A/N: An ungodly delay, yes I know. I had other works that needed to be completed, health issues, etc. Even now, there are a ton of things I have to be writing besides this, but Take Me can be delayed no more.

That said, I would like to explain something about Madara here. In canon he is a vastly superior entity, with powers and experience far outstripping anyone else in the Narutoverse. Here, his power is that of anyone in our world: money, men, land, and influence. He has more of these than anyone else in this AR I've created, but other than that he is as ordinary as Sasuke, Itachi, Naruto, and Neji. Evil, to be sure, but no one with supernatural capabilities.

Lastly, I will try to update this every Saturday, as I did with Save Me. I make no promises, though, as I am also in the middle of writing other works and my novel. And no, I don't know how many chapters this will be. I'm notoriously incapable of predicting fic length.

Thank you all for your wonderful patience.

Chapter 2

The snow continued to fall as dusk finally came, followed by full dark. Neji remained where he was, sitting in front of Itachi's desk, as Itachi appeared to be lost in thought. He saw Itachi fingering the ring of keys he kept attached to his waistcoat, opposite the pocket he kept his watch in. After a moment, the ring of keys was plucked free of their customary place and held up to the lamplight.

Itachi studied the many keys, idly turning them in his hand. "You said the documents Madara filed with my lawyer are legitimate," he said to Neji at length. "Is my lawyer still my man?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact. And interestingly enough, he is loyal to you because he was loyal to your father. I thought you'd done away with all servants and retainers loyal to him?"

Itachi hadn't known that his lawyer was still his father's man. "So did I. When I apprised him of the fact that he'd be serving me instead of my father he assured me that he would do all in his power to prove that he was dedicated to me and me only. He was too good, and too familiar with our family's affairs, for me to consider finding another." He continued to turn the keys in his hand, examining them one by one.

Neji looked at the keys too, wondering at Itachi's sudden fascination with them. "Was there a reason you asked about the lawyer, sir?"

"Hm? Ah, yes. I just wondered, since the documents appeared legitimate. That would mean my lawyer was aware of Madara's activities, and the fact that Sasuke's inheritance had been usurped from my control. It occurs to me that he might have informed me, but he hasn't. That suggests that he was threatened by Madara to keep his silence." He paused at Neji's confirming nod. "And yet he lives. He has not been killed and replaced, as others loyal to me or my father have been. Why do you suppose that is?"

Neji blinked, shook his head.

Itachi now rested his elbows on the desk, and his chin on the back of one hand. He held the ring of keys up in the other, still focused on them. "For the same reason he hasn't murdered my mother, Sasuke, or me yet; there's something he wants from us. He wants me to sign those papers, and he wants Sasuke and my mother around to influence my decision. I don't believe he failed to murder his way into possession of my share simply because I'm an active arbiter of my affairs as you said, Neji. No. There is some other reason, and it would seem my lawyer is a part of that reason."

"My lord would know best," Neji said respectfully.

"I don't know about that, but I do know that my father did not keep all his affairs documented. There were things known only to him, held strictly in his mind. It is likely that whatever thing Madara wants, he hoped to get upon receiving possession of my father's control of the family…but Father always kept the most important things undocumented, as I said. Madara must think I have knowledge or possession of this thing, or that it is in my share of the holdings somewhere. Do you suppose he's really dead?" he asked abruptly.

"Your father? Yes." Neji's voice was subdued. "His body is even now with the coroner, having been delivered last night. I expect he'll contact you in the morning to identify it and discuss a funeral."

Itachi said nothing to that. The hand he'd had his chin on was now covering the lower part of his face. His brows were knit in thought as he studied the keys, apparently fascinated by them. "When Sasuke ran away, Father went mad with fury," he mused. "He went on and on about the shame and dishonor done to us, but one must wonder. I do believe now that he must always have been in some kind of private battle with Madara for control of the family. A son who would not obey, or who was not in his control, was a son Madara could then seize and exploit. I could well imagine that Father would rather see us dead than hand Madara such an advantage over him. He was a stern man. A wonder Sasuke escaped Japan without kidnapping, but of course Madara was still occupied with trying to extract control of the family from Father at that time."

