~X~ .P. ~X~
POSSESIVE
Chapter 1
They were walking through a lavishly decorated room, where actual candles swung on the chandeliers and the whole place swam with ivory, teak and gold leaf. Swarms of well-dressed, middle-aged men and women loitered about, chatting in a well-mannered fashion, waiting for the auction to commence. A stage, well hidden by sheets of lush, red velvet stood at the head of the spacious room, stretching high into the air. Set in a semicircle around the stage were a dozen cream colored lounges, saved for the higher rated guests.
Presently, an antique clock face, held above the sweeping curtains, chimed the eighth hour. This stirred up a hum of excitement and movement; the lower class guests shuffled quickly for the cheaper seats, while the others casually moved for the lounges. Regal, almost, as the crowds parted for them.
At their head walked a man with golden hair, azure eyes, a friendly enough smile in place, and an expensive black suit resting perfectly on his frame. At his heel, head just as high, walked his son, almost a twin, but for the obvious age difference. He held an indifferent, almost bored, expression on his face. He was clad in a pair of expensive, tight, flared black jeans and a half open, silky blue dress shirt.
Namikaze Minato and Namikaze Naruto.
The gathering drew breath at the awe-inspiring pair. They were almost equally star struck by the pair that followed behind at a respectable distance.
Feather soft pink hair on them both: the elder's pulled up to an elegant and beautiful, yet almost lazy, bun; the younger's hair was draped down her back, layered and flicking up at the tips. Emerald green eyes: the elder's were calm, set in a face that smiled politely; the younger's fiery, interested in the world about her and intrigued by the objects of tonight's bid. The elder one floated with grace, unmoved by time, a long dress as green as her eyes sitting tightly on her form, almost like a glove. The younger was adorned with numerous trinkets of rose gold and clad in a sleek black number that went no higher then her ample breasts and sported a slit along the left leg.
Haruno Akane and Haruno Sakura.
These four people held the attention of the entire room as they glided forward; the elder two the richest in the business and beyond. They alighted on the longest couch available that was set parallel to the stage. Undoubtedly, the best seats in the house; it was permanently in reserve for them.
Once they had seated themselves, conversing lightly, the pressure that had been hovering over the rest of the room seemed to dissipate enough to breathe easier, and the hushed silence rose back up to polite conversation.
Minato turned to Akane with a quaint smile. "I hear your sales rate has increased by a solid seven percent since last month, Akane."
Akane in turn, smiled, turning to giggle into a raised hand. "My, oh my, Minato, who on earth is your source? It's gone up by eight and a half percent. How is your company fairing, pray tell?"
"Eleven-point-three percent increase; though, I don't mean to brag." Minato chuckled lowly, not missing the steely glint that flashed in his companion's eyes. Behind her on the couch, Sakura had risen to walk as quietly as she could around the parents, lowering herself beside her object of affection. Naruto lounged in the corner of the couch, an elbow on the arm rest that held up his head, the other arm thrown up on the back of the lounge behind him. Akane and Minato watched as the girl settled as close as she could to the boy.
"So, Naruto, are you interested at all in tonight's wares? This is an auction for Class-A's after all, and I'm personally looking forward to a new toy." She giggled lightly, a chiming sound, before crossing her legs to further impress upon her dress's design.
Naruto flicked his eyes to her, watching her smooth out her dress disinterestedly. "Indeed, Sakura?" his voice was smooth, the ever present feigned warmth hovering, despite the apparent boredom on his face. "This auction is only more interesting because there is a lot less clothing involved."
Sakura glanced up slyly between her thick lashes, eyeing him. "So, you're not looking for a pretty new bunny for your bed?"
He chuckled lowly, sliding his gaze back over to her and letting it roam over her form admiringly until he could nearly hear her rapidly beating heart, finally stopped to rest on her eyes, noticing her slightly flushed appearance. "Still waiting for me to accept your marriage proposal, Sakura?"
"Of course, Naruto, until the end of time..." She smiled prettily, despite her dreamy haze, only letting it flicker when he snorted derisively, turning away.
The fluorescent lights dimmed to non existence, and a handful of spotlights lit up the stage, the velvet curtains sweeping aside. A man stood there, hands clasped behind him, a dark purple suit adorning his frame, accenting his deathly pale complexion, rivaling his golden eyes and dissolving amongst his long, black hair.
