soon as they entered, leaving Sasuke to fend for
himself.
After a while Itachi joined him at the table with two steaming mugs. “Try this
– it’s not too sweet so I think you’ll like it.”
Sasuke took a sip of the bittersweet beverage and nodded in appreciation. It
was good! Itachi had added some cinnamon into the steamed milk as he had always
done since they were little, and the familiar flavour brought a smile to
Sasuke’s face.
They sat in silence for a while – so much silence now – with unspoken words
hanging heavy in the air as they waited for Sasuke’s old friend. He could feel
his brother’s gaze on him as he sipped the warm beverage.
“Let me show you the rest of the cafe,” Itachi said abruptly, standing up.
“Bring the drink,” he said as Sasuke was about to place the drink back on the
table.
He showed him the main floor then led him to a spiral wrought-iron staircase in
the back. A second floor?
When they reached the second level Sasuke’s mouth fell open in awe. The loft
was beautiful. Airy, refreshing, and rustic. Sunlight fell freely through huge
windows, filling the large space with natural light. Realization dawned on him
as he noticed an area blocked off by intricate rice paper folding screens – a
bedroom?
“Is this where you live?”
Itachi did not seem surprised, only nodded. He must have known Sasuke overheard
the conversation with their mother. Of course he would know.
“Why did you leave?”
Itachi did not answer his question, instead cutting to his real question. “You
want me to stay.”
Sasuke’s tail flicked in irritation, cheeks reddening. Was he that easy to
read? “I – that’s not –”
“I will not move back, Sasuke.” His voice was quiet. “I do not know how long I
will stay for now, but it will not be long.”
“But why?! Why did you get this cafe, this place?”
Itachi moved to one of the windows and peered outside. “You could stay here, if
you like.”
Sasuke had not expected that. Stay here, with Niisan?
But…
“What about Okaasan and Otousan?” He thought of his mother who had been so
happy to see him again. His father … well, he was still his father, regardless
of anything else. The thought of the two of them living alone at home, growing
old alone, left him feeling sad and guilty.
And angry. Besides, it was Itachi who chose to leave, and he wouldn’t even say
why! Sasuke clenched his hands around his mug and his tail flicked in anger.
“I see,” was the only response his brother gave, and Sasuke glimpsed a small
smile on his face before he looked away towards the window again.
They were interrupted by a text alert message from Itachi’s phone. “Naruto is
downstairs.”
***** Chapter 5 *****
“Naruto is downstairs.”
Itachi looked up from his phone and regarded Sasuke thoughtfully. “We need to
get you a cell phone. How about we go to a few shops today? Unless you would
rather stay here.”
When Sasuke hesitated uncertainly, Itachi added “we could get you some art
supplies to keep here, in case you ever want to come over.” That made up his
mind.
When they went back downstairs to the cafe Sasuke immediately recognized the
blond neko … his first friend.
His fluffy orange tail was larger and bushier than he remembered, the blond
hair surrounding his orange pointed ears slightly longer. But the bright azure
eyes and whiskered face were just as he remembered.
“Sasuke…” The raven was not sure what to expect. There was so much history
between them. Where did he begin? What was Naruto thinking right now?
But the lost years seemed to disappear as a blinding smile spread across the
blond boy’s face. The smile was heartfelt, genuine. Sasuke knew Naruto was not
capable of masking his emotions. The idiot had no guile.
Surprisingly, he felt a small smile on his own face. Naruto’s good nature had
always been infectious – like a disease, he used to tease. In that moment he
felt he would be ok. Somehow, everything would work out.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Itachi made Naruto a drink and left the two of them alone while he prepared the
cafe for his short absence. Unlike his drink with his Itachi moments earlier,
there were no silences this time.
“I knew you would come back, teme! The others may have stopped believing me,
but I always told them you’d be back,” the blond couldn’t stop smiling and
chattered away. “Not that they won’t be happy to see you! Everyone missed you.
Especially Sakura-san. I think she never stopped believing you’d come back
either. Hey, when are you going to come back to school?! I can’t wait to tell
everyone! Or maybe you should just show up and surprise them!” He laughed
mischievously, “Imagine their faces! Except…” his eyes suddenly widened in
horror, “Hey, is it ok if I tell Sakura-san?” He sounded nervous as he
continued, “It’s just that she might kill me if she finds out I knew and didn’t
tell her. And you’ll be seeing everyone soon anyway, so…”
Sasuke managed to get a word in at last, “I won’t be returning to school.”
“What!? Why not?” His face showed genuine shock.
“Tch. I’ve been gone for four years, dobe,” he said the insult affectionately.
“I would need to catch up, and…” he thought of being in a room full of people
whispering about him, rumours, questions. “I just don’t want to deal with it.”
Naruto regarded him quietly for a moment, face downcast and thoughtful, before
a gentle smile broke across his features again. “Well, it’s not like you’re
missing much anyway! Man, you should have seen the last exam we had to do. It’s
inhumane, the things they put us through!”
Sasuke was grateful that Naruto did not push the issue. But then, that was what
he appreciated in Naruto – he always seemed to know what would get to him, and
when to push forward and back away.
They finished their drinks and his friend’s chatter died down when Itachi
approached their table again. The trio walked down the sunny street to the
nearby shopping district.
o-o-o-o-o-o
They spent most of the afternoon making their way through different shops.
Naruto chatted amiably with Sasuke the whole time, and Itachi was grateful the
sociable blond was with them. The air between the two brothers was somehow
uncomfortable, thick. But Sasuke seemed to be relaxed with Naruto, and Itachi
quietly listened to their playful chatter as he followed behind them.
They got a cell phone – Itachi made sure his number was the first one saved on
it, despite Naruto’s loud protests – and made their way to the promised art
store. Sasuke felt like he was in heaven. He wandered through the aisles
oblivious to the world around him. Naruto followed along behind him, obediently
carrying the items Sasuke quietly passed to him. His hands flew along the rows
of shelves, running across rough canvas, feeling the texture of paint as he
rubbed it between his fingers. Through his reverie he did notice Itachi staring
at him a couple of times and blushed when he realized how ridiculous he must
look. They made several trips to the front counter, arms laden with supplies,
as the pile of items gradually grew. The staff helped with the larger items –
canvas, easel. When he was done he looked at the pile and his face flushed red.
He looked at Itachi in embarrassment.
“I think I went overboard. I’ll put some of this back.”
Itachi waved away Sasuke’s concern as he handed over his credit card, “Don’t
worry about it Otouto,” he smiled. “Consider it four years worth of gifts,”
their eyes locked as Sasuke tried to read the expression in his brother’s eyes.
He didn’t know how to respond, but before he could think on it too long Naruto
broke the silence.
“How the hell are we going to carry all this?!”
Looking away, Itachi spoke with the clerk to have everything delivered to the
loft later that week. They left the store in silence, and made their way down
the other side of the street as they headed back to the cafe.
The shadows were starting to lengthen and the spring air had cooled down.
Goosebumps rose on Sasuke’s bare arms and neck – he was only wearing a T-shirt.
“Are you cold, Sasuke?” Itachi reached out to touch his arm gently. His hand
was warm. Itachi’s thumb involuntarily brushed over a pale scar still healing
on his forearm – one of the many he had adorned on his body. Sasuke turned to
look at him and saw the questions in his eyes, the ones he wasn’t ready to
face.
“I’m fine,” Sasuke responded pulling away, and the moment passed. But Naruto
did not believe him. After shouting at Itachi for not getting Sasuke something
warmer to wear, he dragged them into a nearby clothing store where he proceeded
to try to outfit Sasuke.
Despite the dimming light outside, Naruto insisted Sasuke try on the clothes in
the store. Sasuke got the feeling that Naruto did not want the day to end. Too
tired to argue, he obliged and entered the small fitting room.
Naruto gave him two thumbs-up when he re-emerged then handed him the next few
items. After a while Sasuke grew tired of manoeuvring around the small cramped
space over and over again, and just got changed in front of the dressing room
instead. There was no one but his brother and Naruto nearby, after all, and he
had spent most of the past four years in a state of undress.
He pulled the black and white sweater he had tried on over his head and removed
the black jeans Itachi had picked out – no way he was going to let Naruto dress
him, he thought as he looked at the bright orange T-shirt the blonde was trying
to hand him.
When he looked to Itachi for the next item, wearing nothing but his black
boxers, there was a strange look on his brother’s face as he looked at Sasuke’s
bare abdomen. A moment later it was gone, replaced instantly with his brother’s
gentle smile – but perhaps more strained than usual, Sasuke thought.
Every time he glanced over at Itachi after that, he didn’t notice anything
unusual. By the time they left the store, two bags in hand and Sasuke now
wearing a warm jacket, he thought maybe he had just imagined the incident.
And yet…
And yet he knew men. He had seen their most primal side time and again, lying
helpless at their mercy. Pupils dilated, eyes glazed over, lips parted, gaze
distant … he knew that look well.
He shook his head mentally. He must be paranoid. Maybe he was just too used to
being seen in a certain manner. He decided that must be the reason. He was
obviously the messed up one.
Wasn’t he?
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Itachi shifted uncomfortably on the sofa-turned-futon. He insisted Sasuke take
his bed while he slept on the fold-out couch, and he tried to blame the
unfamiliar surface for his sleeplessness.
When they had returned to the cafe it was dark out and Itachi decided it was
too late to head home on the train and that they would return in the morning.
They had another round of warm beverages while they waited for Naruto’s
godfather to pick him up, then said their farewells.
