Chapter Four

Company

Itachi wasn't quite sure what he was looking at but it was certainly the most amusing thing he had seen in a long time. Sasuke was eagerly trying to get Kyuubi to sleep on a nest of blankets that he had prepared on the floor in the living room. Itachi had long ago decided he wouldn't be the one to tell Sasuke about the pointlessness of convincing a human to accept the sleeping conditions of a pet so he would simply enjoy the show. He smirked smugly as he watched the teen step into the makeshift bed and circle around it and kneel down, showing Kyuubi what he 'should' be doing. But as expected the fox merely sat on the couch and stared at Sasuke like he was the abnormal one. Itachi could only take so much more of this.

"He can sleep in my room tonight" Itachi declared finally.

"What? No! You can't just give in Itachi! It says you aren't supposed to submit to stubborn animals otherwise they'll never learn to obey you!" Sasuke retorted bitterly. He recoiled as Kyuubi suddenly growled at him with sharp fangs.

Itachi was sure Naruto didn't like the comment of being called a stubborn animal and having to obey anybody. "Let's just forget your little training book for now. You have school in the morning and trying to get him to sleep will keep you from sleeping tonight" Itachi directed.

Sasuke sneered and crossed his arms as he stepped back out of the bed he had prepared. "Stupid dobe" he hissed, glaring back at the fox. "You are lucky Itachi is such a push over. I'd make you sleep outside" he retorted.

Itachi felt his brow twitch a bit. Since when had he become a push over? He was always known among his peers as a merciless hunter, and one of the most fearsome of the Akatsuki. He hoped taking in this jinchuriki hadn't turned him into a sudden softie.

"Good night" Sasuke grumbled. He moved over grabbing Kyuubi by the neck and giving him a slight squeeze around the loose skin there. He huffed and loosened his touch to end the motion in an affectionate pet. "If my bastard of a brother bothers you, you can always sleep in my room" he insisted to the animal but thought it was pointless talking with it. He stood back up and retreated back to the quietness of his bedroom.

Itachi cleared his throat and headed for his room. As expected, Kyuubi followed behind. Itachi locked the door behind them and went to his dresser. "Don't mistake my actions as kindness. I just rather not stay up late bothering with sleeping arrangements. As long as you are in my presence, you can sleep how you choose." Itachi pulled out a long white T-shirt and a pair of smaller boxers of his and tossed it over to the bed.

"Finally!" Naruto huffed as he rushed over to the bed after transforming. He eagerly slipped into the clothes, not caring that everything was nearly hanging off of him. He was just grateful to have real clothes to wear for once. He sighed out in relief as he threw himself back on the bed, spreading out as if to make a snow angel. He didn't bother complaining about the collar still around his neck. He was much too exhausted.

Itachi eyed the boy suddenly sprawled out on his bed like a present. The boy certainly had a cute figure from the many times he had seen him naked by now. His skin was a smooth tan that made Itachi wonder if it tasted like coconut. He considered himself lucky to not be restrained by sexual orientation. He was a firm believer that if a person looked good he would have no problem fucking it.

"You can take the bed tonight."

Naruto lifted his head up, peering back over at his host. "Then where will you sleep?" He could see the answer of another bedroom forming on Itachi's lips and he frowned. "But what is Sasuke sees? Should I still lock the door? You trust me?" Naruto sat up, crossing his legs back and scooting further onto the bed until he was near the pillows. Itachi did not seem to have an answer to any of his many questions so he decided for him. "We can share…I don't mind. I'm a still sleeper-I promise!"

Itachi hesitated at that suggestion but finally submitted. "If you aren't I have no problem shoving you off the bed" Itachi announced as he started to change for the night as well.

Red rushed to Naruto's cheeks as the man started to pull off his shirt. He marveled at the tone chest that came into view. Itachi was nicely built. His blue eyes shamelessly ran further down as Itachi stepped out of his pants. Clad in only black boxers, the older male turned off the lights and joined him in bed. Grinning sheepishly, Naruto pulled them both under the blankets.

"I know I'm a real pain but…thanks. I guess I would be in a pickle if not for you" Naruto admitted. "I just wish I didn't have to pretend to be something I'm not" he sighed.

Itachi turned on his side away from the boy as he spoke. "When I say it's time for bed I actually meant, go to sleep" he stated firmly. He gritted back his teeth as he felt the motion on the bed that could only meet Naruto wasn't turning on his side away but toward him. He had a feeling this kid wasn't as tired as he claimed to be.

"Itachi…Do you know what I am?"

"What?" Itachi stared blankly at the wall when he realized closing his eyes would be pointless. "You're a jinchuriki."

"That's what you call us?" Naruto questioned. "Huh, sounds funny…I've always thought I was a demon or maybe a mutant. Or maybe a werefox" he chuckled.

"Look I'm not the right one to be talking about this with. Why don't you ask your parents? They made you after all" Itachi retorted. The short silence he received at that moment was not encouraging.

"…I don't have any parents…they died a long time ago" Naruto confessed.

Itachi stiffened and resisted the urge to turn around to face the boy. Why the hell did he have to speak anyway? Clearly there was nothing positive he could bring up at this point.

"Don't feel sorry for me! I'm not homeless or anything! I have Iruka…" Naruto replied with a small smile. "He's like a dad and he didn't even freak out when he discovered what I was. He was the first one. I'm use to others being really cruel. People who don't understand, people who are afraid…they aren't very nice…"

Itachi sighed and rolled his eyes. "That's just the way the world works kid."