"Greetings ladies and gentlemen, I am Orochimaru, for those that are here for the first time. Welcome to the June slave auction, an event held here every month. Tonight is a third month, however, and we'll only be showcasing Class-A slaves. For those that don't know, Class-A's are the one's trained for your bed." He looked to a man hidden by the curtains, nodded, and turned back with a smile. "Without further adieu, then, we'll get the auction underway."
Slavery was a common practice in this day and age, and both Namikaze and Haruno were corporations based on it. Orochimaru, however, was much more exotically inclined, and instead of having shops in every major city, he had a monthly event where choice slaves were sold from all over the world, hand trained by Orochimaru himself and a specialized team.
With that, the pale man slid from the stage, emerging from a side door and slipping into his usual seat beside Sakura's mother. "Good evening, Akane, Minato. I hear your sales rate has increased by..."
The conversation began again, breaching several new topics while Sakura and Naruto waited quietly for the auction. Sakura took the time to lean more into the blonde, quickly cuddling up in the crook of his raised arm. She didn't even get a reaction, but that wasn't new.
Quickly enough, an announcer came out, rattling off a few more words before a thin blonde woman strode out onto the stage and the auction began. After the thin blonde, who sold successfully for 120 grand, came a shy brunette that had to be led on stage, then a male red-head who strode just as comfortably as the first, followed by a shorter brown haired man who stumbled. Naruto watched with little to no interest, idly replying to Sakura's comments.
The girl purchased an apparently 'skilled' dark haired man that smiled easily and seemed to have a habit of licking his lips. He went by the name of Sai.
It was almost two hours later when slave number fifty-two (always of sixty) was shown to the stage. Whistles followed the man, but it was Naruto who straightened with rapt attention. Now, I'd like to note that apart from that first girl, none of the other auctionees had sold for more then one hundred grand. Even Sai had only been forty thousand, and Akane had bought a middle aged, smirking man named Asuma for sixty thousand.
Minato had offered the first bet of twenty thousand on a pretty little red head, and no one had opposed him. But all this was before slave number fifty-two.
He was tall, pale, with long dark hair that he almost hid behind, but he stood like he was familiar with the act of standing tall and proud. If that didn't catch your attention, those in the couches could easily see the dark eyes that shined red in the light. He walked silently in purposely casual black lounge pants, an expensive leather collar fitted around his neck.
Naruto leaned forward just that bit more. The collars only went on those that had the potential to be dangerous. "Fifty thousand!" "Sixty thousand!" "Seventy-five thousand!" "One hundred thousand!"
A woman, half way through the act of calling out "125 thousand!" was stopped by a calm call, in the tone of voice that stretched long distances without shouting. "200 thousand." The woman, close to the back, looked up to find cold eyes, the color of a blue flame, watching her. She swallowed thickly, falling into her chair in an effort to duck back out of the rich boy's radar.
"Naruto..." Minato frowned, his stomach twisting at the idea of his straight son purchasing a male, Class-A slave.
"I insist, Father." Cold blue eyes turned to meet his, and Minato decided that he could argue about the point later, when the boy wasn't stone set on this. Perhaps he could talk the boy into not buying it, or maybe selling it back to the snake. The auctioneer called in Naruto's favor.
Naruto swept from his chair to the room Orochimaru had emerged from earlier, snapping up a jacket his father's chauffer, an elderly man named Sarutobi, held out for him.
He found a desk, with a silver haired man sitting behind it, fitted into a luxurious waiting room. He knew, and disliked, the man known as Kabuto. Curtly asking for the ownership papers, he snapped up a pen and began writing up a check in the book he pulled from his jacket pocket. After handing that over, he began work on the ownership papers, easily going over the standard forms.
~X~ .P. ~X~
He didn't look up to see who had purchased him, but he obviously commanded authority. What he did recognize, though, was the age of the buyer. He couldn't have been more then 20.
He was led off to his left, like all successfully selling slaves. For the most part, they were left to themselves in this room, and he looked up under his lashes to see giggling girls and relief filled faces - Today, they all left Orochimaru's clutches.