Neji felt some measure of wonder himself as he watched Itachi. The man had a very sharp mind and a distinct flair for intrigue, if he could put all this together in only the time he'd been sitting here at this desk. Perhaps Madara wouldn't get the best of him after all. "What will you do now, sir?"

"Right." Itachi finally pulled his eyes away from the keys. His expression and tone grew sharper, more alert, as he addressed the immediate issue facing them. "Our plight is dire, Neji, but not without hope. To my understanding, our most pressing order of business is leverage. Madara has it, we don't. You have already sent a telegram to Naruto, correct?"

Neji nodded, leaning forward as if pulled by Itachi's suddenly commanding air.

"Good. That's Sasuke seen to, but there is still my mother. We must get her away from Madara, and make it so that she has no wish, or is unable, to return to him. She must be persuaded to my side, yet I can see no way to accomplish this. Forcing her, even physically, would not work. She'd only find her way back to him. If my mother was gotten from him, and Madara himself possibly removed from this house, I do believe we could buy ourselves some time."

"For what, sir?" Neji was rapt.

"To discover what this thing that Madara wants is. To perhaps locate it and ensure it doesn't fall into his hands. Once I have it, I could then use it to keep Madara at bay, as Father did."

Neji looked aside, frowning. "A sound plan…but there's no guarantee we will find this thing."

"No, there isn't."

"Sir, forgive me, but Madara will not stop. Wouldn't it be safer for him to suffer an accident?"

Itachi met those pale eyes forthrightly. "I am neither my father nor Madara, Neji. Murder is not the way I do things."

"No, sir. Of course not. Forgive me." Neji lowered his eyes a moment, aware that he'd crossed a line as far as Itachi was concerned.

"That suggestion will never be put to me again." Itachi was firm.

"No, sir, it won't. I do have another suggestion though."

"About Madara?"

"About your mother. I believe I can get her to choose your side of things."

Itachi's gaze sharpened. "How?"

"Well, not me. My cousin. She's a woman. I think your mother would listen to her."

An interesting concept. And his mother was fluent in Japanese. "On the matter of your cousin, I was most surprised to see her at breakfast this morning." His eyes bored into Neji, who's face was suddenly blank. "Do you know anything about that? Or why Madara would find her offensive?"

"No. I mean…I told her there were guests…"

"I see. Well, your suggestion isn't without merit, but you don't know my mother. She may be cowed by Madara, but she is not easily swayed to anything, and your cousin seems to be a very gentle sort. I doubt she'd have any influence whatsoever over my mother."

"Can she at least try?"

"She may," Itachi inclined his head. "But I'm not hopeful of success."

The permission was all he needed. Neji stood up. "By your leave, I'll just go tell her then bring your dinner."

Itachi dipped his head in dismissal.

-oOo-

Once outside Itachi's suite of rooms, Neji paused to make sure the hall was deserted. He saw a flash of white disappearing around the corner to his left.

So the servants were eavesdropping. That wasn't unexpected, seeing as they were all in Madara's pocket now. As Itachi's right hand man, Neji more or less handled all household affairs. He would see about replacing the staff immediately. For now, he hastened to the first floor guest rooms, where his cousin lived, and knocked once on her door before slipping inside.

She was perched in the wing chair near the sitting room's fireplace, feet tucked beneath her, and a book open on her lap. As always, he conversed with her in Japanese. "What happened this morning?"

"An attempt, no more. Possibly not even a serious one." She didn't look up from her book.

"You stopped it?"

"I made known that his actions were ill-advised, yes. You were right to send me."

"Does he suspect you?"

"Madara? Possibly. Hard to say. That my position here is more than guest or relative, certainly. Who I really am…hard to say. His eyes hide much."

"Your interests never crossed his at home?"

"But of course."

He said no more on that. If Madara had ever prevailed against her, his cousin wouldn't now be sitting here. During the past year he'd learned much about her, the reason for her exile, and why she had consented to it. His Japanese had likewise improved tremendously, so that they were able to have nightly conversations about a variety of things.