Now lying in the darkness, Itachi was still shaken from the emotions that had
overwhelmed him earlier. He had watched his little brother surreptitiously all
afternoon, noticing his mannerisms and enjoying watching his animated facial
expressions.
And the way the bright afternoon light fell on his sharp, angular features. The
tiny neko had grown so much, but his thick eyelashes still cast shadows onto
his high cheekbones just as Itachi remembered. Every time his ebony eyes
glanced back at Itachi, pink lips shaping words, he would have to look away. He
had watched the movement of his brother’s slender wrist as his hand ran across
shelves of canvas and brushes, forgotten paint smearing into his soft hair as
he pushed the bangs out of his eyes.
When he saw him at the clothing store, he noticed the faint bruises and scars
still visible on his little brother’s pale skin. He also noticed that his
shoulders were broader, the lines of his hips were well-defined, and the curve
of his back and bend of his tail at the tailbone. His hair looked so dark
against his skin.
He could no longer ignore the emotions flooding through him. Itachi shifted
again on the futon. He had thought it was a phase, was certain it would pass,
but now he was no longer certain.
o-o-o-o-o-o
He had always been exceptionally fond of the like neko, of course. Ever since
the boy was born, Itachi had spent the hours outside of school and homework
with his younger brother, watching with fascination and tenderness as the boy
grew. He helped his mother tend to the infant, eventually becoming able to
feed, bathe and care for him independently. He did not realize at the time how
much he was affected in knowing the boy was completely dependent on him.
His capability came as no surprise to his parents – he was a quick learner,
after all, a prodigy some whispered. At age 3 he was able to read and write and
was enrolled in an academic prep program where he quickly advanced past the
other, older, children. At age 5, when Sasuke was born, he had already been
advanced into grade 3.
His father’s ambitions for him were no secret. He longed to see his son’s full
potential achieved and was already grooming him for a political career, to
follow in his footsteps – and surpass him, bringing honour to their family
name. Though well-known in the political sphere, Uchiha Fugaku had not achieved
the sway and renown he hoped for his family. Those hopes now rested on the
shoulders of his eldest son – who was well aware of this burden, though he
never spoke in opposition to the family patriarch.
Fugaku did not allow Itachi to unnecessarily take time away from his studies to
tend to the needy infant. So instead Itachi became more efficient, focusing
more intently on finishing his work so he could have extra time to spend with
the bubbly neko. But slowly this time started filling up with dinners and other
private events that Fugaku would drag him to in order to show him off to his
political peers and rivals alike – and to familiarize Itachi with key political
figures.
Even so, Itachi grew inexorably closer to the little boy, drawn in by the
gravitation pull of those dark eyes brimming with emotion, so different from
his own.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o (flashback) o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Rushing through the kitchen, Mikoto did not see the stuffed green dinosaur
lying innocently in her path. Cursing as her foot landed on the treacherous
plushie, she was able to regain her balance before falling, but the bowl of
fruit salad she was taking to the fridge was not so fortunate. The ceramic dish
slipped out of her grasping fingers and shattered as it hit the tiled floor,
sending sharp shards and fruit flying across the floor – and splattering over
her rose and cream coloured silk kimono. She cried out, “Sasuke, how many times
do I have to tell you to put away your toys?!” She glimpsed a pair of wide,
dark eyes and at the top of the stairs before they disappeared with a squeak
and pattering of soft feet.
Sighing, she looked down at the now-ruined kimono. It had been a lovely design,
cream orchids on a rose background. She had been torn between it and a bolder,
modern kimono in scarlet and black abstract. Fugaku had leaned toward the more
traditional design for the afternoon gathering. Looking at it now, Mikoto
thought it was a bit old-fashioned and she was looking forward to trying on the
scarlet piece. She glanced at the clock – quarter past three, which meant she
had thirty minutes to clean the mess on the floor, change into her other
kimono, and get Sasuke washed and dressed – an impossible set of tasks even for
someone as proficient as her.
“Itachi!” She would need to enlist the help of the elder son who, at 10 years
old, was much more capable than others his age. His small frame appeared at the
entrance to the kitchen, dark eyes calmly taking in the scene in front of him.
“Itachi, could you get Sasuke ready while I clean up here?” He nodded his
assent and headed up the stairs as Mikoto carefully made her way through the
ceramic minefield to the get the broom.
Itachi pushed open the door to Sasuke’s room and peered inside, but his brother
was nowhere to be seen. “Otouto?” He called gently, thinking – correctly – that
Sasuke was worried about being in trouble. His only reply was the sound of his
mother sweeping the broken ceramic in the kitchen. As he turned to leave,
however, a soft shuffling from the closet caught his attention. He stepped
quietly into the room and made his way to the closet, carefully stepping over
the toys and markers littered across the floor.
Sliding open the closet door, he saw a telltale black tail peeking out from
under a bunched up quilt. Lifting it up, he found Sasuke curled up underneath,
tiny arms wrapped around his knees. He looked up at his brother, tears brimming
in his ebony eyes and clinging to his thick lashes. His face was pale and
distressed amidst the shock of his raven spikes and pointed black ears.
“Otouto, let’s go get ready for the party,” Itachi reached toward the huddled
figure who shook his head furiously. Crouching down, Itachi smiled gently at
the small child. “Tell me what’s wrong, Otouto.”
The neko’s ears flattened against the top of his head, tail flicking and plump
pink lips trembling. “Kaasan is upset…” his large eyes shimmered with unshed
tears as his voice hitched with emotion. Itachi chuckled and knelt down,
“Foolish Otouto,” dark eyes glared up at him, hurt. “Don’t you think it’s
better to apologize than to try to hide? Why don’t you come out so we can get
ready and you can go talk to Okaasan about it afterwards?”
Eyes lowered and tail tucked, Sasuke crawled out of the closet and followed his
brother to the spacious bathroom. Warm oak panels ran the entire length of the
room, and in-floor heating warmed their feet. Their cozy house was not
extravagant, but their mother had wanted to invest in a few luxuries – the
bathrooms were one of them.
In one corner the floor sloped slightly underneath a large showerhead to a
small drain placed in the white and blue mosaic floor. Next to the open shower
was a large wooden bath where the boys had spent many hours soaking and
splashing happily in scented baths. Frosted, coloured glass windows were set
high into the walls, letting the sunlight dance colourfully across the warmly
lit room.
Taking off his own clothes so they would not get wet, Itachi turned on the
shower and let the water warm up as he took in the sight of the subdued
toddler. Fruit salad had not been the best idea for a snack for the boy – there
was more of the salad on his body than in his belly. Bits of fruit and fruit
juice stuck to Sasuke’s face, his chubby fingers, and his clothing. Some had
even found its way into his hair.
He helped his brother out of his sticky clothes and directed him to the shower.
As he ran his fingers through the silky spikes of his brother’s hair, his
Otouto sought reassurance that their mother was not hurt and not too upset.
Itachi soothed his concerns as he always did while he finished helping the
younger wash up, hands lathering cardamom-scented soap over his soft, supple
skin. The boy’s soapy body brushed against him and Itachi felt a foreign
sensation deep in his belly. As he ran his hands across his brother’s round
backside and down his thighs, the feeling intensified and he pulled his hands
away sharply, uncomfortable with the unknown sensation. His brother looked up
at him questioningly. Itachi shook himself mentally, blaming the hot air for
his shallow breathing, and then the feeling was gone.
Once they were finished, Itachi grabbed two thick white towels from the small
linen closet and wrapped one around his brother before towelling himself off.
The room was misty with steam, making the coloured light dance dazzlingly in
the neko’s wet hair as drops of water clung to his now rosy skin. As he dried
him off, Itachi could not help but revel in how adorable he looked coddled in
the soft oversized towel, small black tail poking out the edge.
As Itachi put his clothes back on and they made their way to Sasuke’s room, the
younger chattered away excitedly about the party, his pending confrontation
with their mother seemingly washed away in the shower with Itachi’s
reassurances. Sasuke had heard some of his friends from kindergarten would be
at the gathering, he exclaimed as he followed behind his brother, towel
dragging behind him. He was also excited because their father normally would
only take Itachi to such events.
Itachi asked what yukata Sasuke wanted to wear as they viewed the selection in
his closet. The neko eyed his brother’s outfit – a simple silk piece, light and
flowing in black with a red obi. Sasuke’s own options were much more colourful,
a testament to the hours spent tagging along – (being dragged along) – with
their mother as she shopped. Itachi was glad Sasuke did not have something so
sombre to wear – the brighter colours better suited the lively eyes and playful
tail of his little brother.
His yukatas had all been modified to accommodate his tail. The first time he
had worn one he had gotten so agitated with his tail being stuck under the
fabric that he had wriggled his way out of the constraining, offending
material. He had refused to put it back on, stubborn face flushed with anger,
electing to instead run around in his underwear at their relative’s wedding
anniversary. Since then Itachi had always cut a small hole beneath the wide obi
to let his tail out.
Sasuke chose a creamy yellow-coloured cotton yukata with a baby blue sash.
Itachi helped him put it on and tie the obi properly, smiling when his brother
giggled that it tickled when he touched his tail. Grinning, Itachi continued to
tickle him, liking the feeling of having control over how his brother’s body
reacted, and there was that strange feeling again…
He heard the sound of the front door downstairs opening, and their father’s
voice reached them, alerting them that it was time to go.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Perhaps a bright yukata showcasing his brother’s cute tail was not the best
idea, Itachi mused. Sasuke’s ears were pressed flat against his hair, eyes
downcast as he picked up on the murmurs that accompanied them as they made
their way from their host’s grand entranceway through the living room. Brightly
coloured kimonos and more sombre yukatas adorned the guests mingling in the
lavish rooms. Servers wove through the guests offering hors d’oeuvres, drinks,
and other refreshments to the political elites, would-be’s and bootlickers
alike.