Itachi walked calmly to a seat in the corner, his appearance having as much as an effect in this room as the Namikaze and Haruno in the room before; as he allowed his pride to show through to his stride and posture. Many shuffled from his way, and he threw up a slight smile that was met with relieved smiles and even cheers.
He'd been a favorite pet of Orochimaru's for five years and had finally been deemed properly put in his place. Whipped.
And he was.
But he'd still been the man's favorite, and the minimal interaction with other slaves had been tense, the atmosphere hostile. As he sat now, though, the brown haired man on his left let out a low whistle. Itachi turned to the ill-shaven man, recognizing him as Asuma.
"Did you see that, Uchiha? Haruno Akane just bought me, Haruno!" The man rushed out excitedly, idiotic grin on his face.
Itachi chuckled lowly, resting his head on his propped up fist as he watched the man. "Isn't she the one that's always hard to satisfy? You'll be back within the month."
"No way! I'm telling you, I'm gunna make that rich bitch beg!" Asuma growled. Suddenly, he blinked. "Hey, who bought you?"
Itachi shrugged. "I do not know; I was not paying attention."
"Well, why the hell not?" Asuma frowned at him, drawing Itachi in for another low chuckle—a rare thing, since his enslavement. Asuma rounded as the door opened, quick to call out as he recognized the face. "Oi, Kabuto, who purchased Itachi?"
The pale haired man pushed his glasses further up his nose, simultaneously showing a thin, voluptuous brunette the door. Then he turned to Asuma. "That would be the young Namikaze, 200 thousand."
Itachi stiffened, barely retaining a groan. No luck. Son of the wealthiest slave tycoon, he would get no slack. Kid'd probably play with him; make him act the big bad weasel in retarded role-plays.
"Ohohoho~ you are so dead, Uchiha!"
"How so?" Itachi blinked, eyeing the man wearily.
"The older Namikaze is the most Homophobic slave owner on the planet, and you're the male, Class-A slave his son just bought." Asuma grinned.
Itachi leaned back into his chair, groaning as he let his eyes slip shut. "Well, fuck me."
"Oh, you will be…one way or the other."
~X~ .P. ~X~
With the sixtieth slave come and gone, Orochimaru having disappeared from their side and the announcer currently wrapping the event up, Minato turned to Akane. "I fear my son will leave me behind in his haste. Shall we, Akane?"
"Why yes, I believe we shall." Akane stood gracefully, all skirts, slipping a daintily gloved hand around Minato's offered forearm. Sakura, even in her haste to hunt down Naruto or finalize her purchase of Sai, knew better then to walk in front of the Namikaze and reacquainted herself with her mother's heel.
They walked through the door set off to the right of the stage, again only for the V.I.P.s. Promptly, again in hierarchal order, first Minato, then Akane and finally Sakura finalized their purchases. Behind them were a handful of others, too classy to wait in a line, but all in close quarters with the front desk. Naruto stood against the farthest wall and Sakura, in her haste, managed to bypass Minato and Akane to his side.
"Naruto, what are you going to use him for? You are aware you just bought a male, Class-A?" She giggled out as she flounced up beside him, lilting her voice to make the questions into jokes, trying to hide her genuine curiosity.
Akane laughed lowly as the arm in her grasp tensed in wary anticipation. Naruto shrugged, turning to face Sakura though his eyes were for his father. Smoothly, he lied. "It's my mother's birthday soon. I figured he'd suit her taste. She'll most likely end up throwing him back at me though."
He chuckled, inviting the others to join in the small joke as Minato bought the words. It was no secret that the previous Mrs. Namikaze was one hundred percent against slavery.
Naruto glanced up, coming off the wall as he saw Orochimaru emerge from a hallway, Naruto's new slave at his heels, submissive head bowed. Akane and Minato stepped apart, coming to stand beside their children as the pale man saw them, coming over.
His smile as he handed the blond the end to a leash set the younger man on edge. "Well, Naruto-kun, I've personally trained this one for five years, and I'm sure he'll do well for you. If you have any problems though, just call and I'll come round to put him in his place, right Itachi?"
As he said this, he reached into the dark curtain to lift a pale chin. Akane and Sakura gasped at the pale, handsome face offset by fierce red eyes, somewhat nullified in their pride. Naruto watched carefully, tilting his head slightly as he observed the man's reaction. Itachi had shivered at the man's touch. "Yes, Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru what, Itachi?" The man smirked, knuckles going white on the grip he had on the slaves chin.