"Did you ever have contacts in Hawaii or here in America?" he asked now.

Hinata finally closed her book and looked at the fire. "Hawaii, yes. Here…few."

"Contact them. All of them. I need reinforcements here, and people in place in Hawaii to stage a possible coup. Itachi may not believe in murder, but you and I know better, neh?"

"Not believe in murder?" Hinata lifted puzzled eyes to his, head tilted. "What world does he suppose this is?"

"An orderly one. A fair one. Not the world his father knew it to be, or that you and I live in. Sometimes I miss Naruto. He would have spotted the truth of Madara at a glance, and taken his throat the moment he threatened Sasuke. You gotta love a man like that." He laughed. Naruto was a crude bastard, as he himself had come to be over the years. It was only here, working under the steady influence of Itachi and the well-bred atmosphere of those he associated with, that he'd come to develop a layer of polish, class, and sophistication.

"I sense you came here for a specific reason," Hinata said. "One other than to request I contact people in Hawaii."

Neji stood up now, and his tone grew serious. "Uchiha Mikoto. See to her and to the running of this house until I can replace it with suitable staff."

Their eyes held a moment, as further communication passed between them. Then Hinata dropped her eyes to her lap as she reopened her book. "It shall be done."

-oOo-

Breathing easier now that a plan to safeguard Itachi on all immediate fronts was coming together, Neji went to the back of the house where the kitchens were located. He made sure that the butler and housekeeper were present along with the rest of the staff, and addressed his comments to them. The butler was typically in charge of the male servants, while the housekeeper ran the female ones. Neji intended to overrule them both.

"You've shamed yourselves and your posts by abandoning your master the way you have," he began.

"What would you have had us do?" the butler answered back. "Lord Madara waltzed in here and calmly informed us that he had our families. It's true, he does."

"Lord, my ass. And what would I have had you do? I would have had you tell your employer, as any rightful man would have," Neji snapped. "As it is, I can't possibly have any of you anywhere near the master. You're fired, all of you."

Stricken silence. Then one of the bolder servants recalled something. "You don't own us no more, begging your pardon. The lord Madara does now, and-"

Neji took a measured step closer to where they were all clustered. "Yes. That's true. And he does have your families, as also noted, but right now I'm the one standing in front of you, and I will not hesitate to see that blood flies if it means keeping my master safe. There have already been deaths, and I know some of you are aware of my origins. Enough, at any rate, to know that I won't hesitate to use this right here, right now."

Every eye in the kitchen went to the thin blade that seemed to materialize in Neji's hand.

"Should any of you be getting the notion to gang up on me, I can promise you it is not a good idea," Neji added.

They weighed him, judging his threat level. It was known that Neji was proficient at self-defense though, and most of them, if not all, were simple folk who'd never encountered serious violence. A care for their immediate safety outweighed the comparatively distant threat of a family member possibly being hurt. Most of them dropped their eyes in submission.

"But what of our families?" The housekeeper cried. "You can't mean to turn us out without a thought to them?" She, apparently, was the only one thinking less of herself and more of her loved ones.

"You mean the way you sided with Madara without a thought of loyalty to the master?" Neji said harshly. He had no sympathy, not with Itachi's safety on the line. "You're all to be gone from here within the hour. Without pay," he added. "I'll be damned if I see the master's hard-earned money go to a bunch of traitorous scum too afraid to do what's right."

He watched as they hung their heads and filed out one by one, utterly dejected, and followed them as far as the gates to Uchiha Manor. He locked the wrought iron behind them.

Back in the manor, he considered the covered dishes set out on a cart that one of the maids had been about to take to Madara. No doubt the man expected to be served, along with Mikoto, in the large dining room in precisely one hour. There were no footmen and butler now to carry the cart up to the second floor, where he intended to serve the food to Itachi. He transferred as many of the dishes as he could to the kitchen's largest tray instead, and carried this upstairs.