“My goodness, to think they would allow one of those creatures in…”
You’re a far more unsightly beast.
“Look at that tail! Why did he purposely leave it sticking out of his clothes
like that? How repulsive…”
You stare but you don’t see his gentle heart. You don’t deserve to.
“I feel bad for the poor family. What are they supposed to do?”
I care for him not because I am obligated to. He is mine to care for.
Other thoughts regarding the neko were not spoken aloud, yet communicated
through lascivious glances.
You will not harm him. I will not let you. He is mine to protect.
Thoughts whirling behind a calm face, Itachi politely excused himself from his
parents and the mayor of a neighbouring town who were currently exchanging
pleasantries. Taking Sasuke’s smaller hand, he led him into the large,
landscaped backyard where he had spotted some other kids running around
playing. But the younger only tightened his grip on his brother, looking up
with pleading eyes.
“Can I stay with you aniki?”
Itachi gently poked his forehead, “Another time, Sasuke,” and nudged him toward
the other children. At first he just stood his ground with arms crossed and a
stubborn pout, but soon he was leaping barefoot through the lush grass and
flowerbeds, worries and whispers forgotten. Satisfied, Itachi turned to go back
inside and resume acquainting himself with the vicious beings wearing their
silk and their smiles – as was expected of him.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The party petered out as guests started making their way home, the sun low in
the summer sky. Those remaining grew more raucous as they indulged in one too
many free cocktails and some slipped away into empty rooms and dark corridors
to further acquaint themselves with one another. Fugaku and Mikoto went to take
their leave from their host as Itachi went to fetch Sasuke.
The boy’s friends had left but he was still dancing and twirling around, lost
in his own games. His yukata had slipped off one pale shoulder and his face was
flushed in the late evening sun. Itachi noted how light he was on his feet,
nimble for a 5-year-old. Sasuke suddenly somersaulted – undoubtedly dodging an
attack from an imaginary foe – and landed with his back against a tree and feet
in the air, the buttery yukata sliding down to reveal creamy thighs and cute
white boxers.
As Itachi watched him he felt the strange sensation again, low in his belly,
and had an uncomfortable notion what it may be. He quelled the feeling and made
a mental note to re-evaluate it later as he made his way to the toddler now
kicking his legs in the air as he tried to straighten himself.
As he stepped forward a movement out of the corner of his eye stopped him. A
man was seated on a secluded bench surrounded by tall hedges – view blocked
from the house but with a clear view to where the children had been playing.
There were several empty cups carelessly tossed onto the ground next to him,
his face was flushed and panting as he held up his phone with one hand –
pointed toward his brother – and with the other hand lower down where his pants
lay unbuckled and open, slowly stroking his erection.
Moving quickly before the man had a chance to react, Itachi ran towards him and
snatched the phone out of his hand. The drunken man startled, “What the hell do
you think you’re doing?” Itachi threw the phone against the nearby fountain so
hard the screen cracked before falling into the water. “I would have gotten
good money for that,” that man slurred. He didn’t seem upset about his phone,
nor embarrassed about the erection that he continued to stroke, eyes now fixed
on the furious ten-year-old.
The world pulsed as Itachi saw red. His head was pounding as he thought of the
vicious whispers, the stares directed at the little boy. The only thing that
mattered in that moment was his brother. He barely noticed as a voice
reverberated in the air around him – through him.
“Your path is clear.” He knew the voice’s name, somehow. Susanoo. The world
dimmed around him and the man turned into nothing more than a shadow. A hand
struck out, crushing the life out of the shadow.
Itachi blinked and the world suddenly returned to normal. He would have thought
nothing at all had happened, except…
The man was now lying limply against the bench, hand still gripping his now-
flaccid cock. His chest rose and fell as he continued to breath, but his eyes
were wide open, unblinking, unseeing. He lay there motionless as Itachi took an
uncertain step backwards.
Itachi’s only thought was to get his brother out of there. He rushed toward his
little brother – currently trying (and failing) to climb the tree he had fallen
against – making sure to block the man from his line of sight.
As soon as Sasuke saw Itachi he rushed over and Itachi caught him in his arms,
holding him tight. He carried him back into the house, face nestled into the
crook of his little neck, savouring the sweet smell of his sweat, the cardamom
shampoo, and fresh grass. Sasuke chattered away in his brother’s arms, relaying
the games and adventures of the day, oblivious to everything other than his
brother’s strong arms around him.
***** Chapter 6 *****
After reflection, research, time, and some discussion and exploration with his
cousin, Itachi made several conclusions about the occurrences of that day. The
first was a confirmation of what he already knew – that nekos were severely
discriminated against.
“It’s just always been that way, as far as I can remember. I never really
thought too much of it,” his curly-haired cousin mused. They were sitting in
Itachi’s room, window open to let in the cool breeze. The curtains fluttered
around his cousin’s larger, lean body where it was perched on the windowsill.
Itachi sat on his futon, back against the wall and looking up as his cousin
continued, “I suppose it becomes different when someone you know is affected …
I’ve seen some nekos treated pretty badly at school – and not just by students,
but teachers too.”
“People fear what they do not understand, and prey on differences, especially
those that are visible. That is not surprising, Shisui,” Itachi replied. “But
for it to continue in this way for so long … there are no efforts being made to
address this discrimination. This is what I find problematic.”
“Are you worried about Sasuke?”
“Of course.” Why ask when you already know the answer?
“What can kids like us do about it? You’re only 10 and I just turned 13 … we’re
not supposed to worry about stuff like this,” Shisui shook his head with a
smile, “But it’s always been this way with you, hasn’t it? No chance of being a
normal kid with you.”
“Your perception of normal is subjective. There are many children our age who
are under much more strenuous conditions, and have no choice but to worry.”
Shisui sighed and smiled in resignation at the younger boy. “That doesn’t mean
you should have to … I don’t want you to have to –” he shook his head abruptly,
“Never mind. If you want to try to change the world then I’ll help you,” he
chuckled.
The second observation he made from the events of that day was more disturbing.
“My father says there’s a huge underground flesh market for nekos,” Shisui said
in a low whisper when Itachi told him about the man with the phone recording
his brother. “That probably goes for underage neko porn too.”
Although disturbing, Itachi was not completely surprised. He understood the
mechanisms of intercourse and principles of human sexuality, including the
darker aspects. He also knew from Shisui’s father’s involvement in the police
force the large numbers of children that became targets of abuse. He just had
never been confronted with the jarring possibility of his brother being a
target.
But Itachi found the third observation he made from that day even more
alarming.
He had tried to dismiss the unusual sensations low in his abdomen, but he soon
noticed a pattern as his body continued to mature, and crippling realization
dawned on him. When he would now bathe with his little brother, his eyes roamed
over the pale, lithe body and plump pink lips, and he would feel an almost
painful pressure in his groin. Sasuke’s splashing and playing in the water
often resulted in their soapy bodies brushing together. When one day this
produced an erection in the elder, he decided they would no longer have baths
together. Although upset at first, Sasuke was appeased when Itachi agreed to
keep him company outside the tub, fully clothed.
Convincing the little raven to sleep in his own bed was much more difficult.
They had been falling asleep huddled together since Sasuke was a baby, when
Itachi would help bathe the boy then rock him to sleep. Itachi himself would be
lulled to sleep by the sound of the boy’s steady breathing, damp hair and
kitten ears pressed against his shoulder, and the chubby fingers gripping his
shirt. Eventually Itachi found it difficult to fall asleep in the absence of
his brother’s warmth. Sometimes his mother rocked Sasuke to sleep, or the boy
would pass out in the middle of playing and be taken to his own room. Itachi
would lay in his comfortable, empty bed, wishing Sasuke were there to toss and
turn and kick him in his sleep.
Even now, at age 11, Itachi always looked forward to hearing the patter of tiny
feet as Sasuke ran to his brother’s room at night. Sometimes he would find a
soft, warm lump under the covers, tiny tail or pointy ears poking out, if he
was out late accompanying his father or studying. The two would share whispered
stories and secrets under the warm covers of the small bed, their breath
mingling in the safety of each other’s arms until sleep claimed them.
He had hoped Sasuke’s pyjamas would be enough to prevent any unwanted reactions
from his body. So far he only got aroused at the sight or feel of creamy bare
flesh. But his slumbering mind was treacherous. His hands found their way under
the boy’s shirt to the soft curve of his waist as his erection pressed into the
warm bundle next to him. Through the haze of sleep, tormented lust, and
Sasuke’s tiny breaths he pressed his mouth against the parted lips next to his.
As he stole his first kiss, he decided they could no longer share the same bed.
Sasuke’s tantrum lasted weeks in response to Itachi’s decision. At first he was
only upset with Itachi, but when his mother agreed that Sasuke was getting too
old to be sleeping in his brother’s bed, Sasuke grew upset with everyone.
Several times during those weeks Itachi almost caved to the boys cries and
sobbing pleas. But he held fast, and there was no way Sasuke could remain upset
with his aniki. Eventually he accepted Itachi’s decision, and coveted the time
that they could spend together.
