Hello once again everyone. I'm sorry that this chapter may be a bit short. really did try to make it longer, but things just didn't work out as well. I will try to make it up to you in the next chapter!
Also forgive me for this chapter taking so long. I'll try my best to update regularly, but I'll be starting up college again in a week, so that is where my main focus is going to have to be. But I will not forget this story, I really do have so much I want to do. So thank you for sticking around!
All characters belong to their rightful owners.
I am Taimukipa.
Barbed Collar
Chapter 3
Shisui watched Itachi for a long moment before he smiled somewhat.
"Alright... well, truthfully... being in the slave shop? That was my first time to a place like that, and so all the people in there, including you, it was my first time seeing a 'half-breed'." He said, speaking the name without respect, as he didn't condone it in the first place. "You're the first person I've talked to, or even really been at close quarters with..." He said lightly.
"What is it like, Itachi? What kind of place did you come from?" Shisui asked Itachi, his voice held curiosity and conviction.
Itachi seemed to take in his excited curiosity rationally. Itachi lightly put his utensils down before looking to Shisui fully, properly.
"There isn't very much to tell. I won't be able to entertain you with some grand adventurous tale. And my story isn't one that has had a happy ending." He started lightly, though Shisui still held anticipation, excitement as he watched Itachi speak. Entranced already by his voice. Itachi continued.
"I was born, to a kind family. My mother only birthed myself and another, my little brother." He said lightly. "We were raised in a hidden valley, away from this civilization in order to protect us. But it didn't take that long for humans to find us. They came in with weapons blazing." He said quietly, averting his eyes from Shisui's. "They killed my mother and father who fought to protect my brother and I. I escaped from them with my brother and did all I could to get him somewhere safe. I left him with a couple of friends of his, hidden in the forest... and I led the humans on a trail away from them all. Eventually they did catch me, clearly. And I was enslaved. I've gone to many masters, male and female, none of them kind. But I was told I had a bad personality and was promptly returned." He said lightly.
Shisui sat there, listening in amazement. Itachi had gone through so much! And he was so young! What kind of fear must Itachi have had to live through, go through every day... being chased like that, knowing your parents were slaughtered... trying to protect your brother... Shisui felt it, he felt concern, sorrow, empathy for Itachi, for his story. What an awful thing to have gone through, and almost immediately after, being given away to strangers like some parcel.
Shisui realized that Itachi had stopped talking as Shisui's mind wandered off without him again. He blinked to clear his mind, promising to return to the thoughts later tonight. He didn't want to overload Itachi with questions right this second. He wanted to get to know Itachi slowly, make sure their friendship would be a great one.
He slowly opted to close his eyes, merely for respect towards Itachi. He nodded.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He said as calmly as he could. He went back to the food on his plate. He didn't look up to Itachi at first, until he heard the clatter of silverware against the china plate, conveying that Itachi had begun to eat once more.
Shisui spared a glance up to Itachi, who's face was as it ever was, stoic.
After Itachi had told his story, he merely waited there to be reprimanded by Shisui. Waited for Shisui to begin going off about some trivial experience he had as a child, of which he would see as more important than the troubled past of a half-breed.
The far off look in Shisui's eyes signaled that perhaps he was laughing at Itachi in his head, laughing at him.. or perhaps simply deep in thought. Itachi knew that he shouldn't assume anything of Shisui just yet. This was only their first day together.
What Shisui said though managed to surprise Itachi. He said he was sorry to Itachi. This man who had nothing to do with his past directly, who had bought him despite his 'bad personality', who had so far given him a luxurious room, a stack of clothing, treated him with some dignity... he shown empathy to him. Given him a word of sorrow.
Itachi was left to watch Shisui as the man soon said nothing more and began to eat. Was it with respect that he did these things? Respect to Itachi?
Itachi took another moment before he shut his own eyes and then returned to his plate of delicious food. It was one of the best meals he'd had in a long while... since his childhood with his family actually.
Shisui let out a loud contented yawn as he strode out of the dining hall and up the stairs with Itachi in tow behind him.
"That was a good meal I'm stuffed!" He said grinning widely, folding his hands behind his head. He stole a wide eyed, excited glance to Itachi behind him. "How about you? Did you enjoy the meal?" He asked him.
Itachi lifted his dark gaze from the carpet oriented floor and nodded to Shisui. The elder man only grinned more and then faced foreword, pleased that Itachi had enjoyed the meal.
"Did you pick out something to wear to bed?" He suddenly asked, trying to get more conversation out of the man behind him. This time though he didn't turn to face Itachi, so that instead Itachi would have to speak for Shisui to know his answer.
He hoped his innocent little plan would work.
"I was merely going to sleep in these clothes." Was what Shisui was given as an answer. He blinked a bit and looked up thoughtfully.
"I see... well if that's what makes you most comfortable I suppose... Oh! Here's a fun idea!" He cheered happily, stopping in his steps and turning to Itachi, as they were half way down the hall to their rooms. He had hoped that he would have managed to end up on Itachis side once more, but the cat had quick reflexes, as the saying usually went, and ended up stopping just as Shisui did, so they were still steps apart.
Itachi sent him a curious look, a bid for Shisui to continue his thought.
"How about tomorrow after I get some more work done we go out for lunch and to the shopping districts?" He asked Itachi with excitement. Maybe it would be a good chance for Shisui to get to know Itachi a bit more, maybe find out some of the things he enjoyed doing.
Itachi seemed confused by his offer, though Shisui might have mistaken it for concern, or some other emotion. It was difficult for him to read Itachis stoic expression and hardly changing eyes. The cat merely cooperated though and closed his eyes, tilting his head somewhat.
