Disclaimer:WE do not own Naruto or any of the characters used. WE do not make any money off of this story. If WE did ... We'd make every fan girl's dream come true; repeatedly.
A/N: Yay! So MAK and I finally decided to post...you can thank her for that! Anyways, just so we're all clear this is NOT ItaSasu...um, I have a mental block and cannot write that. (Even tho MAK loves it...sorry! So, which one of us do you think wrote certain characters? For instance: is MAKandCHEESE writing Itachi or Sasuke? Do you have a guess (giggles I think it's hard to distinguish) But I digress! Please review and let us know what you guys think! Should we continue? Have we peaked anyone's interest but our own?
When kakasasu4ever and I met I knew right away that we'd have to do a collab together. It was just too tempting not to act on. And so, our fiction was born! Just because this fic has two mommies doesn't mean you can let the other fics pick on it! This is our first attempt at collab-ing and my first attempt at Kakasasu, so just taking the time to read means so much to us! Can you figure out who is writing who? Please review if you have the time, but other than that please enjoy!
Hugs, kakasasu4ever and MAKandCHEESE
Chapter 1: Of Bruises and Brothers.
The storage room had been hot and smelled undesirable, as Itachi stepped past the threshold and into the larger, main classroom area. The light stung his eyes for a moment as he adjusted to the change in brightness. He glanced up the old, mediocre clock; the one that the students worshiped like a God.
Glancing at himself in the nearby window, Itachi fastened his loose red tie back into place and pulled his hair back into a neat pony tail once again. Why did Deidara have to love to let his hair down so much?
Beside the point it would always be tangled and matted after their 'fun'. But, he couldn't resist Deidara, especially when he put on that delectably sugar sweet smile and begged for whatever it was he desired from his 'Itachi-sempai'. The time had gone by faster than he expected. Of course, Deidara, the new, young, sexy art teacher, was to blame.
His Otouto would have his neck for being late. He supposed he should tell him to blame it on the blond 'artiste', but that might have upset him. Sasuke was a sweet innocent boy, who'd probably be embarrassed to hear his Niisan speak like that about anyone; let alone a fellow teacher. He'd have to tell him about the relationship soon though. He wondered how the boy would take it. But that was getting off topic. He began rushing to his desk after fixing himself to grab the essays he had to correct for that day.
"Damn it, Deidara," he mumbled under his breath.
Sasuke dialed his brother's cell as quickly as he could. He should have known that his father would come home completely wasted on the night Itachi decided to stay late at work. He locked himself in his room and went to his closet, shutting it behind him, and pushing himself to the far corner. This was the spot Itachi always told him to hide and he always did...no matter how childish it seemed. His heart pounded uncontrollably as he heard his father yell at him through the closed doors.
"You fucking piece of shit! Get your pathetic ass out here!"
Sasuke clutched his phone tighter, praying for his Niisan to just answer his phone.
"Niisan please," Sasuke whispered to the ringing he heard in his ear, "Please pick up."
The phone buzzed uncontrollably in Itachi's trouser pocket. The tone was the distinctive long drawn out wail of a bell. It was Sasuke. Itachi fumbled in his pant pocket, fishing out the phone quickly. He brought the screaming device to his ear and answered as fast as possible. "Otouto? What's wrong?" Itachi queried in an urgent voice.
"Niisan, where are you?" Sasuke whispered knowing exactly where the man was.
"Uhm... at the school," he said coolly, trying to be blunt," Where are you? Is everything okay?"
Sasuke shook his head even though he knew his brother couldn't see him.
"I'm home," he whispered his hands shaking as he heard Fugaku knock his bedroom door off the hinges, "Niisan, he's drunk..."
Itachi's eyes widened. It was the third time this week; his father couldn't put down the bottle for just a few days? The man was a tragedy waiting to happen. "Are you in the special place, Otouto?" he asked desperately, trying to remain calm as to not frighten Sasuke anymore.
Sasuke couldn't stop himself from shaking and he knew he couldn't answer his brother's question. If he did, Fugaku would find him for sure and with Itachi so many minutes away, Sasuke knew he'd be dead before his brother could get home.