The insomnia never went away with time. Itachi would stare up at the ceiling
most of the night and eventually sink into a meditative trance before claiming
a few hours of dreamless sleep. Then the cold dawn would quickly come to remind
him he was alone.
o-o-o-o-o-o
The knowledge that he was sexually attracted to his younger sibling was
debilitating. He recalled the man masturbating to his little brother and felt
waves of disgust overtake him. He would spend hours at the library in the
medical and psychiatric sections trying to find answers for his perverse
attraction – and possible cures, but that was fruitless. Was he a pedophile?
No, he felt no attraction to other children, never mind the fact that he was
still technically a child himself. Was he homosexual?  Possibly, although he
did not feel so strongly about any other male or female in his life. Did he
have a fetish for incest? No, he tried to consider Shisui and other family
members in the same way but felt nothing particularly appealing. He even
experimented with Shisui. Although he cared for his cousin and the experience
was pleasurable, only his brother evoked the burning attraction that left him
breathless.
He spent months trying to quell his emotions, deny this reality, going through
cycles of self-loathing and disgust. Yet he was still attracted to his now 6-
year-old brother, making him no different from the man in the garden – but only
if he acted on it, he concluded. He tried to put space between them, both
physical and emotional. But after months of this, his feelings for his brother
had not changed – if anything, they had become stronger. Distancing himself
from Sasuke was obviously not helping – and was hurting the younger boy, whose
lips trembled with the sharp sting of rejection. Itachi eventually decided this
was likely a pubescent phase that he would eventually grow out of. He could
continue interacting with his brother. As long as he did not act on his
impulses there was no cause for concern.
o-o-o-o-o-o
The last observation Itachi made from the events of that day changed his and
Shisui’s lives forever.
Their parents were shocked to learn that a man had been found comatose after
the party. He had been rushed to the hospital when he was discovered by a
groundskeeper that night, but he remained in a vegetative state with no signs
of recovery. After several days, the few sparks of electricity left in his
brain, keeping him alive, finally fizzled out.
When he told Shisui about the voice that had echoed around him and reached out
to kill the shadow of the man in front of him, he had not believed him.
Although it was unusual for Itachi to do so, Shisui was convinced that his
younger cousin was trying to play a prank on him.
But as he looked at the younger boy’s serious eyes, no sign of deception in the
dark depths, he suddenly felt uncertain.
Itachi decided that the best way to discern the truth of the matter was to try
to replicate the event. He thought of what he had seen and heard, and focused
on the emotions he felt that day. After several hours the world shifted around
him and he came face-to-face with the figure he knew as Susanoo, confirming
that he had not been hallucinating.
Would Shisui be able to see it as well? He shifted into that darker version of
reality with Shisui by his side, and Shisui was pulled in alongside him. His
cousin’s face had paled in shock as the world dissolved around them and he saw
the ghostly apparition. But he quickly recovered. Shisui was nothing if not
bold. Real world or not, he was eager to explore, and it wasn’t long before
another shadowy figure appeared, reflecting Shisui’s determined, daring eyes.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o (end of flashback) o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Itachi woke suddenly from his troubled sleep. What had woken him? There were no
noises from the cafe underneath them – the concrete structure of the building
kept noise from coming up into the loft.
He heard a muffled thud from toward the bed where Sasuke lay. Pushing aside his
covers, he quickly rushed to his brother.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
They were coming for him.
He writhed under the soft unfamiliar covers, trying to crawl away from the
hands he felt on his body and the voices in his head. Stumbling out of the bed
he bumped into the night table and collapsed onto the hard floor.
He heard steps approaching and then he heard his brother’s voice – or was he
just imagining it?
Then he felt warm callused hands on him. Curling in on himself, tail tucked
tightly against his body and ears flat, he begged for them to stop. The hands
felt even more real this time. They were running through his hair, then on his
shoulders as he was pulled up off the ground. He pulled against them – he would
be punished for struggling, but he couldn’t handle this anymore…
When he slowly became aware of his surroundings he was sitting on the hard
floor held in a warm embrace, a hand stroking his hair. His face was wet, cheek
pressed to his brother’s chest as his long hair cascaded around him like a
blanket.
Was this real?
Yes, it has to be, he thought, hesmellsreal. Sharp spice, musky leather, and
bitter coffee beans.
His voice was hoarse, a croak. “Aniki?”
The chest under his cheek rose and fell in a deep sigh and the arms around him
loosened. He felt his brother’s deep voice rumble from his chest as he spoke
into Sasuke’s hair, “Sasuke … are you alright, Otouto?”
His breath felt warm in his hair, and the rumble of his voice vibrated against
Sasuke’s cheek. He feels real. He gripped Itachi’s shirt in his hand, willing
him to be real.
He peered up with wild eyes into the familiar face that he had known all his
life. In the dim light his eyes looked like dark pools in his pale face. The
worry in his eyes spread down into the grooves etched deep onto his face.
Suddenly the moon broke through the clouds and shone brightly into the loft.
Itachi’s skin seemed to glow in the moonlight while his dark hair fell in
rippling waves around them.
Sasuke let go of his shirt and reached up to touch his face. Please be real.
His fingers pressed into the soft skin of his cheek. He could feel the warm
flesh underneath his shaking fingers, but to his tired, watery eyes Itachi’s
face looking surreal in the moonlight – glowing too bright and growing blurry
like a dream sequence.
Please be real. Had he spoken the words aloud? He wasn’t sure, but he
registered the familiar words and his brother’s voice, foolish Otouto, as his
arms tightened around him and his lips pressed against his forehead. He felt
words murmured into his hair, of course I’m real, this is real, you’re safe.
Sasuke wanted to believe it so badly – that it was his brother holding him, not
one of the men in his nightmares. But his mind was in chaos and the memory of
rough hands came to life, grabbing at him again, gripping and choking him, and
he couldn’t discern what was real anymore. He felt if he gave in to the hands
clawing at him he would wake up and his brother would disappear.
He pressed further into the warmth around him, willing it to overpower the
other sensations. He needed the uncertainty in his mind to be gone. He could
hear Itachi’s heart beating, feel his chest rise and fall. His hands made
soothing circles on his back, and his warm lips burned away the shadows with
whispered words. The feeling of those very real lips sent a shiver down his
spine. Desperately wanting to drown out his other senses, Sasuke turned his
head and caught his brother’s mouth hard against his own. As he pressed into
him he focused on the burning sensation on his lips and the warmth of Itachi’s
arms circled tightly around him.
Too soon Itachi pulled away. The desperate look in his eyes – reflecting
Sasuke’s own – disappeared, and Sasuke registered the shocked look on his
brother’s horrified face.
Hypocrite, a voice inside him whispered. He remembered the look in his
brother’s eyes at the clothing store. He was still just a man, after all. All
men have their desires.
Sasuke whimpered at the loss of contact as his brother pushed away. He sat
frozen, holding Sasuke at arm’s length as they stared at one another. The
distance between them was too much. Sasuke wanted to feel the warmth of his
body again, like when they were little. He pushed towards him but Itachi held
firm and made to stand up and leave.
Please! It was a desperate plea. Don’t leave me. Itachi hesitated only a
moment, then he was pressed against his chest again, rocking gently until the
morning finally came.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When Sasuke awoke he was back in his brother’s bed. The loft was quiet, but he
could make out faint sounds drifting in from an open window. As he sat up he
recalled the panic and terror from the night before. He felt his lips – they
felt tender and swollen. He got up and made his way out into the empty loft. He
found a note on the kitchen table from Itachi. Had to leave early. Help
yourself to breakfast downstairs. Mother will be picking you up at 10. He
looked at the clock – he had about an hour.
He was a mess, he realized as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. His
cheeks were red and chapped, eyes swollen, lips bruised, and hair in disarray.
He pressed his fingers hard against his lips. The pressure made the tender
flesh throb painfully, slicing through his numbness.
He really had kissed him, hadn’t he? As he splashed cold water on his face he
thought about why he wasn’t bothered by that. And why his lips were more
swollen than one kiss could account for.
He showered and got dressed then headed downstairs, but paused in the dark
hallway leading from the stairs to the cafe. He heard voices coming from one of
the normally locked rooms that Sasuke had assumed was an office. The door was
slightly open, and Sasuke was curious as to who Itachi would allow back here
into the private portion of the building.
“If we target him now we run the risk of getting caught. We would need to get
close to him, which is too risky right now.” Sasuke peered into the dark room
and saw three shadowy figures, but it was too dark to make out their features.
“But we’re running out of time. We need to act soon before –” the voice cut off
abruptly as one of the shadowy figures saw Sasuke’s face peering into the crack
of the doorway. Sasuke turned around and reached for the door handle into the
cafe, but wasn’t quick enough.
“Relax, kid. If we were worried about being overheard we would have closed the
door.”
Sasuke turned around to look at the speaker. He had bright red hair and
flawless features. He wore a simple black T-shirt and black denim, but the
simple outfit looked stunning on him. Sasuke glared at the beautiful man who
regarded him with an amused look on his face.
“He said relax, kid. We’re not upset at you for eavesdropping.” A new voice
said.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” Sasuke’s eyes narrowed in angry defiance, “You were
talking so loudly it was impossible not to hear you.” He looked at the tattooed
man that had joined them. The man was absurdly tall and muscular, with so many
tattoos his skin looked almost blue in the dim light. Following just behind him
was another man, slender body accentuated by his tight clothing and long blond
hair that was up in a half-ponytail.
“Who are you, anyway?” Who would Itachi let back here, he wondered.
“Friends of Itachi,” the tattooed man replied.
