Slave to a Shark – Chapter 2: Plato
Itachi followed the butler through to the torture chamber, a feeling of dread rising inside of him the further they went. Itachi recognized this as the way to the torture chamber. Some part of him was uncomfortable due to the lack of clothes, but the butler was doing a great job of making it seem perfectly natural and ignoring the fact that Itachi had none.
"Thank you for the escort." Itachi said politely to the butler, who visibly grimaced at the thank you. At least he has a heart. Itachi thought.
"You're welcome, Itachi." The butler responded, gesturing to the door and waiting for Itachi to go inside. He had been instructed not to enter, just to ensure Itachi did.
Itachi smiled while furrowing his eyebrows together before entering the room, and closing the door behind him. If he began screaming he did not want Sasuke to hear.
You smile and enter this room, even close it behind you, knowing what's waiting for you? Kisame thought, somewhat ticked off that he had been so soft that the slave wasn't already apprehensive about approaching. It's okay, I'll fix that soon enough.
Kisame was planning on ordering Itachi to remove his clothes and place them on the table, however, he remembered he hadn't actually granted him clothes yet so he didn't have any.
Kisame got up as Itachi entered and walked over to a side of the room, "Come here," he ordered as he picked up the shackles holding down from the ceiling.
Itachi complied, and even offered his hand to Kisame to shackle. Kisame didn't let it show, but he was getting angrier by the minute. No fighting back at all. None. This was too ridiculous.
"Are you a masochist?"
"No sir."
"Do you feel pain?"
"Yes sir."
You could fool me. Kisame thought, shackling Itachi's hands and feet with the iron chains.
Kisame raised the chains slightly so that Itachi was held up slightly off the ground, his feet connected and his arm raised to either side in a sort of Y.
"Do you know why you are here?" Kisame asked.
"Yes sir."
"Why?"
"So you can torture me?" Itachi looked questioningly at Kisame as he said this, as if he wasn't sure.
"You're here because of your infraction earlier." Kisame walked over to the wall and picked up a long, black whip and picked it up.
"You mean when I stopped your attack?"
Kisame slashed the whip through the air, causing a cracking sound. He repeated this a few times before smirking towards Itachi.
"That's part of it."
"I'm assuming the other part was 'ordering' you to buy my brother."
Kisame attacked Itachi with the whip, eliciting a loud cry if pain from the crow. It was music to Kisame's ears, he wanted nothing more then to hear that scream of pain, to hear the man's suffering.
"That's right." Kisame responded.
"I apologize for offending you." Itachi said, his eyes meeting Kisame's.
Kisame shivered once more at the intensity of the gaze. Again, there was no hated in those eyes, even though he had been attacked.
Kisame attacked again, creating slash marks over Itachi's once flawless body.
"It doesn't matter too much anymore." Kisame continued his onslaught, the whip was a powerful one, capable of cutting off a person's fingers with a single whip through the air if done correctly with the right amount of strength. Itachi cried out, his screams piercing the room as his skin cracked and blood pooled to the dungeon floor, sliding down his pale, ivory skin.
"What-what do you mean by that?" Itachi said through pants, his body was shaking under the pain and his face was scrunched up, his eyes shut.
"I plan to sell you and your brother."
Itachi's eyes shot open, their deep Crimson shade met Kisame's once more, in anger. "You will not do that." Itachi said dangerously, his tone one of command.
Kisame's eye twitched and he whipped Itachi once more, harshly, so strongly that part of Itachi's shoulder skin cut through cleanly and fell, blood gushed out dangerously. But Itachi made no sound, his teeth were ground together, holding back any sound.
"I told you not to order me."
"Please, Hoshigaki-sama. Don't sell us." Itachi said, changing his tactic and trying to sound sweet.
"Why do you want to stay?" Kisame was tempted to whip again but was getting the impression that any more would cause the crow to lose consciousness - and he needed to hear the response.
Some part of him was happy that Itachi wanted to stay, was even begging for it. Why? Why would anyone want to stay in this hellhole? Could it be Itachi truly held no hatred for him after all this? Yet that change in attitude so fast was annoying. The boy was lying to him, trying to manipulate him. Kisame had been surrounded by people like that his entire life - people who wanted to manipulate him, use him. He hated them all - he hated the lies. He needed truth.