"Sasuke. Calm down. Listen to me okay?" Itachi said firmly through the speaker, "If he is close, pant twice." Itachi knew the boy wouldn't last long once Fugaku found him. Itachi would have left with Sasuke long ago, if the man they called 'asshole' hadn't threatened to cut their trust funds. Sasuke needed it for school and he was not yet of age to make the decision to leave, so Itachi had to wait it out with him. He promised Sasuke it would all be over soon. Itachi never broke his promises. "If he is close stay perfectly still, if he puts his hands on you... just run, Otouto. I'll be there soon I promise," Itachi growled, still on the line with Sasuke as he abandoned his papers and rushed out of the school to his car.
Sasuke forced himself to breathe twice into the receiver as he heard Fugaku turn over his bed then begin systematically destroying his room.
"Where are you, you little shit?" Sasuke heard Fugaku growl as he broke what Sasuke could only assume to be his TV.
Sasuke felt tears drip down his face, meeting on his lips. He didn't want to be beaten today...he...he couldn't handle it. Not today. "Niis-ahh!"
Itachi heard the destruction of the room unfold. It was a massacre this time. His Otouto was in big trouble. He had to think fast to come up with a plan. "Sasuke, listen to me... I'm going to call father... but I have to get off the line first. I'm going to tell him you're at an after school meeting, okay?" Itachi was nearly in tears as he heard another piece of furniture meet its end on the other line. His Otouto's wail echoing through his mind he shouted again. "Sasuke, if you're there, pant twice... okay?" Itachi felt his heart pound. It was painful to know the fear that dwelled in his little brother. It killed him to know his Otouto knew what pain was.
Sasuke tried to hold onto the cell phone as his father ripped him, by his hair, out of his closet and into the center of his room. It was no use trying to reach. The phone fell to the side of the closet and the only thing Sasuke could think to do was call out; "Niisan!"
"Sasuke!" Itachi screamed into the receiver. The boy had been found out, and he was afraid that this time his little brother would endure the same fate as his bedroom furnishings. Itachi pulled back the throttle and sped off down the road in fury, tears welling up in his eyes. He continued to yell into the phone after Sasuke.
Sasuke could barely make out the sound of his brother's voice as he fought to keep his father off of him. It was all in vain. His father was much bigger and much stronger than the sixteen year old and Sasuke couldn't seem to do anything but take the punches as they landed all over him. One punch landed on his cheek, forcing Sasuke's head to smack against the floor. He let out a whimper and reached for his abandoned phone, even if it was far out of reach. It was his only chance.
"Sasuke! I'm almost home! I'll be there in two minutes! Just hold in there and fight him off, Otouto, I know you can do it!" Itachi bellowed against the speaker again and again, taking the sharp turn at the corner he could see the beginning of their fancy new subdivision.
'Goddamn, it... I can't leave him alone anymore... He'll have to stay with me all the time...' Itachi thought and cursed himself for being selfish with taking his sweet time earlier.
"I'm coming, Sasuke! I can see the house!"
Sasuke tried to get away but it was in vain. His father was on top of him, straddling his hips, and pounding him hard in the stomach and face. He tried to use his arms to block himself from the brutality but they were easily cast aside by his belligerent father.
"Maybe next time you won't leave the kitchen towels crooked!" Fugaku screamed as he landed another punch to Sasuke's face. Sasuke could smell the reek of alcohol on his father's lips.
Itachi could hear the drunken blubbering of his father in the background, along with all the punches his small Otouto was taking. It was killing him inside. "Almost there!" he screeched into the phone, hoping Sasuke could hear, hopefully giving him some peace of mind- if any. He pulled the car up into the way. He sped past his normal parking spot and slammed on the breaks right behind Fugaku's new Mercedes. He hoped the noise would get his father's attention off of his little brother.
Sasuke heard the brakes of his brother's car and knew Itachi would be coming through that door. Sasuke turned his face towards his broken bedroom door as Fugkau punched him again in the stomach. Sasuke cried out and Fugaku stood lifting him, again, by his hair.
"I'm going to make an example out of you!" Fugaku growled as he yanked Sasuke through the house. Sasuke tried to pull himself from his father's grasp but the man caught on and threw him into the glass living room table. The table shattered beneath him and embedding itself in his back. Again Sasuke cried out, hoping his Niisan would come for him.