Sasuke’s curiosity was piqued. These were Itachi’s friends? He had never met
any of his brother’s friends before. He had often seen Itachi with Shisui when
they were younger and knew they had been close, but he was their cousin. And
after Shisui passed away, he had never seen Itachi spending time with anyone
else.
Yet here stood his self-proclaimed friends. He knew nothing about his brother,
he realized. Who was he really? What made him angry, happy? Did he have a
girlfriend, a boyfriend? Sasuke’s lips throbbed. He wondered who his brother’s
first kiss had been. Sasuke thought of his first kiss, forced on him – the
scarred priest, the highest bidder. What did his brother think of him now?
He felt alone as he thought about the mystery that was his brother. But more
than that, he suddenly felt determined to bridge the gap between them, to know
the man his brother had become. They had been so close once…
He looked at the three men, ears twisted forward in curiosity. These men
probably knew Itachi better than he did at the moment. He was determined to
change that.
“What are you doing back here, anyway,” he probed.
The tattooed man shrugged, “Itachi lets us use these rooms to meet up.” He
peered at Sasuke in the dimly lit hallway, “You’re his kid brother, right? …
What’s your name again?”
“Sasuke,” he gritted out. Had his brother ever even mentioned him to these
friends?
“Sasuke … yeah, I think I remember him mentioning you once before,” the blond
man said with a glint in his eyes. “Nah, come to think of it, it was probably
just one of those missing kid posters.”
“Itachi’s never mentioned you before,” Sasuke retorted.
“Well, you haven’t exactly been around, have you?” The blonde’s voice were
derisive, his eyes full of disdain as he smiled viciously.
Sasuke bristled at that. What was with this guy?! He clenched his fists as he
felt his blood pounding in his head.
“Deidara, leave the kid alone.” The redhead spoke suddenly. The blond man only
snorted, then brushed past Sasuke into the cafe.
“You look a lot like Itachi,” the tattooed man was laughing, “and Deidara
doesn’t get along with Itachi … this could get interesting.” He moved towards
the door, following the blond man. “I’m Kisame, by the way … seeing as how
Itachi’s never mentioned us before.” His laughter faded into the cafe.
Sasuke turned his glare onto the redhead, tail flaring, daring him to mock him
too. But the man only sighed, his face impassive as he looked at Sasuke. “Don’t
worry about them, kid. Kisame means well, and Deidara … well, Deidara’s
behaviour concerns Itachi, not you. Don’t take it personally.”
“Itachi is my brother. It doesn’t get much more personal than that.”
The redhead shook his head, “Just don’t let it get to you.” Sasuke didn’t
respond. “He did talk about you, you know,” the man said suddenly, “Your
brother.” He stepped closer to Sasuke, eyes squinting slightly in the gloom.
“He kept putting up those posters. He never stopped looking for you.”
Sasuke was stunned. He didn’t know what to say. Was this man telling the truth?
Niisan…
“I’m glad to finally meet you. I’m Sasori.” The redhead was suddenly very close
to Sasuke. “I heard you’re an artist. Deidara and I are too. I’m sure once he
gets to know you, you’ll get along fine.”
How did this man know so much about him? “How do you know my brother, anyway?
And if that guy has a problem with my brother, why is he here?”
Sasori smiled down at the neko. “We’re involved in a project of sorts.
Deidara’s only recently just met him. Your brother … doesn’t always make the
most pleasant first impression, as I’m sure you can understand. But Kisame and
I have known Itachi for a few years now.”
A few years...?
“How many years?”
He didn’t have to answer his questions, Sasuke knew. But for some reason the
redhead stayed there in the darkened hallway and didn’t object to any of his
inquiries. He gave Sasuke a cautious look as he answered. “About four years
ago.”
Four years ago.
What had happened to Itachi after he was kidnapped? He suddenly met these
people, then a year later he opened this cafe and left home.
“So you … you already knew him when he opened this place?”
The redhead was perceptive enough to see through to his real question.
“Itachi’s reasons for opening this cafe are his alone. I can’t give you those
answers.”
“Well, it was worth a try.”
Sasori’s face broke out into an amused smile as he suddenly laughed. “It was a
good try.” He agreed, as he regarded Sasuke with amusement lingering in his
eyes. “You’re nothing like your brother, you know? I’m kind of glad about
that.”
With that strange statement the redhead walked out into the cafe, leaving
Sasuke with more questions than he had started with.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sasuke spent the next few days travelling back and forth between their family
home and the cafe. Sometimes his mother would drive him, and other times he
would take the bullet train with Itachi. He wasn’t allowed to travel alone.
He would occasionally get a ride from Naruto’s godfather when he went to hang
out with his friend. But between school and his social life, the blond neko was
not always available. Everyone’s lives had continued while he was away, and he
tried to occupy himself as they continued living those lives.
His art supplies had arrived at the loft. Once everything was set up, the
spacious area looked like a studio and Sasuke spent days at a time there. His
brother was no longer visiting regularly at their parent’s house, so often
Sasuke’s only chance to see him was when he stayed at the cafe.
There had been a slight tension when they saw each other again after that first
night. Itachi’s face was a mask and he had no idea what he was thinking behind
it. Sasuke was frustrated with the distance between them, and he was tired from
his sleepless nights. He held Itachi’s gaze, too tired to think of what to say.
Too tired to care about the forbidden kiss. He wondered if Itachi was tired of
it all, of the ugliness of people.
In the end he didn’t have to say anything. After a moment his brother stepped
toward him, embracing the smaller boy as he collapsed against the elder.
He slept soundly that night, with his brother’s arms circled protectively
around him. Every night he spent at the loft, he would press into his embrace,
seeking the warm comfort of his arms as the elder held him and whispered
reassurances into his hair. He felt like he was five again.
He would sometimes seek the comforting contact during the day. And sometimes
his aniki would reach out to him, as if to make sure he was really there. A
quick squeeze of his hand, a soft touch on his arm as they walked past each
other, a gentle stroke through his hair as he sat in front of his easel.
Sometimes the touch would linger, but Sasuke didn’t mind. It kept the other
hands at bay, the ones that sought to harm him.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When Sasuke was alone at the cafe he would sometimes slip out unnoticed into
the Tokyo streets. After all, even he could only paint for so long before
needing a break.  Besides, he wanted to find out more about his Persona. He had
slipped into the shadow world plenty of times when he was alone in his room,
but he wanted to explore more of that world.
Where better than the crowded streets of Tokyo?
He would find a secluded area then make the now-familiar transition. He only
did so when he was sure no one else was around – he did not know what would
happen if someone else was around when he slipped into the strange other world.
The shadowy realm was darker, as if the sun’s rays were reaching him
underwater. Many streets and buildings were similar to the real world, but some
were altered – twisted – by powerful distorted perceptions in the real world.
He never knew exactly what he was slipping into when he entered the shadow
world. On several occasions he had been met with walls or roadblocks that
didn’t exist in the real world, and he would have to walk miles to find a way
around. Sometimes he would come across extravagant buildings that proved to be
nothing more than a bank or museum in the real world. Sasuke never ventured
inside these areas – he remembered all too clearly being attacked in the
amusement park. He stayed in the open streets, an exit always in sight.
Not that this guaranteed his safety. Distortions could appear anywhere. Most
humans appeared as dim, faded versions of themselves – shadow selves – but
every now and then one would morph into a monstrously distorted creature.
Sasuke became more in-tune with his Persona as he and Kirin fought off the
twisted shadows. They would sometimes encounter something too powerful and
would need to flee. Fortunately he had not been seriously injured, but would
sometimes get minor scrapes and bruises which he hid from sight.
He could feel him and his Persona getting stronger. He thought back to his
humiliation at the shadow Orochimaru’s hands – and tongue. This only fuelled
his determination to get strong enough to defeat the vile shadow.
He had witnessed the effect that defeating a shadow had on the corresponding
human in the real world, and knew he could get to Orochimaru this way. The
creatures they defeated would twist and writhe as the distortion surrounding
them dissipated, leaving behind just the normal undistorted human shadow. In
reality the human counterpart appeared to change drastically. He had seen a man
exchange a small package for money as he slipped into the shadow world from a
distance. Once there, the man’s shadow appeared distorted. Curious, he defeated
the shadow, releasing it of its distortion. He watched the now human-appearing
shadow wander away, and when he returned to the real world he saw the dealer
throwing away his supply of illicit substances. He witnessed a similar effect
on a landlord posting eviction notices, and a street vendor selling old food.
At the time he did not know the impact of killing a human’s shadow. He did not
even know it was possible to kill them. Kirin never delivered a fatal blow,
always aiming instead to just defeat the creatures into submission, freeing
them from their distortions. The Persona was, after all, a reflection of
Sasuke. The boy wanted vengeance – he wanted to see Orochimaru in jail. Once
word got out he was a pedophile … the other inmates would mete out justice. He
wanted to make the man suffer, but he was no killer. At least, the gentle heart
of the boy he used to be did not want to be a killer.
o-o-o-o-o-o
Thank you for reading, and for the reviews – they really motivate me to keep
writing. I hope my explanation of the Persona world in this story makes sense.
It’s a little bit different in each Persona game, so that makes me feel less
guilty for taking artistic licence to mess around with the mechanics of that
world. Any input is appreciated.
***** Chapter 7 *****
Sasuke’s father had always been an ambitious man. Even now, with Itachi out of
the picture, he pursued prestige and political power. If anything, he had
become more desperate now that Itachi was not available to push his dreams
onto.
