Chapter 2: I can't give in

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.

Warning, yaoi in this chapter.

Itachi could no longer sit in his room, the lack of knowledge toward where his brother had gone was eating at him. He gave no warnings as he headed for his mother's study and knocked roughly on the door. He entered without waiting and saw his mother filtering through a bookshelf toward the back of the room. Her armor stood on a model not far away, gleaming in the firelight. The sun had gone down, and night was vastly approaching. He approached her with heavy steps, his own armor long gone and replaced with his princely garments. His top was as blood red as his eyes, trimmed with golden olive trees. His hair was in a ponytail now; the sweat long dried from his battle practice. His mother was dressed simply, a flowing deep purple gown trimmed with silver oak leaves and prolonged sleeves of see-through material. She was surprised to see him as she turned and set the book on her desk.

"Itachi, my nightingale, why the unexpected visit?" She asked curiously as if framing innocents. Itachi scowled as he crossed his arms and leaned against her desk.

"Why the meeting with Sasuke today? I do not like secrets' mother," He growled. His red eyes were narrowed in what Mikoto could only assume was jealousy. She smirked slightly as she fingered the book on her desk.

"Are you troubled that I captured Sasuke's attention for a while? If you must know, I was introducing him to A .. . . Possible suitor," She said as if it was the most normal thing in the world. At the words, Itachi froze and looked at his mother as if she had gone mad.

"Excuse me?" He whispered in a deadly voice, eyes' narrowing. Mikoto didn't bat an eyelash as she opened the book she had chosen off of the shelf.

"You heard me darling. Your attempts at wooing him have failed. Sasuke is not moved by you, thus, I must acquaint him with another. That potential charm you so daringly boast about does not affect him. If you do not work harder Itachi, Sasuke will be lost to you forever," She said, giving him a mysterious smile.

The look on Itachi's face could only be described as searing rage. Not caring that she was his mother, he slapped the book off her desk and landed with a thump near an arm chair by her armor. He clenched his teeth and barred them at her like a wild animal.

"No one will take him away from me, not some jewel-clad clowns or the Queen of this nation. Do you hear me mother? I don't want this imperial pig anywhere near my brother!" He threatened, voice rising significantly. Mikoto was unimpressed by his behavior as she calmly walked over to the book and picked it up off the floor.

"Do what you must, you have some time after you return from battle. I suggest you move quickly, do fight diligently now; I wouldn't want any scars to mark up that pretty face I worked so hard to make," She laughed as she picked up the book and held it to her chest. Itachi wanted no more of her as he turned for the door.

"I will slay anyone who gets in my way, anyone!" He bellowed as he slammed the door behind him.

Mikoto watched her eldest son leave solemnly, looking toward her fireplace. Walking to it, she went past it to her armor. She stared into the gold surface, memories flooding her subconscious. Moonlight was beginning to drift through the skylight. Lifting a finger she smoothed it down the surface of her armor, seeing the faces of her children in a much younger era. She smiled as she remembered the younger Sasuke, her diamond, her diamond in the rough She chuckled lightly to herself when she always thought of what she was doing to him. She needed her sons strong; she needed them to understand, she needed them to be with each other.

Itachi stormed angrily down the hallway, his eyes burning with an intensity no one would dare take on. Any late-night servants were quick to get out of his way as he stormed past. Deciding not to go back to his room, he made other plans. He took a detour down another hallway and made his way toward the stables. He exited the castle out of the back way and moved through the gardens to the servant's area outside the walls. He stepped along the pathway and finally found his destination. He entered the stables, passing the stable master who gave him a bow upon seeing him. Delving further past the piles of hay and snuffing mares, he came upon a teen brushing down a brilliant white stallion. As soon as he stepped up behind the boy, the other stopped brushing the horse. He turned to look at Itachi from over his shoulder, and the raven stared him down. The teen turned fully around and bowed to the prince.