Itachi was shrugging out of his suit jacket and slipping into a dinner one when Neji was given permission to enter after his discreet knock. He came to the table, dressed formally for dinner as he always was, and waited while Neji served him. "You can remain here while I eat, Neji," he said when he took up his knife and fork. "Speak to me of my business affairs as they stand. I know this already, but it helps to hear things from an abstract perspective; I've been trying without success to figure out what it is I have or own that Madara could want. It could still be something only my father knew, but I want to be sure."

"Of course, sir." Neji straightened and stood a few feet to Itachi's right as he began the long process of listing, in detail, all the things Itachi ran or had control of, and his own dealings with them.

-oOo-

The man had a pleasant voice, Itachi mused as he ate. Neji's language had smoothed out considerably during the year he'd been working for him. He found himself becoming increasingly focused on the deep timbre of that voice instead of on the words themselves, and that bothered him.

There was much about his faithful servant that bothered him, if he was honest with himself. He just couldn't put a name to any one thing. There was simply this …current, for lack of a better word. A current of something, some awareness or sense of the other, that left Itachi uncomfortable. Where before he'd been perfectly at ease in Neji's presence, now it was sometimes difficult to meet his eyes, and he often found himself, like now, focused on odd traits the man had. The smell of his hair whenever Neji bent over him to shave him. The hair's thickness, its length. Neji's eyes. The line of his jaw-

No.

As he did each time these thoughts cropped up, Itachi firmly counseled himself to think of something else. It was improper to think of one's servant in any way other than a strictly professional one.

"What was that?" he said, coming out of his thoughts.

"I said I dismissed the staff, sir. They couldn't be trusted. I have some people in mind for replacements, and will have it all settled by the end of the week, if not sooner. Until then, my cousin will see to the house and cooking."

"I see. Well, I leave that to your capable supervision."

"Are you finished, sir?"

Itachi realized that he'd been sitting for some time now before his empty plate. "Yes, thank you. No brandy tonight, I feel the need to turn in early."

"I'll return immediately then, and prepare you for bed." Neji cleared away the dishes and left the room.

Itachi went to his bedroom. He waited by his bed for Neji to come back, the same as every evening, and just as it did every night now, his body hummed through a low-grade fever of anticipation. No matter what went on during the day, or what other pressing matters occupied his mind during daylight hours, always, always, in the back of his mind was the knowledge that come the night, Neji would prepare him for bed, and …it would happen. That thing, that indefinable something that seemed to pass between them with increasing frequency of late would reach such a pitch during the few moments he was readied for bed that neither of them could ignore it, the way they did in the day.

Just what it was Itachi couldn't say, but he fairly shook as Neji quietly entered his bedroom now and came over to him. Tonight it was even worse than usual. Itachi blamed the stress of Madara's arrival and lack of sleep.

"Sir?" Neji's eyes searched his own. "Are you all right?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Itachi knew his breathing was heavier than it should have been for someone supposedly about to retire.

"It's only…" Neji removed the handkerchief he kept in his own jacket pocket and touched it to the skin above Itachi's mouth, and to his brow without permission. "You're sweating. Do you have a fever? Are you ill?"

"No, I…no." He should move his head away from that solicitous hand, Itachi thought, or at the very least upbraid Neji for the impropriety of his actions. He stepped back, and Neji's hand fell away. "I'm quite well. Thank you. You may begin."

Their eyes held a moment. Itachi was alarmed to feel his heart thudding at the shared look, and utterly confused as to why he was becoming so agitated. It was almost as if he feared Neji, but that was ludicrous. He dropped his eyes.

Neji was quick and methodical. He removed the dinner jacket, folded it, and set it aside. The armbands Itachi used to hold his sleeves up were next, followed by his gold pocket watch, the ring of keys he'd studied so intently earlier, and his waistcoat. All these were set to one side, where Neji would gather them once he was done, and tend to their cleaning. He moved now to unbutton Itachi's shirt and trousers, and this was where his hands faintly shook. Itachi could see it, and he knew, as he always did, that Neji was as indecently aware of him as he himself was of Neji.