"Orochimaru." Naruto sounded, nodding. Everyone turned to him. "Just Orochimaru is fine." Naruto said this pointedly to the wide eyed Itachi, with a light smile. Then dangerous eyes slid to Orochimaru. "Now... If you'd be so kind as to unhand my new slave..."
The hand was gone so fast you'd think it had been burned off by Naruto's scathing tone. Steely golden eyes met the cold blue flames of the blonde. "Of course, Naruto." His posture stiff, he bowed. "Namikaze-san, Haruno-san's." With that, he turned from them.
Minato frowned at his son who met his gaze with only a centimeter or two height difference. "Naruto..." he started.
"Sorry, Father, but you know I've never liked him." Naruto spoke, voice even, not nearly as fierce as a moment before.
"I'm sure." Minato spoke, unimpressed.
Akane giggled. Minato continued to badger Naruto for a few moments before Sarutobi arrived, a young man with a scar across his nose in tow, three slaves aligned behind them, all of their heads bowed respectfully.
They set off for the limos, Sarutobi offering to take Itachi's lead, but being denied. Itachi felt the lead being shortened spasmodically until he realized, almost jumping, that he was directly on his new master's heels.
He chanced a glance up, at the same time a young pinkette on his master's arm cast him a frown. On his right was Asuma, who tossed him a grin. He shivered at the cold night air and frowned at the long path.
Either his shiver had traveled down the lead or the blonde was a psychic, but the next thing he knew his young master had rounded on him. He flinched, briefly wondering if the show of cold had enraged the blonde boy, but a whoosh of air and sudden warmth shocked him.
He opened his eyes in time to see the boy do up the top button of the expensive jacket he'd just thrown around Itachi's shoulders.
... What?
Sakura, as he'd heard her name to be, also frowned. "Naruto, what are you doing? He can't be that cold." She sneered at him, and Itachi could already tell that she was after the attention he had just received.
"Oh, I'm sorry Sakura, was that your coat?" The words were tossed over the blonde's shoulder without a care, almost as if he wasn't partaking in the conversation. "Oh! No, wait, you just paid 200 thousand on a new slave and you're offended that I would try to keep him from catching a cold?"
Itachi couldn't help it: a soft breathy chuckle escaped him. The boy was witty. Dazzling blue eyes shot up to his, and a smile alighted his tanned face, but only for a moment. Sakura had heard Itachi laugh, and scowled at him before storming off to follow her mother. They reached the limos quickly enough and the blonde men said goodnight to the women, receiving a kiss on the cheek for their companionship that evening.
Sarutobi held the door for them. First Minato climbed in, then Naruto, then the red headed girl who threw Itachi an impish glance before settling into the crook of Minato's arm. Finally Itachi climbed in, almost at a loss until he decided it would be best to kneel beside his new master, on the limo floor.
The engine hummed to life, pulling away from the curb to glide off to the Namikaze residence. Naruto turned to the red head - and it was red, not orange. "So, what was your name?"
"Safire, Sir." The girl said meekly, after a nod from her master. Itachi watched from under lowered lashes.
"Indeed? You know she looks exactly like Okaa-san, Father. Or could it just be that you have a thing for red heads?" Naruto chuckled, turning to his father.
Minato frowned, lifting a hand from the girl's shoulder to finger her hair. "Red heads are nice..." he said, smiling at his son.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "It used to be blondes before you met Kushina."
"Meh," the elder Namikaze said, startling a chuckle from the younger, which slowly dissolved into a comfortable silence. Itachi was amazed by his master. Addressing the slave before addressing your father? From his youth, Itachi couldn't ever fathom doing such a thing; it was a high breach of etiquette.
"Itachi, wasn't it?" Itachi jumped from his reverie to find his master talking to him.
"Yes, Master."
A light silence, then, casually, "Any relation to the Shadow Weasel?"
It took all of Itachi's acting skills to glance back in confusion, "No, Master?" and then force a jolt of realization and quickly glance away from the probing blue eyes.
A chuckle - somewhat relieved. "Just checking."
"Who is the Shadow Weasel, Naruto?"