"My lord?" He asked attentively. The boy stood almost to Itachi's height. He wore a loose white top covered in the day's work. His hair was long, held up by a ponytail the back of his head. He had only one eye, the other lost years ago in childhood. Itachi had known the other male for years; he had saved him in youth from a violent crowd accusing the boy of being a thief. The crowd had torn out his eye and aimed to go for the other one until Itachi arrived. The real thief had been caught, and the villagers were left to live in shame of their cruelty. They were shamed even more when Itachi invited the other to come work personally at his castle. However, what people didn't know, was that this male had other purposes besides working in the stables for Itachi.

"Deidara, I need you to do something for me." The blond smiled as his bangs hid his missing eye.

"Sure, un, just tell me what you need your highness."

Sasuke was in his night robe, fresh from his bath but still slightly agitated at the day's events. He stared into his fireplace, the hearth blazing with coals of bright, orange and red. He held a glass of wine between his finger tips as he lazily swirled it around. He held a deep look of contemplation. So much happened in such a short amount of time. He bit his lip when he thought of even being alone with this Orochimaru. Would he talk about? What would he say? Did his mother want him to consider this male? Or was he simply over thinking things and his mother wanted him to win the man's favor over for the war?

He sighed and sat down his glass on the end stand upon the hearth. He had a slight migraine as he walked toward his bed to retrieve the container of water he had left there earlier. He suddenly sneered when he thought of his brothers disgusting invitation. He isn't sure what to think of him at the moment; Itachi had simply left his mind, and he planned to keep it that way. He looked at his empty bed and lowered his eyes. He couldn't understand why Kakashi suddenly found him repulsive. He would've thought after nights of passionate sex, Kakashi would have been eager to stay in his room with him. He didn't feel anything for the man. He was simply a body with the right equipment attached. Sasuke had no desire for the young maids who ran about. He knew the guards went after the teenage girls who worked in the kitchen.

After the day's stress, he found himself sexually frustrated. It would be near impossible right now to go out and find a suitable partner, unless he left the castle. He had only done it once when he was younger, disguising himself and entering the local tavern. He had found a bed mate, but the man was a pig. He took what he wanted from Sasuke and didn't even stay long enough for him to release. Sasuke swore never again to go looking in the poor section of town. He decided that tonight would be a solo job, just something to take the edge off until he found his next suitable body. He had often thought of Kakashi's nephew Obito; that boy might have been brain dead and stupid, but he looked like a person who would just shut up and fuck.

Not caring that his door wasn't locked, Sasuke reached into his robe and palmed himself. No one would dare to enter his domain without knocking. He groaned as he fisted his cock from the base and simply let his robe fall open. He only managed to stroke himself a few times before he was interrupted. A loud knock resonated throughout the room from the hard wood. He panicked and quickly did up his night robe, scowling at the door. He let out a curse and wondered who would dare to show up at his door this time of the night.

Without waiting, the door swung open and Sasuke was left gaping. Itachi strode in like he owned everything. He looked around the room first at the blazing fire and then Sasuke standing by his bed. The younger raven looked surprised to see his brother, especially so late at night.

"Itachi, what are you doing? Go back to your own room, you leave tomorrow for war," Sasuke said in exaggeration. The older raven only narrowed his eyes as he closed the door and Sasuke heard the distinct sound of him pressing in the lock.

"Itachi. . . " Sasuke warned. Unconsciously, Sasuke pulled his robe tighter around his body. Itachi approached him slowly, his steps resonating off the cold marble floor. A light rain started outside making the fire scene warm and comforting. The light played off Itachi's face just right, and Sasuke couldn't help but still feel the tangles of pleasure roll down his legs. He backed away when his brother approached, but he had nowhere to run. Itachi drew close, and Sasuke kept the scowl on his face. The older reached up and gently cupped Sasuke's jaw.

"You didn't come to my room, tell me why?" He asked in a low voice. Sasuke wasn't sure if this was some kind of joke. He sighed and took his face out of his brother's grip.

"Itachi, enough. Go back to your room already. I am in no mood for games. You need to sleep for tomorrow," He said softly. His heart did ache at the thought of Itachi leaving tomorrow. It must've shown on his face because his brother stepped closer and fully cupped his jaw with his strong hand.