Standing in his small clothes, Itachi held his arms out as his flannel nightclothes were tugged onto him.

-oOo-

For his part, Neji dreaded this nightly ritual. Once, back when he'd still been new to Itachi's service, he'd looked forward to them. His attraction to Itachi had no outlet except this, to undress him at night. Itachi had been blissfully unaware of anything amiss, and Neji had been able to nurse his growing attraction in secret.

He didn't know if he'd done something, or said something, but for whatever reason, Itachi began noticing him as well. He could very well see the bewilderment in his employer, the confusion, the bafflement that did nothing but make Neji want him more. If he understood his employer correctly, the man had never been attracted to anyone, not even to his wife. Itachi had never wanted anyone, and so didn't understand the pangs of physical attraction. Most certainly, he did not lean toward men.

But he definitely noticed Neji. Oh yes. Neji positively roasted whenever those black eyes lingered on his face, and he was equal parts overjoyed at his attraction being returned at all, in any way, and fearful of what would happen once Itachi realized his own interest. The moments when their eyes would meet during this nightly ritual were the worst. The very worst. It was all Neji could do to keep himself from hooking a hand behind Itachi's neck and dragging him in for a long, deep kiss. He never failed to remain as hard as a rock throughout the entire process, another reason he tried to complete the evening preparations as quickly as possible now.

Itachi was far from stupid. It was only a matter of time before he put two and two together and reached the conclusion that something other than professionalism was passing between them. And when he did, Neji was almost certain that he would be dismissed. And just now, when Itachi needed his protection so badly, Neji could not afford to be dismissed. Yet neither could he stop himself from feeling the way he did. He wanted Itachi with an intensity that left him helpless to do anything but continue to serve him to the best of his abilities. To serve until Itachi grew aware of how things were between them, and then sent him packing.

Yes, he dreaded the evenings. It was at night that the barriers separating employer and employee seemed to thin to nonexistence, and they were simply men. Two men very aware of each other. One hopelessly in love, the other ignorant. But not ignorant for long. Neji could almost feel the revelation coming closer with each passing day.

He finished Itachi's toilet with an inward sigh of relief and stepped back. "Will there be anything else, sir?"

Itachi shook his head, feeling somehow weak and unsteady in the aftermath of Neji tending to him. "No. Wake me early, though. Tomorrow will be a trying day and I want to be ahead of it."

Neji bowed and left.

Once his door had shut, Itachi took up the ring of keys Neji had set on his nightstand and lay down on his bed. He drew the bed curtains shut.

Sewn into the waistband of his pajama bottoms was a small loop specifically for the ring of keys he held in his hand. A similar loop was present in all his clothing, formal and informal. Holding the keys now, Itachi studied it, as he'd studied it earlier today.

-oOo-

The city jail was a dank and dirty place, redolent of spilled booze and urine. Itachi was led back by an officer to the cell his father occupied, and left alone with him.

"Come to gloat?" Uchiha Fugaku sneered.

Itachi looked him over, searching for a sign of defeat. There was none. His father's evening attire was disheveled, and his hair somewhat unkempt, but he sat erect on the bed in his cell, features composed. "No. I came to tell you that I am head of the family now. Despite your corruption, you're still my father and you groomed me for leadership. I wanted to tell you that I will not fail the family. And I will find Sasuke."

He'd turned to go then, dismissing his father from his mind, but he'd been commanded to stop. Even jailed and beaten, Fugaku's voice still had the power to make him obey, Itachi thought in shame. He'd turned to look at the face so like his own.

"There is much you don't know, son. If you would really succeed me…" he'd faltered, looked away. Then he'd gotten up and walked to the bars separating them. He'd held the bars in his hands and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Come to me tomorrow. Request an audience with me from the new sheriff, and I will tell you everything. This is of vital importance, Itachi. You must come to me so that I can pass on all you need to know. Until then, my keys. The keys I kept on my person at all times. You must keep them with you as I did. Do not set them down even for a moment. They must never be out of your sight, is that clear?"

So frightful had his father's face been in that moment, that Itachi had nodded automatically. "It is."