"Just a movie star, Father, no one important." Naruto turned his gaze to the window, arms strewn on the highest level of the luxury seats on either side of him. Itachi chanced another glance - the other's face was devoid of outstanding emotion.
~X~ .P. ~X~
They lived in a mansion, Itachi could've guessed as much. But really, theirs must've been the most gorgeous one he'd ever seen.
It had all of 3 stories, excluding the apparent underground car park. After driving past the beautifully rough slate and white brick fencing, they reached a tall set of double gates which opened automatically, only to reveal a glittering gravel road that ended in a circle, where a fountain spewed water.
They were dropped off outside the house, Sarutobi opening and closing the car doors, bowing, before retreating to the garage to park the limo.
Itachi gazed out at the garden. To the left were a series of aligned rose beds and some form of centre piece guarded by the sheer amount of white and red roses. To the right lay a green expanse with a border of trees that continued on around the house. In the centre was a large, ancient looking cherry blossom tree that was in full bloom. Pink flowers fluttered around the yard the pale, moon lit yard.
Naruto waved his father on, ignoring his worried gaze as he ascended the steps to his house, Safire still on his arm. Naruto watched his new slave carefully. Itachi was gazing out at the landscape, dazzled, the white moonlight flooding the area and crescending the extravagant beauty. Itachi turned slowly, ignorant of the wasted minutes, and jolted to find his master alone, watching him.
He moved to apologize, but his new master raised a hand. Itachi stopped. Slowly, Naruto lowered his hand. "It is beautiful, isn't it?" he wasn't watching him now, but the scenery. A quite breeze rolled between them, causing Naruto to blink, before tilting his head to the side. "Shall we?" He turned halfway, indicating the steps, and Itachi could only nod mutely, stunned.
Naruto nodded, almost to himself. He ascended the steps, confidant that Itachi followed him. They emerged in a large room, almost a hall. There were six exits. The one they'd just come through, two on his left and right, after ascending mahogany steps, two on the ground floor next to the stairs, obviously for slave usage, and another, in front of them, led to a dining area with a long table.
Naruto walked up the right set of stairs. He swung open a pretty set of double doors without hesitation, emerging in a large bedroom, a lavish king sized bed directly ahead. Naruto stalked into the room, clapping on the lights while Itachi looked around.
To his right from wall to wall, were glass windows and twin sliding doors, leading to a small veranda with two well made, well used lounging chairs. In the room between the bed and the glass was a massive couch set on one side, and a very large screen TV beside Itachi's vantage point. On the other side of the room, to his left, was a door to a bathroom, and a set of wooden doors that Naruto opened to reveal a walk in wardrobe. In the corner - a computer on a long desk accompanied by other hardware.
Wait a second... where had Naruto gone? Footsteps in the hall, and Itachi turned to follow his master to a single door further along the hall. On a small whiteboard on its front, the name 'Kakashi' was written. Naruto knocked on the door.
"What is it Naruto, I was trying to sleep." The door opened to reveal a silver haired man with mismatched eyes, a mask adorning the lower half of his face.
"No you weren't. You were waiting anxiously for my safe return. Have a look, 'Kashi." Naruto pointedly stepped to the side, revealing Itachi who had been half hidden behind him. Kakashi nodded appraisingly, eyeing up the new addition.
"Nice, and a Class-A, too, it's the third month isn't it? How much?" He stepped forward.
"200."
"Makes sense..." Kakashi said as he raised Itachi's chin. "This one's an Uchiha; did you see his red eyes?"
"Mmm... I was hoping you wouldn't say that..." Naruto murmured, watching from against the wall. "Nippon, ka, Itachi-kun?" Uchiha's, once upon a time, were the leading Japanese slave dealers, rivals with second and third generation Namikaze Trade Company. Then they'd all died in some form of accident, just after Minato took power, a few years after Naruto's birth. Naruto only knew of a few other Uchiha...
"Hai, Namikaze-san." Itachi said, letting his head lower when the strange man released his chin.
"It's Naruto." The blonde sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Kakashi, I want your help for an assessment tomorrow morning, before we go to Okaa-san's. I would do it now, but I'm not sure how I'm still standing."
Looking at him long enough, Itachi did note that the blonde seemed tired, his eyes drooping and his stance slack. Kakashi nodded. "Of course. Will he be coming to Kushina's?"