"If you sell us we will be separated. I do not want to be separated from my brother." Itachi said, his eyes turning back to their onyx hue and yet losing color fast. He was losing consciousness and his head bowed down, unable to stay up any longer. His body slacked and a moment later he was gone.
Kisame couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment at the answer- but honestly what else could he have expected? Anything else would've been a lie. Another part of Kisame was touched by the honesty and the strong feelings Itachi had for his brother.
Kisame felt jealous. He wanted someone to care about him as much as Itachi obviously cared for Sasuke. Angrily, he tossed aside his whip and unshackled Itachi, who fell to the ground in his own blood. He would die soon, if he wasn't taken care of immediately.
Kisame ripped off his own clothing and tore it to make long bandages that could hold back the bleeding. He tied up all of Itachi's open wounds and carried him to the hospital wing once more.
At the hospital wing, Kisame properly bandaged Itachi, using alcohol to cleanse the wounds properly. After he was done he washed his hands and sat down watching Itachi breathe roughly. Once again, Kisame marveled at his inherent beauty.
He's incredibly selfless. Kisame thought. What's so great about his brother anyway? Kisame vaguely remembered the kids face from when he had bought him.
Getting up, Kisame decided to head down to the basement and check on the status of his other slave. It was time they met face to face.
-.-.-
Kisame entered the danky basement and wrinkled his nose. The smell was like death, oddly like Kakuzu's medical wing. There was very little light and the walls were made of concrete and of dark grayish hues. Iron bars kept the cells shut and prisoners at bay. The temperature was uncontrolled here, and it was incredibly cold. Kisame noted an icicle on one of the windows.
Itachi's brother was sitting in the corner of his cell, wearing nothing - he hadn't been provided with any clothes yet. Mentally Kisame chided himself for not remembering that. The boy was shivering and holding himself as close as possible, using a piece of cloth that was on the bed as a blanket of sorts- one that was hardly sufficient.
When he entered the boy looked up and his eyes met Kisame's. Instantly Kisame noted the heavy differences between the two. Sasuke would be considered significantly more beautiful by most - his dark raven hair gleamed and shined, unlike Itachi's dull black, and they spiked back like a porcupine's, unlike Itachi's flat, straight hair.
Their eyes were the same though - minus the fact that Sasuke did not have heavy bags around his eyes that made Itachi look older and tired. Yet somehow, Kisame couldn't help but feel significantly more interested in Itachi.
"What do you want?" The boy asked harshly. "And where's my brother?"
First note. Itachi was always polite - well until his brother was involved, then he would seem dangerous.
"I wanted to see the brother Itachi wants so much to protect. What's your name?" Kisame touched the iron bars of the prison then let go instantly. Too cold.
"Not your bu-ARGHH." The boy keeled in pain as the seal on his neck burned into him.
Another note. Itachi could keep his composure in that amount of pain.
"S-Sasuke." Sasuke finally ceded, wanting to end the pain. But his eyes glared at Kisame with rage and anger.
Kisame smiled. Sasuke was the type of slave he had been looking for, not Itachi. Itachi and his emotionless facade, his unbreaking will and acceptance of his fate. But Itachi was the one Kisame wanted to play with now. That, and somehow Kisame just didn't have the interest to begin destroying the younger Uchiha - not yet anyway.
"Where... Is my brother?" Sasuke asked, gripping his neck and continuing his death glare at Kisame.
"I'll let him tell you." Kisame said, turning to leave. Sasuke was as concerned about his brother as Itachi was of him. This brotherly bond... Kisame couldn't understand it.
"L-let me see him now." Sasuke couldn't hold back the chattering of his teeth.
"He's in a better place then you right now, do you really want him to suffer in this cold?" Kisame asked, leaving before he could see or hear a reply.
After leaving the basement Kisame found Jared.
"Yes, Master Hoshigaki?"
"Get some clothes for both slaves. Have some sent down to Sasuke, and give me Itachi's. I know you probably already had them set aside so just bring them to me."
Kisame was right - Jared had already had clothes prepared and was just waiting for his word to bring them. Jared was back in a moment with Itachi's clothes and handed them to Kisame.
"I'll go deliver these to Sasuke."
"Thank you, Jared."
-.-.-
The clothes Jared had set aside were very basic on purpose. Dressing a slave expensively was a show of wealth, but also a show of graciousness towards the slave. Kisame had no intention of showing graciousness. The clothes were grey, the most dull color possible, and with absolutely no design on them. Just simple pants and a shirt, no pockets or anything.