Lately there was a lot of activity at the Uchiha household. Old friends of his
father and a lot of relatives were showing up more often – Inabi, Yashiro, and
others he did not fully remember. They spent most of their time with his father
in his study. They did not have refreshments or stay for dinner, but conducted
their business then left hurriedly. Sasuke could hear the muffled murmur of
heated conversation when he walked past the study.
Sometimes his mother would be in the room as well, and he could hear the high
tenor of her voice among the lower vibration of the men’s.
Mikoto had only ever spoken vaguely about her past political and professional
aspirations. Looking at the permanent furrow in her brow and hearing her voice
– hard, nothing like the mother he knew – Sasuke wondered what had reawakened
this side of her – what did she strive for?
He tried to find distraction in his old friend, but Naruto always seemed to be
busy with other people’s problems. “Hinata’s having some trouble at home …
Shika’s boss is sick and he’s taking it pretty hard … Gaara’s started going to
anger management and wanted to talk …”
Try as he might, Sasuke couldn’t discern what had gotten his parents so worked
up. Why was everyone acting so strange? It left him with an uneasy feeling, as
if a foreboding shadow were looming over them and would soon break open to wash
away the comfort and safety of the new life that he desperately clung to. He
feared he would be thrown adrift again, headed to some unknown shores with no
certainty of arrival.
He needed to get out of that house. Sometimes the study door – hastily shut –
was not closed completely, and he could vaguely discern some of the words of
those hushed conversations … “election … Sarutobi … remove … only way….” His
mother feigned confusion when he asked about the meaning behind those words –
“You must have heard wrong, dear. You shouldn’t worry about such things.” He
did not even consider asking his father. He wondered if his mother seemed a bit
too eager to agree to take him to stay with his brother.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
His shoulders relaxed as he entered the aromatic cafe. He drifted through the
haze of his sleep-deprived mind as he made his way to the bar. Itachi was
working the bar today, and seemed to be enjoying it. His face was relaxed and
his movements certain as he poured the carefully selected coffee beans into the
grinder. He had his hair up in a loose bun to ensure it didn’t get in the
drinks, and a few strands clung to his face as he worked. His T-shirt and jeans
were protected by a simple, soft blue apron. Sasuke admired the way his tight
shirt showed off his toned arms as they reached across to grab a mug. He
noticed some of the customers were admiring his brother too.
Itachi glanced up at Sasuke, smiling as the expensive-looking espresso machine
whirred. Sasuke realized suddenly that Itachi must have purchased all the
equipment at the cafe on his own, not to mention the space for the cafe itself,
and the loft. There was no way their father would have helped with such an
endeavour. And now Itachi was looking after Sasuke as well.
Was that why he had to work more often lately? Maybe he couldn’t afford another
employee. Sasuke looked at the lines under Itachi’s eyes, the peaceful smile on
his face. His brother would never complain – it was not in his nature. Sasuke
couldn’t remember ever hearing Itachi complain.
Him, on the other hand …
A flush crept up Sasuke’s face as he thought of all his tantrums and outbursts
as a child. Itachi had patiently weathered all of them, never losing his own
temper. No doubt he still remembered. Sasuke’s flush deepened as he realized
this man had bathed him, fed him, changed his diapers, never once getting
upset. They were so different. Even now … Itachi was working so hard, and what
was he doing?
Dejected, he patiently waited for Itachi to be finished with his current order.
Sasuke had wanted to spend time with his aniki today, maybe walk around outside
together, but Itachi informed him he already had plans for that evening. “Sorry
Sasuke. Another time.” After seeing the frustrated expression on the stubborn
boy’s face, he added, “Why don’t you try asking Naruto?”
But Sasuke didn’t want to deal with his hyperactive friend just then. He didn’t
want to press the matter either, not wanting to be a burden to his brother. So
he waited for the cafe to get busy, nursing his warm drink, waiting for Itachi
to get distracted so he could slip out unnoticed. What he didn’t realize was
how well Itachi knew his little brother. He saw the upset look in Sasuke’s eyes
and the droop of his shoulders, and had taken a moment to send a quick text to
a certain blond neko. So when Sasuke stepped out of the cafe, focused on his
escape, he didn’t notice the startled blue eyes of the boy walking towards him
across the street.
He glanced back into the cafe and made sure that Itachi wasn’t watching, then
quickly headed down the street. He walked a few blocks to a small park littered
with trees. Deciding the empty corner of the park was secluded enough, Sasuke
slipped into the shadow world.
Opening his eyes, he looked around to see what was in store for him this time.
A few vague shadows drifted by in the distance. Turning around, his ebony eyes
widened in shock as they locked onto a familiar face.
Naruto was staring around him in horror, mouth hanging open in shock. He must
have been nearby! How did I not notice?! The blond boy’s voice cut through his
surprise, “What … what is this?” His orange tail was puffed up and looked huge.
“Naruto! What the hell! Why are you here?!” Naruto looked at him in disbelief.
“Sasuke … what’s going on? What – what are those?” He was pointing at the
distant shadows.
Sasuke shook his head, looking for a nearby exit. “Nevermind, I’ll explain
later. We have to leave.” He did not know what would happen to Naruto if he
stayed here. He didn’t seem to have a Persona. Did that make any difference? He
was curious to find out, but not at the risk of his friend getting hurt.
Naruto followed silently behind him for a while, before his normal personality
took over. “Hey teme, what the hell are you doing wandering around Tokyo on
your own anyway?”
The raven turned on him in anger, “And what the hell are you doing following
me?” His eyes suddenly widened with realization. “Itachi put you up to this.”
Naruto balked, “So what if he did? He just asked me to come to the cafe and
keep an eye on you, that’s all. You shouldn’t be running off on your own
anyway!”
“I don’t need to be watched like some child! Just because I got kidnapped once
doesn’t mean it’ll happen again, dobe.” They glared at each other in the
uncomfortably tense air. Finally Naruto sighed, shaking his head. “Look, we’re
just worried, alright?”
Sasuke knew he was telling the truth, but the intoxicating anger was coursing
through his body. He didn’t need them watching over him. He didn’t want to be a
nuisance. He didn’t need his brother worrying about him. He had so much to
worry about already. He didn’t want to be seen as a child anymore. He wanted to
know the man Itachi had become.
Sasuke bit his lip, remembering their kiss. Before he could say anything, Kirin
was suddenly there. “Kirin!” Sasuke realized he had lost track of where they
were, and they had been shouting loudly at one another. A shadow loomed over
them, face bubbling and peeling away as a distortion transformed it.
“What is that?!” He wasn’t sure if Naruto was asking about the distortion or
about Kirin, but he had no time to reply before the shadow barrelled forward,
screeching. He tried to focus on Kirin but he wasn’t quick enough. He felt
claws scrape his leg as he tried to leap out of the way of the creature’s
attack.
Kirin was on the shadow in the next moment, sword flashing and flames swirling.
The distortion dissipated, leaving behind the dim husk of the harmless,
undistorted shadow. It had not been a difficult fight, but the shadow’s screech
had drawn the attention of other nearby shadows. As they turned towards the two
boys, several started to morph and Sasuke frantically looked around for an exit
… There! He spotted the glowing outline of a door about two blocks over.
He had to give the shocked blond a shove to get him to move. “We need to get to
that door,” he said as he limped forward, clutching the stinging cuts on his
leg.  Naruto grabbed his arm, helping to support his weight as they made their
way to the door.
“This is crazy! This is so fucking crazy! That’s not a real wound, is it?”
Sasuke could only nod. “What?! That’s a real wound? You’re really bleeding –”
the blonde’s face suddenly hardened. “Teme! What the hell are you even doing in
a place like this? Does this have something to do with you disappearing all
these years? If it does, I’m going to beat the shit out of you for coming back
to a place like this. Actually, you know what? I’m going to beat the shit out
of you anyway, once we get out of here.”
We’re not moving fast enough. Sasuke could hear the shadows getting closer.
Shoving away from Naruto, he turned to face them. He had never taken on more
than two at once. Four shadows now loomed in front of him. Kirin leapt forward
as they attacked. He could hear Naruto behind him, but he was too focused on
the shadows to pay attention to the blond neko.
They were overpowering him. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Kirin was
absorbing their blows, but he was slowing down, and soon they would get
through. His mind raced frantically as he looked for a way to escape.
Suddenly one of the shadows slipped past Kirin’s defence and charged at Sasuke.
He rolled out of the way but not before a clawed hand tore deep into his
abdomen. Crying out in pain, he fell to his knees as the creature prepared to
charge again. Kirin leaped backwards, flames billowing, stopping the creature’s
blow but soon the others swarmed towards them as his blood soaked into the dark
ground beneath him.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x (flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x-x
He looked lonely, Naruto thought. The other kid with the cat ears and tail,
just like his but black. Everyone in their class teased Naruto about his ears
and tail, but they didn’t bother the other boy. Maybe it was because he always
got all of the teacher’s questions right, but Naruto always got the wrong
answers.
When he tried to get his attention, the other boy ignored him. Naruto hated
being ignored. “Lack of parental attention,” they had said. Naruto didn’t think
this was true. He just wanted to be friends with the other kids, and what
better way to be acknowledged than having their attention on you?
But not the black-haired boy. No matter what he did, the boy continued to
ignore Naruto. Until one day when he saw the boy smile. Naruto understood then
that he noticed him, in his own way.