Itachi hopped out of the car faster than a cat running from a pack of stray dogs. He dashed to the front steps, all the while screaming for Sasuke. "Sasuke! Can you hear me? Yell if you can hear me!"
Itachi ran up the walk and jumped over the front steps to the terrace. The door had been left open in Fugaku's rage, and so he ran directly into the fray, prepared to snatch his little brother from the terror he was in. He'd have to come up with an excuse to take Sasuke somewhere else tonight. But the coherent thinking would come later. Right now all he could think about was holding Sasuke safely in his arms.
Sasuke heard his brother come into the house and apparently so had his father. Fugaku finally stopped hitting him, giving him ample opportunity to call for Itachi. "Niisan!" he cried his body convulsing. He would have moved but it seemed like he was unable to get his quivering flesh to stop shaking, let alone to force it to move.
Itachi heard his brother's scream. Apparently the mess had spread through the house and had not just pertained to Sasuke's room. Itachi slid around the corner into the living room, passed the winding stair case. He noticed a small puddle of blood at his feet and looked up to see his brother.
He was not prepared for what he saw as he moved into the room, towards his father and Sasuke.
"Itachi," Fugaku said as he stumbled over to his bar and grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels he had yet to finish, "You look out of breath boy. What's the matter?"
Itachi panted as he crossed the room to Sasuke, flashing him a glance, telling him to get behind him as soon as he was across the room. He hoped his brother could move; he hoped he wasn't dead.
"I just remembered that I have to take Sasuke to a meeting with me tonight. It's for the school's new wing they're building. So I came straight home." Itachi glanced around the room. "It's a disaster down here, father."
Itachi groaned at the sight of more crimson liquid staining the floor. "Why is Sasuke a wreck?" Itachi growled as he kneeled down to his brother. He stared at the abused face and whispered, "I'm here now... it's going to be okay."
"Well, Itachi, you know how clumsy that piece of shit is," Fugaku replied, "And he's grounded, he can't go anywhere with you. Or anyone for that matter, he has to stay here with me."
Sasuke looked at his brother, fear encompassing him. If he stayed...he would be killed. "Itachi..."
"Father, this meeting is mandatory. If we are in attendance I'm sure they'll announce that the new wing is going to be named after you. But they asked that both the Uchiha heirs be there in order to make the announcement. He simply must come, father. There is no way around it. You know how business is," Itachi lied through his teeth. Flattery would definitely sway his father. He hated to praise the man. The ass that he was; The tyrant of their home. But it was the only way to help Sasuke.
"You know father, if Sasuke is out of the way, you'll have time to yourself. And I'll call the repairman to come and fix Sasuke's clumsiness... he'll need us to be out of the way, you know?" Itachi smiled a small smile at Sasuke trying to encourage the boy... and looking all over his body for the wound that was dispensing so much blood with caution, as to not scare the boy. "Besides, if we don't go, they'll name it after a Hyuuga! Do you really want to lose all that donation money to a Hyuuga, father?"
"I suppose you're right, Itachi," Fugaku sighed as he took a swig from his bottle, "You can take Sasuke to the ceremony, although he's nothing but a huge embarrassment for this family...Itachi, why do they want such a waste of sperm and egg to go to such a prestigious thing? I mean, you know as well as I, how worthless he is, right?"
"But father, you know how the school would question us if we didn't include Sasuke? They'd start asking questions and cause a stir. Do we really want them to see Sasuke for what he truly is? That would only bring more shame," Itachi pleaded and lied. He hoped his persuasion bared fruit. He begged his brother telepathically not to be offended. The real embarrassment was their father.
Sasuke couldn't tell what his brother was thinking and while part of him knew Itachi loved him...another part believed what his brother had said. He must be tired of having to rescue him, constantly babying him...Sasuke felt tears drip down his face. Maybe he really was a waste of a sperm and egg.
"I suppose you're right, Itachi. Take the shit to this thing but I want him back tomorrow, you got that?" Fugaku ordered his eyes staring deeply into Itachi's.
"Understood..." Itachi said turning around to face Sasuke at his level on the ground,"... Father," he spat.
Itachi picked up his brother and cradled him in his arms, offering a caring gaze and mouthing sorry. Then turning to his father he gave a serious look. "I'll call the repairman to come at eight, Father. I'll carry Sasuke so he doesn't bleed on the carpet again. Have a pleasant evening." With that Itachi carried Sasuke over the threshold, happy to finally have his baby brother safe in his arms. He loosed a sigh of relief. For the moment.