"Probably." Naruto shrugged, pushing off the wall, only to stumble. Kakashi caught his arm, but Naruto waved it off.
"Go to bed, Naruto, Kushina will have my head if you show up dead on your feet." Kakashi said, crossing his arms. Naruto nodded.
"I am. Goodnight, Kakashi." Though he didn't move, the dismissal was there. Kakashi nodded and closed the door, disappearing into his room.
Itachi found the blonde watching him. Naruto shook his head, before addressing him. Then he took a deep breath, "This is not a question to benefit myself, but you. I am not asking if you deem yourself worthy of sleeping with me, or if you think I am good enough to sleep with. You have two choices. Down this hall is a bedroom without an occupant, with a shower, a bed and a wardrobe, free for you to use. Or there is my room, my bed, and my bathroom. I don't mind which you pick, it makes very little difference to me, though usually Class-A's prefer not to sleep alone."
Itachi blinked. A choice? Who was this guy, seriously? But... the idea of sleeping alone, though it must've seemed nice, was foreign, and Itachi didn't like it. "Your room, please, Namikaze-san."
"It's Naruto." the blonde sighed, raking a hand down his face. "Right, this way then." He followed his master back to the blonde's room. The boy pointed at the bathroom. "First, you shower. I'm not having someone fresh from Orochimaru's lair in my bed. Then..." He walked over to the wardrobe. On the immediate left was a set of drawers. Naruto opened the first and second, revealing boxers, lounge pants and easy shirts - sleepwear. "Then, because I'm almost certain you're the same size as me, put on whatever you do or don't want to wear from here. Then come to bed." Naruto yawned again.
"Towels are on the rack; don't worry about noise, because I won't fall asleep properly until I feel you get into the bed. Off with you now." He waved Itachi on before pulling out a change of clothes, changing, and then he slipped into the side of the bed that faced the gardens. He almost fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but he remembered to wait for the man.
Itachi showered slowly. Though manners and training were telling him to be brief then jump in to bed with his new master, he knew that that wasn't expected. He absorbed the warmth, ridding himself of the past five years spent at Orochimaru's beck and call. This blonde, he was strange. Master's weren't supposed to care for their slaves. This 'Naruto'... He was offsetting. Everything he had been forced to learn since... since his family died and he ended up in slavery, was being thrown out the window. Painfully slowly.
He shivered. He wondered if, when the blonde boy wasn't so tired, if he would actually be sleeping with him. Had he been bought because he was an Uchiha, because he was a Class-A, or both? So many questions... no answers. Maybe he could ask that friend of Naruto's, Kakashi. Wait... what kind of friend lived with them? But... no, he couldn't be a slave, they were so casual with each other...
With the beginnings of a headache, Itachi switched off the water, stepping out and drying himself. He looked up at the mirror, catching his own reflection and sighed. He left the bathroom, flicking off the light. Turning to the wardrobe, he found a pair of black boxers and black comfy pants. Then he grabbed a red singlet, slipping into them.
He turned to the bed. The light, though dimmer then before, was still on, and he could see the blonde's form on the farthest side of the bed. He crept up, before throwing caution to the wind and lifting the covers on 'his' side of the bed. His breath caught when the blonde rolled to look over his shoulder, tired, ice cold blue eyes meeting his from beneath stray strands of blonde hair. The moonlight, almost overriding the electronic lights above, shined on him, catching his handsome features and skyrocketing.
He must have frozen. The blonde hmmed loudly, rolling back over. The eyes left his, and Itachi found his breath again. "Hurry up and get in bed so I can go to sleep, Uchiha." Itachi swiftly did as told, stiffly lying on his back beside the blonde. Naruto clapped, the lights turning off. "G'night."
"Goodnight, Namikaze-san." Itachi said. Naruto grumbled under his breath about the name before his breathing finally evened out, and Itachi found himself smiling as he relaxed into the covers.
~X~ .P. ~X~
I hope you like Chapter 1 of Possessive! Welcome to my newest story! So yes, feel free to believe that I'm alive. Wonderfully Beta-ed by Lord Rebecca-Sama. Let me tell you, her prowess with Gramma and spelling is unparalleled!
~ Enna Scarlet Rose