The other kids had been teasing Naruto again. “Cat-boy! Pussycat! Careful or
he’ll bite you and give you rabies!” But Naruto never backed down. “I won’t
give you rabies! If I bite you or even scratch you, you’ll turn into cats!” He
grinned gleefully at the suddenly uncertain expressions on the other kids’
faces. They actually believed him! When Naruto brought his hands up, curled to
resemble claws, the other kids screamed and scrambled away.
Naruto sighed. Although glad the other kids were done teasing him for today, he
was sad they were gone. That was when he noticed the other neko boy – he was
watching from a distance, and had an amused smile on his face as he looked at
Naruto.
Naruto felt his face split into a wide grin. So he had finally noticed him! The
other boy startled as if he hadn’t realized he was smiling, then abruptly
turned away. But the smile never left Naruto’s face that day.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
“Hey pussy-boy! Come here and show me your pussy!” The older boys were laughing
loudly as they stood blocking his path home. At only eight, Naruto didn’t fully
understand what they were saying, but he knew it was nothing good. “Why don’t
you make me! Your brain’s so slow it probably makes you run slow too and you’ll
never catch me!” Maybe he should have just stayed quiet. But Naruto never
backed down.
The other boys suddenly looked angry and started moving towards him. Uh-oh.
There were three of them and they were much larger than the blond neko. Turning
quickly, he tried to run back to the safety of the school but they were
surprisingly fast. He felt a sharp pull on the back of his shirt as he was
yanked backwards and thrown onto the ground. The three boys loomed over him.
“Looks like we caught you. That means we get to see your pussy now.” The
vicious-looking boy that seemed to be the leader leered at the smaller boy as
he unbuttoned his pants.
Why is he taking his pants off? Before Naruto could voice his question aloud, a
small stone flew past him and hit the older boy right between his eyes. He
yelped in pain and looked past Naruto at his assailant. Turning to follow his
gaze, Naruto saw Sasuke leaning against a tree, casually tossing another rock
in his hand. “Are you planning on fighting us with your pants off?” He glanced
pointedly at the other boy’s unbuttoned jeans.
Alright! Sensing the opportunity, Naruto leapt forward onto the nearest boy,
making him stagger then lose his balance as Naruto pounced again. Sasuke joined
the fray and the two nekos spun and lashed out at the larger boys. They were
quick and nimble, and their tiny fists packed surprising punches. Naruto
continued exchanging blows with the boy he had tackled to the ground as Sasuke
distracted the other two.
But the older boys were determined not to let these brats get the better of
them. Naruto felt some of the other boy’s blows connect – bruising his ribs and
cheek, and sending a jarring pain from his shoulder down his arm. Then the
other boy suddenly had him pinned to the ground. He heard his friend cry out,
and glanced over. Sasuke was being held with his arms behind his back by one of
the boys as the leader of the group punched him – again, and again, and again.
Naruto struggled fiercely under the larger boy’s grip, but couldn’t break free
of his hold. His friend cried out again, then whimpered as his body went limp.
“Sasuke!” Naruto flung his head backwards to connect with his captor’s nose. As
the bully screamed in pain and clutched at his broken nose, Naruto wriggled
free from under his body and rushed to his friend.
But Sasuke was already fighting back again, dark eyes blazing. He had managed
to connect a powerful kick to his attacker’s ribs. As the other boy crumpled
forward, Sasuke did as Naruto had done and flung his head backwards to crush
the other boy’s nose. He dropped the black-haired neko to the ground as Naruto
reached him. The two boys stood back-to-back, panting and fists raised, ready
for the next assault.
But the other boys had had enough. Grumbling that it was too much trouble, they
backed away, shouting insults and threats as they left, “We’ll get you later,
you hear?! You better watch your backs!”
“Alright! That was awesome!” Naruto was elated, but the smile on his bruised
and swollen face disappeared as he turned to look at Sasuke. The boy was on his
knees, clutching his ribs and doubled over in pain. His injured friend looked
up at him, bloody teeth flashing in a smile before he collapsed onto the
ground. As Naruto knelt by his side, trying to shake him awake and calling out
for help, the blond neko felt a new emotion – the choking grip of guilt, he
would later discover. He didn’t know what to name the new feeling, but he knew
that he felt bad that his friend had gotten hurt fighting two of the boys at
once, and that Sasuke had to help him because Naruto had annoyed the other
boys. Who knows what those guys would have done if he hadn’t shown up?
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sasuke’s brother was scary. That was Naruto’s first thought when he met the
older Uchiha. He had come to the Uchiha’s house to bring Sasuke homework from
school. In reality he just wanted to see how the other boy – his friend – was
doing. He was glad Iruka-sensei had given him the perfect excuse to convince
his godfather to bring him over.
This was his first time at his friend’s house. Sasuke’s parents seemed polite
and kind, Naruto thought. His mother offered Naruto some sweets as thanks for
bringing the homework, and his dad was talking with Naruto’s godfather Jiraiya
about something boring. “Sasuke is upstairs in his room. Why don’t you bring
this upstairs to him?” Sasuke’s mother smiled as she handed him a warm mug of
milk.
Naruto found Sasuke’s room easily enough and entered through the open door,
then froze in the doorway. His friend was asleep in his bed, but seated at the
foot of the bed was a boy that Naruto could only assume was his brother – they
looked so similar. Except this boy had no extra ears or tail … and his eyes
were cold, his face expressionless as he looked at Naruto. The blond boy felt
like he was looking right through him, as if he could see all his secrets while
revealing none of his own. The boy had long hair – Like a girl! Naruto would
normally have teased – but he somehow didn’t want to upset this boy.
“Naruto,” he said. His voice was surprisingly deep for someone his age. He
spoke his name without any inflection, as if he were just stating a fact, and
leaving Naruto uncertain about how to respond. Naruto thrived on emotion, and
this boy was giving him none. He had never heard his name spoken so
emotionlessly, cold. This boy looked like Sasuke but he was nothing like him.
He was like ice.
Sasuke was wildfire.
Naruto gulped away the nervous lump in his throat. I’m Uzumaki Naruto! Steeling
his resolve, he walked towards his friend, setting the mug onto the bedside
table as he approached.
Sasuke looked terrible. His chest rose with short, shallow breaths, catching as
his lungs pressed against broken ribs. His bruised face was flushed and his
brow was furrowed as he slept. He looked like he had a fever and was in pain,
unsurprisingly. “Is he ok?” His worry for his friend overrode his fear of his
brother.
The older boy sighed as he looked at the sleeping neko, reaching over to run a
hand tenderly through his little brother’s hair. “He has some serious injuries,
but he’s healing and will be alright.” He paused as he looked over at the blond
boy. Naruto had a fading bruise on one cheek and was limping slightly, but was
otherwise unharmed. “His injuries are far more severe than yours,” he observed.
Naruto felt that unusual sensation again – guilt, his godfather had told him –
and averted his eyes from the elder’s scrutinizing gaze. “He took on two of
them at once.”
“I see … He told me he had to help you because he wanted to protect his
friend.” Naruto looked up in surprise at this. Sasuke had said that? The
elder’s face seemed to soften just a bit, “I am glad he has someone worth
fighting for, someone worth protecting, even at the cost of his own safety.”
Naruto felt a warm tightness in his chest as he quietly took in this
information. “I am telling you this, Naruto, because one day, if the need ever
arises, I hope you will do the same for my brother.” He tilted his head as he
looked fondly down at his little brother, “Would you help him in the face of
trouble, take a blow for him because he is your friend? Would you also protect
him?” As his hand brushed against Sasuke’s pointed ears they twitched and the
younger boy stirred. His feverish eyes opened and he smiled at his brother, who
continued running his hand through the boy’s hair. Suddenly Naruto felt like he
was intruding. He stepped backwards, intending to give the two brothers some
time alone, but the floor squeaked under his weight and Sasuke’s eyes snapped
across to meet his.
“Dobe. What the hell are you doing here?” His brother looked at him
disapprovingly at his choice of words.
“I came to bring your homework, teme! Is that how you thank me?”
But Sasuke was smiling, and Naruto felt a smile on his own face. Sasuke started
to sit up but quickly lay back down with a grimace. As his brother helped him
sit up, Naruto picked up the mug form the side table and handed it to Sasuke.
He took a sip then grimaced again. His brother chuckled and reached for the
mug, “Too sweet, Otouto?” Sasuke nodded. “I’ll go add some cinnamon to it.”
As the older boy left he looked again at Naruto with discerning eyes, his
unanswered questions hanging in the air between them. But this time Naruto
didn’t look away. He felt no guilt anymore. Sasuke was ok, and he knew his
answer. He knew that if the time ever came, he would stand by his friend. After
all, Naruto never backed down.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x (end of flashback) x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Blood seeped through Sasuke’s shirt where the shadow had sliced into him with
its claws. He clutched at his side as he fell to his knees, wincing in pain.
Naruto watched the bright red fluid drip through his fingers onto the ground.
The shadows advanced towards Sasuke, and the apparition that was on their side
surged forward to defend him.
Naruto felt helpless as he watched the strange being – Kirin, Sasuke had called
it – get pushed slowly back by the onslaught of attacks. The pool of blood
under his friend was growing larger and Naruto’s panic was mounting.
“I am glad he has someone worth fighting for.” The words echoed in his mind as
distant memories surfaced.
One of the shadows grabbed Kirin’s arm. Another moved to strike with its clawed
hand. They were screeching.
The other kids were laughing at him, teasing him.
The shadow’s mouth opened wide. Razor-sharp teeth came down hard on Kirin’s
shoulder.