"Come to me tomorrow." And Fugaku had seemed to deflate, showing defeat at last. He'd turned away and shuffled to his cot.

The officer who'd led him in came to lead him out again. Before he'd left the jail entirely, the sheriff had handed Itachi his father's personal effects, the things that had been on him at the time of his arrest. There was a gold pocket watch, a silver box of snuff, some cash, and the ring of keys. Itachi had thanked the sheriff and gone.

That night he'd been woken from slumber in the dead of night by the hammering on his door by his valet. The man said the police were at the gates. When Itachi had finally made his way downstairs, it was to be told that his father had been kidnapped from the very jail.

-oOo-

Itachi carefully hooked the ring of keys to his pants now and lay back against his pillows. He stared at the underside of the red brocaded canopy over his bed. What had his father wanted to tell him? At the time Itachi had thought it was only business, perhaps ventures currently underway, or a disclosure of the people who owed Fugaku money. Something of that nature. Now he wasn't so sure. Ever since Madara's arrival, and learning how he'd tortured his father, Itachi was becoming increasingly certain that what his father had wanted to tell him had to do with whatever Madara was searching for. He found himself fondling the keys, wondering if they didn't perhaps have some bearing on the matter as well, remembering the urgency with which his father had bid him to keep the keys within sight.

"Tomorrow I will find out what each key opens," he murmured to himself. With that decision in place, he turned on his side and went to sleep.

Just as he had been that night he'd gone to see his father in jail, Itachi was woken suddenly from the deepest part of his slumber some time later. This time it wasn't hammering on his door. In fact, there was no sound at all when he opened his eyes, and he couldn't at first tell what had woken him. Then a feeling came over him and he turned around quickly, and there was Madara, eyes wide and mad in his white face, lunging across the bed and reaching for him.

There was a scuffle. Itachi landed a blow to the older man's face that had Madara stunned, and his nose bleeding, but Madara's hands were hooked into Itachi's night shirt, and he refused to let go. "Where," Madara panted. "Where-"

Then Neji was there, appearing as if conjured, and Madara was suddenly gone. When Itachi was able to get his bearings and scramble from the bed, he saw two shapes grappling with each other in the dark by the light of the fireplace, on the other side of the room. He hastened to turn on the lamp.

He was in time to see Madara wrench himself free of Neji and flee. Neji ran to the door and peered out, before he came back and stood over Itachi. "I beg you, let me kill him," Neji panted. "Your safety-"

Dazed and disoriented, Itachi managed to find his voice as he wet his lips. "No. I will not condone murder, or any other violence against him just now. He still has my mother. We will deal with him, but only after I have learned the full extent of his presence in the family and my mother is freed of him."

"But sir! He murdered your father, and-"

"No. My word is final. I…Neji, your arrival was most timely. I thank you," Itachi said awkwardly. He was beginning to shake now, as his fury arrived late. "Thank you."

Neji lifted a hand to cup his cheek and Itachi recoiled in shock.

"You're hurt," Neji said. He dropped his hand.

Itachi touched his cheek. His fingers came away bloody. "A scratch, nothing more." His heart had been settling from Madara's attack, but now it was pounding again at the look of concern in those pale eyes.

There was a moment of embarrassed silence as Itachi held a kerchief to his cheek and Neji watched him. Then Neji said, "I think I should remain with you until the issue of Madara is resolved."

"I beg your pardon?" Why did that suggestion have his skin tightening?

"In the sitting room, not here in your bedroom," Neji hastened to explain. "Your safety is paramount. I have some skill in self-defense, as you know."

So he did. Itachi had forgotten that. And Madara had made mention of having men trained in Japan, in the old ways. It must be assumed that Madara also had such training. As did Neji. It was a wise move. "Yes. All right. In the sitting room."

Neji bowed shortly. Itachi watched him go into the sitting room and leave the door connecting it to his bedroom cracked. "So I can hear if you need me," he said when he caught Itachi watching.

When Itachi climbed back into his bed, he felt completely drained of all energy. Sleep did not return that night.