"Itachi," Sasuke whispered as he placed his head on his brother's shoulder, "Y-you didn't mean what you said...right?"
"Of course I didn't Otouto... I love you more than anything. I only said those things to appease, Fugaku... so I could get you out of there. I love you, never doubt that, Sasuke," Itachi pleaded as he hugged the boy to his body. He could feel a warm liquid spread on his shirt. 'Shit,' Itachi carried Sasuke out into the cold fall weather. He rounded the car to the passenger side. "I'll never leave you like that, Otouto. I promise I'll never leave you alone with him again."
Sasuke couldn't help the sense of relief that overtook him when he heard his brother's comforting words. Sasuke had no other family, other than Itachi. Their mother had died while giving birth to him, something he knew his father never forgiven him for. Itachi was all he had and he never wanted to do anything that would hurt his Niisan or cause him embarrassment. This was an impossible task in its self.
"I'm sorry, Itachi," Sasuke muttered as he began to feel light headed.
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Otouto. The day you were born I vowed to Mother I'd always protect you. I vowed to myself-now hold still so I can get you into the car, okay-everything is all done now. We'll stay at a hotel tonight," Itachi decided as he lowered Sasuke into the car, helping him get comfortable.
Sasuke nodded and felt his eyelids get heavy. "Niisan..."
"Sasuke?" Itachi tapped his brother on the shoulder slightly, "Try to stay awake okay, if you have a concussion you shouldn't sleep, and I don't know exactly all the problems yet, okay?" he petted the boys hair softly, encouraging him.
Sasuke looked at his brother and nodded. "They're...heavy, Itachi," he semi-complained. Today had been rough, he had to get up with his father to make him breakfast and clean the entire house. Not to mention, going to school, which he hated, and then staying late to work on a paper...then being beaten. He really did just want to sleep.
"I know it's hard, Otouto, but you have to stay awake until I check you out okay? Just give me ten minutes okay? Talk to me... tell me what we're gonna do when you're finally eighteen, Sasuke," he stated excitedly trying to spark the boys enthusiasm.
He climbed into the driver's side and started the car, pulling out of the drive way, smiling at Sasuke, trying to map out his wounds, still urging him to answer questions.
"I'm going to...to move out, Niisan," Sasuke replied as he turned his face to the window. His head became slightly heavier than he remembered and he ended up smacking his forehead into the glass. He let out a small groan but...the cold glass felt good against his skin. "I'm going to move far away," Sasuke continued, "So far he'll never touch me again."
"That's right, and your Aniki will go with you and we'll get far away from that bastard," Itachi smiled," And what are we going to tell him when he walk out that door, together, Otouto?" Itachi smiled, petting Sasuke's hair with one hand, while driving with the other.
"That he fucking sucks," Sasuke replied his eyes winning the current battle.
"Then your Niisan will give him a nice swift kick in the balls," Itachi laughed, looking at Sasuke, with happiness in his eyes as he continued petting the boy. He looked at the bruising and scrapes and cuts, all weeping with crimson.
Itachi suddenly felt guilty. He couldn't get his brother out of that house fast enough; he wondered if deep down Sasuke knew how much turmoil it caused not to be able to save his little brother from the beatings. He promised himself he'd never let it happen ever again after today, even if he had to disobey his father, "Fugaku is not our father, Sasuke. He is a bastard that thinks blood will always tie us to him. We are our mother's children, not his. Mother loved you the moment she knew you were inside her. She'd never let this happen, Sasuke," Itachi smiled, "We're going to be together a lot more now. I'll never leave you with him again."
Itachi smiled at Sasuke as they pulled into the hotel parking lot, opting for a space behind the building so Fugaku couldn't see them. Just a few more minutes, Sasuke. Hold in there."
"What am I going to do about school?" Sasuke asked, "I have so many bruises...teachers will ask me about them. Do I still lie?"
"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Itachi sighed," You only have to lie a little while longer. I'll keep you out of class tomorrow, and you can stay in the back room of my class, I've got a cot set up back there," Itachi decided, getting out of the car and coming over to Sasuke's side, opening the door slowly so his Otouto didn't lose balance.