A little neko – “He’s just like me!” – smiled quietly at him. A silent
acknowledgement.
The shadow loomed over his friend.
His friend. “Would you help him?”
The shadow’s hand rose, then descended to strike.
Naruto stepped forward to take the blow.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sasuke felt the warm blood dripping from between his cold fingers as he
clutched his wound. He could sense Kirin weakening as the shadows bit and
clawed into him. He knew that if Kirin was destroyed, he would forever lose a
piece of himself.
The ground before him darkened, and he looked up to see the shadow raise its
clawed hand, then bring it swinging down for a killing strike.
But the blow never came.
The air around them seemed to vibrate, turned red-hot, searing, then an orange
streak shot through the shadow, knocking it to the ground as its distortion
instantly dissipated. Mind hazy from blood loss, pain, and fear, Sasuke watched
as the now benign shadow wandered away.
Another orange flash, and Sasuke turned to see a huge nine-tailed fox hovering
above Naruto. The air around it was glowing in hues of red and gold, and its
eyes were the same vibrant blue as the blond neko.
Is that his Persona?
“Kyuubi,” Naruto’s voice was a growl as the new apparition sprang forward,
joining Kirin in warding off the shadows. The distortions rapidly fell beneath
the combined onslaught of the two Personas. Soon the shadows slunk away,
leaving the two boys in a heavy silence.
The world spun dangerously as Sasuke got to his feet, and he was grateful when
Naruto grabbed his arm, swinging it around his shoulder so he could lean his
weight against him. The two nekos stumbled towards the glowing exit as their
Personas faded into the air – one smouldering blue, flames dancing along its
sword, the other a fiery orange, tails swirling protectively around the boys.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Their trip back to the cafe didn’t go unnoticed. Blood soaked Sasuke’s torn
shirt and jeans, and left a dripping trail behind them. People moved out of
their way as the two boys stumbled through the streets. Luckily Sasuke’s
clothing was dark, so the injuries looked less severe in the fading light.
How much time had passed? What were they going to do when they got back to the
cafe? Would Itachi be there? He had said he had plans for this evening. Sasuke
hoped he had already left.
By the time they got to the cafe it was dark out and Sasuke’s vision was
swimming dangerously. Even so, he managed to stop Naruto as the blond
thoughtlessly reached for the door. He pulled him to the side of the building,
ignoring his protests. “Dobe! What if Itachi’s in there? He can’t know.”
Naruto’s face paled as he imagined the older Uchiha’s response if he saw Sasuke
like this. He gulped and nodded, “I’ll go inside first to see if he’s there.”
Sasuke focused on the cold brick wall behind him while he waited for Naruto. If
he thought about the blood or the pain he might pass out. But he didn’t have to
wait long. “He’s not there! The bartender said he just left.” Supporting
Sasuke’s injured side, Naruto led them into the building.
It was dark inside. The lights were always dimmed when the lounge opened in the
evening, creating a completely different atmosphere from the daytime cafe. A
man played the piano in the center of the room as people laughed and talked
loudly over their drinks. A few curious heads turned towards the boys as they
stumbled past, but in the dark they could have passed as being drunk. They made
it to the back of the building and Naruto all but carried Sasuke up the spiral
steps.
Collapsing onto the cool bathroom floor, Sasuke pressed his flushed face to the
tiles. Naruto turned on the light and his face paled as he took in Sasuke’s
blood-soaked clothing. “Sh – should I call an ambulance?”
Sasuke shook his head. His ears were ringing and his vision was blurry, but he
didn’t want to go to the hospital and make everyone worry. They would ask
questions, and he would have to come up with some lie. It was too much trouble.
He didn’t want to be a nuisance.
No, it was better if they just dealt with this here. The cool tiles were
helping to clear his mind, and he carefully sat up. First they would need to
stop the bleeding. “There’s first aid supplies in the cabinet.” Naruto flung
open the cupboard and pulled out piles of gauze, antiseptic, and bandaging.
Sasuke soaked some gauze in antiseptic and readied himself for the sting.
He was glad the suite was sound-proof. His scream surprised even him. Naruto’s
face had lost all colour. Sasuke clenched his jaw as he held the gauze against
his abdomen. As he pulled the gauze away from his abdomen, fresh blood slowly
seeped out of the angry gashes.
“There’s some painkillers in the kitchen … bring them,” he gritted out, “And
some sake!” he shouted after Naruto. He had heard that alcohol helped with
pain, and had seen it used as a painkiller in movies when people were injured.
“Are you sure about this?” Naruto looked uncertain as he returned to the
bathroom with the requested items. “Mixing alcohol and pain killers…”
“Just give them to me. We have to hurry. I don’t know when Itachi will be
back.” He took the proffered items, put some of the pills in his mouth then
swallowed them with a few gulps of the sake. He sputtered as he tasted the
bitter liquid. People actually drink this? Through his coughs and grimaces he
took a few more gulps for good measure. He wasn’t sure how much would be
needed, but he didn’t want to have to deal with the pain again.
His friend was hovering around him anxiously, unsure what to do. “Bring me some
clothes.” Naruto seemed grateful for the task, and returned quickly with some
loose pyjamas. Sasuke had wriggled out of his sticky clothes and Naruto blushed
at his friend’s sudden nudity. Sasuke seemed unaffected as he patiently waited
for the painkillers to kick in.
It didn’t take much longer. Soon enough Sasuke felt a warmth spread across his
skin, numbing the stinging pain and giving him some much-needed relief. The
lights in the room seemed to start dancing in mesmerizing patterns as the pain
ebbed, and Sasuke felt like he was floating.
“Sasuke? Are you ok?” Naruto’s voice was distant, and he slowly turned his head
to look at his friend. The blond boy was anxiously wringing his hands as he
looked helplessly at Sasuke’s dilated pupils. Why is Naruto so worried…?He
looked down at his naked body and the torn flesh, and remembered what he had to
do. He poured some antiseptic over fresh gauze and pressed it to his side. The
pain came as a muted throb, but was enough to pull him back down to reality and
take in his surroundings.
The bathroom was a disaster. Blood was drying on the ground, discarded bloody
clothing and rags were strewn across the white tiles and bandages were spilling
out of the cupboard. The sharp smell of antiseptic permeated the air, mixing
with the metallic scent of blood to create a nauseating mixture.
Sasuke grabbed a roll of bandages and wrapped them tightly around his abdomen,
then looked at his leg. The wound on his leg wasn’t as severe and was already
caked in dried blood, so the antiseptic barely bothered him. When he had
finished wrapping his leg up, he turned to Naruto. They had to hurry. He
struggled to his feet using the counter to hold himself up. “Naruto, we have to
clean up this mess.” The blond immediately started shoving supplies back into
the cabinet. Sasuke wet a cloth and ran the cool fabric over his blood-soaked
body, rinsing it off in the sink and watching his blood swirl away. The sight
didn’t bother him. He was used to seeing his own blood.
He cleaned off his body the best he could, then pulled on the fresh clothes.
Grabbing a garbage bag from under the sink, he threw away his tattered clothes
and the bloody gauze lying on the ground. Naruto swept up the blood from the
floor with a rag, hands moving frantically as he scrubbed away the red liquid.
After they finished, Sasuke drifted out into the loft, wanting nothing more
than to collapse onto the soft bed. But he paused by one of the windows,
looking down into the street below. The streetlamps swam and sparkled in front
of him and he stared at them in awe. The pain was a dull throb now and he felt
warm and light. He turned to look at Naruto as the blond boy collapsed onto the
couch. “Sasuke … are you sure you’re ok?” He was looking at him strangely. I’m
fine, he tried to say the words but his tongue wasn’t cooperating. Fatigue
washed over him in a sudden wave, and he was helpless as the ground rushed up
to meet him.
Where was he? There was someone grabbing him, trying to lift him up. Was it
Orochimaru? For some reason he couldn’t bring himself to care. They were
talking to him now. That didn’t sound like Orochimaru’s voice … He focused on
the face in front of him. That was – Naruto? Why was he here?
He felt a cold cloth on his face, and as the heat was soaked away from his
feverish mind he remembered where he was. He was lying on the floor as Naruto
wiped his forehead. This was Itachi’s flat. He couldn’t let Itachi find him
like this. As he sat up Naruto protested and tried to push him back down, but
Sasuke swatted his hand away. “Help me get to the bed, dobe!” His voice was
slurred and he was swaying, “Itachi can’t find me lying on the ground like
this.”
“I think I should call an ambulance.”
“No! I just need to get to the bed and get some sleep. When Itachi gets back
I’ll be asleep and you’ll be back home and everything will be fine.”
“You just collapsed, teme!”
“That’s what happens when you’re tired! Now help me up the stairs!”
Sasuke cursed the architect of the loft as they started up the few steps to the
elevated bedroom. What was the point of putting stairs here anyway? He pushed
against Naruto as he tried to take another step up, but lost his footing and
the boys collapsed on the stairs, both crying out – one in shock, the other in
pain as the steps dug into his bandaged side and drew fresh blood onto his
white shirt.
As they struggled to get to their feet again on the treacherous steps, the echo
of the door unlocking made them freeze. They looked at each other in horror as
the doorknob turned and the door swung open.
Itachi stepped from the dark stairwell into the brightly-lit loft and shielded
his eyes, squinting as his eyes adjusted. “Sasuke? Jiraiya called to say Naruto
isn’t answering –” his voice trailed away as he lowered his hand and saw the
two boys on the stairs, eyes fixed on the red stain blossoming across Sasuke’s
shirt.
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