"If that is what you wish to do, I'm in no position to disobey." He spoke quietly. Shisuis wide grin faltered only slightly at Itachis answer. He refrained from sighing though. He couldn't expect Itachi to be up in arms directly after being bought. The poor guy had been through so much, most of it Shisui had no idea about.
He kept reminding himself that this was only their first day together, and he shouldn't expect Itachi to be his best friend just yet. He accepted the fact that Itachi was a slave, and had been treated as one for a long portion of his life, therefor Shisui went untrusted by Itachi still. Shisui accepted that.
He nodded to Itachi and then turned from him once ore and finished his stride down the hall. He stopped at the door to Itachis new room though, as to show him were it was. He looked to the cat as he opened the door.
"This is your room from now on, I hope you like it." He said smiling. "Also, if you ever feel lonely or whatever my room is right beside this, actually there are doors in the rooms to connect them both, so feel free to come in whenever you want." He said and then looked to the side quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed by his own words. "Err... so, yeah! Have a good night sleep, and I'll get you up tomorrow for breakfast!" He said happily to Itachi.
The cat merely watched him in his exasperation before nodding. Shisui took a step aside, glancing to Itachi as he went and then entered the room, the two exchanged a small look between them before Itachi lightly shut the door behind him.
"..." Shisui stood there for a moment before smiling and then heading down a few feet to his own bedroom door. He opened it up and then was greeted by a set of pajama's set out on his bed by his maid. It took his a short amount of time to change into them and discard his other clothes into the laundry hamper before sliding underneath the silk covers.
The large french doors in his room were enough to let the room be lit up by the moonlight. He turned onto his side and focused on the night sky beyond his door frames. In his body he was still bubbling with excitement, and many thoughts, and even more questions. It took all he had to contain himself, for Itachi's sake, so he and Itachi wouldn't be set off on a wrong foot.
Itachi's childhood... up to where his parents were killed and he was captured and made into a slave... it must have been scary. The cat must have gone through so much in his young life. Shisui couldn't blame him for acting so jaded and unemotional... he praised Kami though, even if others thought Itachi had a bad personality and opted to returning him, it allowed for the moment that Shisui had found and took him home.
He curled up a little in his bed and slowly closed his eyes. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he'd get to know Itachi better... maybe later on tomorrow night, Shisui could set up a spot for them to talk about Itachi's past masters? No no... that probably wasn't a good idea... Shisui would have to plan strategically in getting to know Itachi. Itachi seemed like the kind of person that was very self involved, introverted. Shisui understood where it came from though. So he'd have to consider Itachi's feelings.
Maybe in a couple of weeks, if he spent enough time with Itachi daily, without seeming too over bearing, it would be a good time then to bring up Itachi's past once again.
He smiled faintly in his sleep as Itachi's face slowly panned through his mind. He could still picture it. He and Itachi being good friends. Good for each other.
He knew it could work out.
Itachi stepped into the room quietly. He closed the door behind him and stood there silently, observing the room. When Shisui had said he'd set up a room for Itachi, he had a brief flash of his past accommodations.
Most of his previous owners had purchased him merely because he had a 'pretty face'. A face that made him a target for pleasure seekers. And though they had not gotten their fill of him before returning him, due to no kind of return on his end, they did have their way with him...
He could picture each of them, though he didn't wish too. He would be given a small, cold, less than habitable room. His master, mostly female, sometimes male, would come in almost every night depending, sometimes twice a night if they were drunk... they'd come in and drag him to their chambers, and order him to please them, unless they took the reigns themselves, which most of the time they had to, since he had no care for such things...
Either way... they would have him, make a mess of him, and carelessly throw him back into his 'cell' as he called it. They were never fit to be called 'rooms'.
This place though... this was a room... There was a large bed, with four poles boxing it in, a silken red canopy above it, the covers looked also to be made of fine silk, and cotton sheets, with a down feather stuffed mattress. The floor was a deep cherry wood, covered only partially with an ornate red and golden carpet. In the room sat shelves, a wardrobe and a desk. Even a fireplace sat centered along one of the walls, and a fine chair, sat overlooking the large window, that allowed as much moonlight to filter into the room as could light it.
This room wasn't chilly, it was comfortable. It wasn't dank or dirty, it was pristine and elegant. This, this was a bedroom. And... it was Itachi's.
A swell. Something warm filled his chest, engulfing it. Would it be okay? It was already so soon... they'd barely known one another for a full day. Would it be okay to trust Shisui? He surly hadn't given him any reason to distrust him so far of course... Honestly though, Itachi should know better. He couldn't give in so easily just because he was treated as someone for a day...
Still, as the promise of a decent night's sleep, after having a full warm helping of food lingered over him. Itachi found his eyes drooping. He was clean. He was full. And for one night, at least... he could take pleasure in sleeping. Sleeping without worry of someone knocking on his door, pulling him up, doing dirty things to his body- No.
Tonight it would be okay. Tonight, he could sleep.
The cat slowly slipped off his shirt, and pants, deciding to sleep in nothing but his undergarment. He ran his fingers gently over to silken blanket before lifting it, and climbing into it. It felt so soft, so cool. He rested his head and practically sunk into the posh bed. He curled up in a cat like manner still, and then shut his coal eyes, falling into a deep, well needed sleep.
Thank you once again for reading! Even though this was a bit short I do hope everyone enjoyed it!
As always reviews, critiques, favs and praise are all always welcome. If you have an opinion, I'd be happy to hear it! Until next time then.
I am Taimukipa.