Sasuke shook his head. "I have drama tomorrow, Niisan..." He looked his brother in his dark eyes and blushed.
"Okay," Itachi smiled, noticing the faint blush, "But if it gets to be too much for you... come see me right away okay. Kakashi is a good friend of mine and he'll tell me right away if something's up, Sasuke. Please take it easy okay?"
Itachi pleaded as he unfastened Sasuke's belt and lifted him from the car into his arms.
Sasuke looped his arms around Itachi's neck and buried his face into Itachi's neck. "How did you know I was talking about Kakashi Sensei?"
"I'm your brother... I know all of your secrets, Sasuke," he laughed, kicking the passenger seat door closed as he walked away with Sasuke cradled in his arms.
"You're such a liar," Sasuke said his lips contorting into a smile, "I didn't tell you I liked Kakashi Sensei...how did you know?"
"You were blushing... and I'm friends with Kakashi, I know you're in his class," Itachi stated bluntly, smirking at the boy with laughter in his throat.
"Does he know...that I...I like him?" Sasuke asked his cheeks burning brighter, forcing him to bury his face further into his big brother's neck.
"Don't worry, Sasuke, Kakashi has no idea, he's pretty clueless when it comes to crushes. He says you do a mean impression of that Lee-kid though," Itachi laughed, watching his brother hide his face. It was too cute to see Sasuke all vulnerable. It was only a matter of time before Kakashi noticed him. Then things would get interesting. He carried Sasuke to the front of the building and looked at the nightly fee. It was affordable enough.
"Niisan, y-you can't carry me in there!" Sasuke said his voice muffled by Itachi's neck, "They'll want to call the police...I can't lie to the police..."
"I know, Sasuke. I was only checking the fee." Itachi smiled as he set the boy down at the side of the establishment. "Think you can hold the fort while I go check in, Sasuke?" Itachi asked, petting the boy again. He knew it was the most opportune time for Sasuke to change the subject. He was obviously embarrassed about how much Itachi knew.
"I'll be fine," Sasuke replied his blush still resting heavily on his cheeks, "But you won't be long right?"
"Forty-five seconds, Sasuke. I promise. You can't get into trouble in forty-five seconds can you?" Itachi laughed as he planted a kiss to the top of Sasuke's head and dashed around to the front to purchase the room for the night.
Sasuke went to retort but Itachi had already disappeared. He wrapped his arms around his torso as he tried to keep the cold wind from seeping into his unclothed chest. He couldn't believe he'd been beaten again this week...he had done everything right...or at least he thought so. Sighing and shivering, Sasuke glanced up at the sky. Tomorrow would be better...it had to be.
Itachi returned in under forty-five seconds after paying for the room. He walked over to Sasuke and smiled. "See? Nothing had happened." He hoped Sasuke tried to focus on the good things in life, like quiet moments to himself, where he could relax. They were the most serene moments. "Okay Sasuke, we have a room!" He smiled and leaned down gently so Sasuke could grab onto him so he could carry him to the hotel room, for further medical inspection and some well deserved sleep.
Sasuke closed his eyes and semi-curled himself in Itachi's arms. He'd proven he didn't have a concussion and well...he was exhausted. "Niisan...I've been up since 3...I'm going to close my eyes..."
"That's right Sasuke, just sleep, okay? Nobody is going to be able to hurt you anymore..." Itachi smiled as the boy curled into his chest, obviously exhausted. There was so much that Sasuke had to carry on his slim shoulders, it wasn't fair to him.
The boy had been through so much in his short life that pain for any kind to Sasuke seemed too cruel. He hoped he'd never have to see his brother in this state again. When Itachi finally got the door open he stepped inside and closed it quickly, before ushering to the bed to lay Sasuke down. Before he could get the boy comfortable he'd have to check his wounds and apply some anti-septic. "I'm just going to check you out okay? I'll have to get you undressed first okay? Just relax and try to sleep, okay, Otouto?"
Sasuke nodded his eyes still closed. Sleep was winning and he wasn't sure what his brother had said but he knew that if it was important, Itachi would repeat it. Then...then he'd try to listen. Instead of focusing on his brother's words, Sasuke's mind wandered into sleep, thinking of Kakashi Sensei.