Naruto grinned, wiggling closer to Itachi in a way that made the man uncomfortable. "But you aren't that way. You're nice-" Naruto instantly recoiled as Itachi turned around to face him, a menacing glare on his face. Naruto gulped lightly and sunk further into the bed, wanting to scurry away if it were possible. "Did I say something wrong?"

"I'm not nice. I just don't see the point in treating you like crap. Even someone as pathetic as you has value" Itachi retorted. And Naruto would make him a pretty penny if he nurtured him well. "Say shit like that again and I'll have you tied up outside. Understood?"

Naruto nodded nervously before Itachi turned back around, pulling the covers higher over his shoulder and shielding himself from Naruto's sight. "Good night Itachi…" he managed to slip in before the man seemed to block him out entirely. Naruto grimaced, rolling onto his other side so that his back now faced Itachi's as well. He really missed being back at home. He missed Iruka and even Iruka's perverted friend Kakashi. He lay there, thinking on them for what seemed like hours.

The blonde was moments away from putting himself to sleep when he heard a weird sound. He opened his eyes, keeping his breathing quiet to hear it again. A moment later and he could make out a faint whimper or maybe a murmur. Naruto wouldn't even be so hasty as to say a whine. He turned around, facing the source…Itachi. There was no doubt Itachi was a sleep by now but still Naruto was careful when he kneeled up on the bed to lean lightly over the man. Even with only the faint glow of the street lights from outside, Naruto could make out the small shine of a wet trail along the other's pale cheek. Was Itachi crying?! It seemed almost unfathomable but no one was impervious to emotions while they slept.

"Itachi?" Naruto whispered out, placing his hand lightly on the man's shoulder. The other pulled away from his touch with a tired groan. Naruto wasn't sure of what to do. He couldn't ignore this now and go to sleep. But he was sure Itachi wouldn't appreciate him waking him up just to tell him he was crying in his sleep. That was usually the last thing people wanted to hear, or that they snore really loudly.

"Sasuke…"

Naruto flushed hearing the other boy's name on Itachi's lips in such a heart felt manner. So he was dreaming about his brother? What was so sad about that? Sasuke was obviously alright, if not spoiled and annoying. Still, Naruto felt compelled to ease Itachi's worry. With a loud gulp he scooted closer on the bed until he was pressed lightly up against Itachi. He wrapped his arms around Itachi's waist and pressed his head in the small of the other's back. "I'm here…Nii-san…" he muttered with a deep blush coming to his cheeks. What he was doing suddenly felt incredibly wrong, forbidden. Despite this, Itachi quieted down and Naruto even felt his form relax. At least he was doing something right. This brought a small smile to Naruto's lips as he closed his eyes and finally drifted off.

"Hot…" Itachi growled lightly. He opened his eyes reluctantly, twitching as the sunlight greeted him in an unpleasant manner. He didn't remember turning on the heat. He absolutely hated being hot at night which was why he often slept nude. For Naruto's sake he had decided to keep his boxers on last night. He motioned to leave the bed only to find his path obstructed. "What the-" He stared down at a pair of thin arms wrapped tightly around his torso and even tighter were a pair of legs, entangled with his own. He could feel the sticky moisture beneath them from hours of skin to skin contact and it made him nauseous. "Hey brat" Itachi called out, trying to shimmy his way out of the boy's grasp. Much to his dislike, Naruto was strong. He wouldn't be surprised if the boy was part monkey too.

Itachi growled as he gripped at the hands, prying them slowly from his stomach. He gasped out as the air touched his sweaty stomach and the red appeared where he had been held. "Damn it. How long have you been holding me?" he grumbled to himself. He pulled away and suddenly stopped as he felt his back move away from Naruto's head. There was the most uncomfortable feeling yet. The moment you realized there was drool…but now on his back. "Naruto…" Itachi gritted irritatingly. He shivered in disgust as he could feel the trail of drool running down his spine as he sat up. He turned to yell at the boy but stopped when he saw him. Naruto looked like no matter of screaming would wake him, curled comfortably in the blankets and a goofy, wet grin on his face. Itachi fought the urge to roll Naruto off the bed to wake him up. Instead he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Damn kid" Itachi growled lowly.

"Itachi?"

The older male looked to the end of the hallway where Sasuke stood, fully dressed for school and a book bag slug over his shoulder. "What?"

"Is Kyuubi still asleep? I wanted to say good bye before I head to school" Sasuke pointed out.

"No and I think he would be pretty cranky if you tried to wake him" Itachi retorted. He didn't know if he was amused or annoyed by the fact that Sasuke was disappointed to hear that. Itachi gritted his teeth again and sighed. "But maybe around lunch time we can casually pass by…" he muttered. He felt a piece o him die at that suggestion. Why the hell was he doing this? If to make matters worse, Sasuke actually brightened up.

"Really? You sure he'll even walk with you on a leash?" Sasuke taunted playfully. "If you think you can, than sure." Sasuke headed for the door, apparently happier than he was before by pep in his step.

Itachi huffed lightly, brushing back his long hair from his face. Today was going to be a long day.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Finally an update. Sorry again for the delay. I am studying abroad in China right now and won't be back until July. I currently have no internet connection and trying to set it up but I won't have constant access until next week so updates on all my fics will be slow. I'll keep writing though! Hope to hear from you guys soon.