Whisper of the Beast
There is a sound of footsteps somewhere in front of me. A familiar smell surrounds the air around me. I feel the sting of warm breath on my cold skin as the person kneels to be at eye level.
I tense as fingers trace various scratches, bruises, and scars. A soft murmur reaches my ears, so soft he probably didn't think I heard it. But the only thing that has deteriorated is my vision. My hearing is perfect. Better than before, actually.
"Itachi niisan."
Sasuke. I expected that.
"Otouto." I smirk. "Finally come to kill me?"
"Iie." My wrists are freed. "I've come to take you home."
The chain on my neck is released and a hand –Sasuke's hand?– clamps onto my newly freed wrist with an iron grip. "You need food. And a warm place to be."
I know better than to walk into the viper's mouth, but I know even if I'm not killed by Sasuke, I'll die here anyway. So I go with my baby brother as he leads me firmly and (dare I say it) gently around halls and through corridors.
What has happened to all my work? To the years of hatred? As if knows what I'm thinking, Sasuke stops and places his mouth close to my ear, then says, in the barest of whispers "Don't think I'm turning soft, Itachi niisan. I only did this because no one else wants you. You're not even worth killing anymore."
My brother must think he's very witty at this point, using my own words against me. I think I want to kill him right now. He must have at least kept up his training, either that or I've gotten weaker than I thought, because his hand feels like a vice.
I may have to be careful from now on. Not extremely careful, but careful, nonetheless.
That whisper echoes in my head 'I only did this because no one else wants you. You're not even worth killing.'
Perhaps I've created my own monster.
To be continued...