"I am strong Sasuke; I do not die easily," He said. The warmth on his jaw did everything combined with the day's events and his brother's firm voice. He was being pulled, and he knew it; he could not give in.

"I know that, please just go away!" Sasuke urged him. The younger closed his eyes tight and clenched his teeth.

"Why must you torture me?" He whispered softly and sadly. He gasped through his dilemma as Itachi gave no warning and swiftly kissed him. It sent a shock down Sasuke's spine, none the boy had ever felt by kissing others. He moaned in confusion and managed to twist around Itachi and break the kiss.

"Stop!" He commanded angrily, raising his hand toward his brother's face. He backed up toward the fireplace holding the edges of his robe. Itachi ascended on him, not relinquishing. Sasuke could feel the fire at his back and the heat slightly burnt the back of his knees. He took deep calming breaths of nervousness as Itachi never stopped coming toward him.

"Sasuke, I love you," He said out right. The look on his face could only be described as fierce and desperate determination. The younger was left speechless at the sudden confession. He gaped like fish as his brother gripped his arms and pulled him close.

"Stay with me tonight, Sasuke. . . Let me come to your bed," He almost seemed to beg. His eyes were alight, and the younger had a hard time trying to figure out why. He had never seen Itachi so desperate before. . . So needy. His brother was the definition of a calm, suave and collect person. It scared him to see Itachi so. . . Different. Sasuke shook his head as several emotions struck him. He was still confused about how he felt about Orochimaru. His brother was making this harder for him to think.

"You only seek someone to bed. Just get out of my room!" He cried, spinning on the spot and giving his brother his back. There was silence for a moment as nothing but the sound of rain hit the windows. He felt Itachi's hands on his back as they crawled up his shoulder blades and down his arms. Sasuke stood stiff as the hands wandered over his hips to the front of his robe near the seam. He gasped in slight arousal as his brother's hands went up and under his robe, crawling up his bare thighs, nails scratching just right. Sasuke tried to twist away, but he only ended up setting his hands on the top of the fireplace as, he bent into Itachi's ministrations.

"Please stop," Sasuke begged softly, but it was only half hearted. Itachi made a sound of approval as he leaned toward the younger and pressed his mouth to the back of Sasuke's neck.

"I can't, please don't ask me to stop Sasuke," He asked softly. Sasuke was spun back around, his robe torn open by his brother. He took in long and deep breaths of air, desperate to find a stable ground somewhere in his body. Itachi grabbed the sides of his head and kissed him fiercely dragging them both to the floor. Hands roamed and touched as Sasuke lost all sense of being. He was letting Itachi win; he was giving into doing what he didn't want to. In the middle of it all, Itachi somehow got rid of his shirt, now left bare chested. Sasuke was completely naked, hard and yearning under his brother. Signals went off in his brain for everything to stop, but he craved sex; he craved the intimacy he had not had in so long. He couldn't remember the last time he had coupled with somebody. He wanted this so badly, but he couldn't give in, not to Itachi.

With a growl, Sasuke put his hands on his brother's bare chest and managed to push the other away. Itachi, who had been kissing his neck, fell back in surprise and only stared at Sasuke. In order to hide his nakedness, Sasuke grabbed his robe and dragged it over his thighs. He fixed Itachi with a glare that said it all. The older raven was not amused as he attempted to crawl back toward Sasuke and reach a hand out.

"Sasuke," He urged. The boy slapped his hand away and stood, fixing his robe.

"Out! OUT!" Sasuke shouted at him, walking away. Itachi sat stunned for a moment until he stood up swiftly with a growl.

"Fine," Was all he said, voice hard and sharp. Sasuke didn't watch as Itachi angrily grabbed his shirt and roughly put it back on. He stomped toward the door with heavy steps and unlocked it, flinging it open. He didn't so much as look at Sasuke as he slammed the door behind him, leaving the younger engulfed in silence. When Sasuke did turn to look at the door, his face had relaxed and now held a tired air to it. He sighed and retreated to his bed, eager to crawl inside and simply will away his arousal. He didn't want to think any longer, especially about his older brother.

Itachi . . . You just don't understand me . . .

TBC