Kisame took them to the medical wing wing where he had left Itachi, and paused for a moment outside of the door, wondering if he was making a mistake. He should've had Jared come bring these clothes.
But he was already there - so Kisame opened the door and entered the room.
Itachi lay on the bed exactly as Kisame had left him, but some of his bandages needed changing already. The red was leaking through, and he looked even paler then before, more ghostlike than anything else.
I might have gone too far this time.
Kisame cleaned the wounds one more time and changed the bandages again, surprised with himself for putting this much effort into a slave. Yet it was something to do - after work on most days he would have nothing to do. In his bored, Kisame would train, meditate or read. It was a dull, monotonous life. Perhaps he did need a distraction in the form of a slave once more.
After he finished bandaging the Uchiha, Kisame once again took in the image of the crow's beautiful body. It was, even with all the scars from the whipping, the most perfect thing Kisame had ever seen. Itachi was certainly a man - no not because of nether regions, though that solidified it - but because he was ripped. It was obvious the Uchiha had spent long days training his body to be in perfect shape, he probably played a sport or something similar. He may have been a smaller man than Kisame in terms of stature, but he was still a man. His chest and shoulders were incredibly alluring, possibly more so because of the scars Kisame had placed there.
I'm sick. I enjoy knowing I left those scars all over him. It makes it feel like he's mine. Wait, he is mine. Mine.
Possessiveness coursed through Kisame at that thought.
But he only cares for his brother. Even if I own his body, I won't have his heart... What am I thinking? I'm thinking like a jealous lover! Who needs a heart? Or more, I could just order him to give it to me.
An ugly mental image of Itachi literally ripping out his heart and giving it to Kisame flashed through Kisame's mind and he grimaced. Not what he was going for.
It's been too long since I've had release. Perhaps it is time I took advantage of my slaves for their other purpose... Kisame thought about this. There was no doubting that Itachi was attractive to him. So why not? Tomorrow when he wakes up, I'll take him.
Kisame dressed Itachi in the plain gray clothing before leaving, taking a moment to run his fingers through the crow's dull black hair.
It was surprisingly silky and soft.
-.-.-
The next day nothing happened, because Itachi did not regain consciousness. Kisame visited him in the medical wing and changed his bandages once again after his work was done for the day.
Kisame visited Itachi a second time before he went to sleep, but Itachi still hadn't regained consciousness.
He lost a lot of blood, I really overdid it.
Itachi was connected to an IV that day by Kakuzu.
"Don't touch him, Kakuzu." Kisame warned threateningly. "He's mine. If I find out there is even a single hair out of place I will have your head."
"I won't." Kakuzu said, waving his unusual stitched and muscled arms. It wasn't convincing.
"I'm serious. You can buy an Uchiha with your own money to practice on. This one is mine."
"What about the one in the basement?"
A chill ran through Kisame's spine. "How do you know about that one? He's mine too. Stay away."
"So greedy." Kakuzu growled, slightly angered. "Their eyes would be amazing research material..."
"Kakuzu, don't overstep your bounds or welcome. I can shut down your entire business." This wouldn't do. Eventually the greedy doctor would try to get his hands on Sasuke and Itachi.
"Yes, yes I know." Kakuzu narrowed his eyes as he said this.
"Kakuzu..."
"Yeah?"
"I'll get you an Uchiha to study. But not these two. We can setup a search party to capture more Uchiha's from the location these were found."
This seemed to satisfy Kakuzu. "When do we head out?"
"You can decide and you can lead the party." Kisame said. "Money isn't a problem."
"Good." Kakuzu was already beginning his scheme.
That should keep him out of their hair... But just in case maybe I should take an extra step.
-.-.-
Kisame called forth Suigetsu, one of his favorite workers. The boy was about Sasuke's age and a good fighter. He wasn't a match for Kakuzu - but he could hold long enough for Kisame to get there if necessary.
"Suigetsu... I want you to go protect the slave in the cell downstairs. If you notice anyone trying to get him to do anything or visiting him besides Jared or myself, you will send one of your water clones to find me and fend them off." Suigetsu was a rare individual who could actually turn his body into water - and divide himself by that water as well. It was a special power only he and his brother Mangetsu had.
"Understood, Hoshigaki-sama." Suigetsu said, turning to leave.
"Oh and Suigetsu?"
"Hm?"
"Don't harm him. He's an extremely valuable slave." Suigetsu had a thing for cutting things. The last thing Kisame needed was to find Sasuke missing a limb or two.
"Understood." Suigetsu was visibly disappointed, but unlike Kakuzu, Kisame could trust Suigetsu to actually keep his word.
Next Kisame called for Jared.
"Yes, Master Hoshigaki?"
"Please have Itachi moved to my bedroom from the medical wing."
"Right away, Master Hoshigaki." Jared was visibly surprised by this, but did not comment.
The last thing I need is Itachi anywhere near that wing longer than necessary.
It was unusual for any slave - okay no slave had ever been to Kisame's private bedroom. The only person besides Kisame allowed in there was Jared, who personally cleaned the room and occasionally brought breakfast. No one else had ever been in there. No one else even knew where exactly it was.
It was a place Kakuzu did not have the keys to, nor the knowledge of. It was perfect for hiding precious possessions. Itachi was Kisame's possession.
-.-.-
It took another two days before Itachi awoke from his long slumber. When he awoke he was in an unfamiliar place. The place was well decorated, in a dark, yet simple way. The bed he was on was incredibly comfortable, akin to sleeping on a cloud. The blanket was heavy yet perfect for the cold weather and sheets made of silk. The walls were painted a nice dark gray with white and black designs on them, and the carpet was a deep navy blue. Itachi sat up in the bed and looked around, noticing his master staring at him from the very same bed Itachi was laying on. He had in his hand a small book, which Itachi noticed instantly. The Republic.
"So you're finally awake." Kisame said, closing the book and observing Itachi. "You slept for a long time you know."
Itachi wasn't interested in that – well okay he did want to know how long he was asleep for and he was worried about Sasuke… But his intelligence and thirst for books and talk of books got the better of him.
"I love that book, Plato is one of my favorite philosophers."
"What this?" Kisame asked quizzically, turning over the book as he did so.
"Yes. My favorite chapter is the Allegory of the Cave."
"Really? It's my least favorite."
"Why's that?" Itachi asked.
"Because it reminds me of how the world we live in is full of lies."
"Isn't that a good thing? With knowledge comes the power of how to fight it."
"That doesn't change anything." Kisame countered. "Even if we know how to fight it, lies are everywhere. What's more depressing is that the people who managed to understand the shadows on the wall became the people who were causing the shadows to begin with."
"I don't think that was Plato's message, in fact I think he was trying to argue that yes, there are people who manipulate the shadows, and there are people caught in them, but there are people outside of that realm as well. I mean, there are those who try to inform the people who view the shadows as truth."
"And those people are heralded as lunatics." Kisame scoffed.
-.-.-
Kisame first felt a strange sensation – one he hadn't felt before. It was like someone was running their fingers through his hair or massaging his scalp. It felt nice. Kisame smiled, wanting that feeling to continue. Wait what?
Kisame snapped his eyes open and sat up with a jolt, looking around wildly. He was in his room.
"Is something wrong?" Itachi asked.
Kisame stared.
"Wha?"
"You fell asleep."
Kisame's mind whirred as he remembered the night before. He was waiting for Itachi to wake up, he was planning to take advantage of him when he did – yes he was planning to rape the slave. Then how the hell did he end up spending five hours discussing a long dead philosopher with the slave?! And then waking up in that slave's lap?
Kisame shoved Itachi in anger, causing him to fall off the bed and hit the carpet, he groaned in pain immediately from his earlier injuries.
"What the hell were you doing?" Kisame nearly screamed. Seriously, what the hell happened?
"I-I'm sorry, you just sort of fell asleep in my lap and I-I just… I just sort of got carried away." Itachi said, shaking now. It was clear he was beginning to understand the consequences of angering Kisame, and was not looking forward to another torture session.
"Get the hell out. OUT!" Kisame roared, and Itachi did not need telling twice. He scrambled to get up – wincing in pain as he did so – and scampered out of the room at lightning speed.
-.-.-
A/N: For those of you who don't already know Plato is an actual philosopher and the Allegory of the Cave is one of his most well-known works which is part of a bigger collection called The Republic. It's really great, you should check it out. It always reminded me of Kisame so I like to think it's the type of thing Kisame would like reading or discussing, and it's the type of thing Itachi would have knowledge about already.