Behind These Eyes: Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. I greatly appreciate all your comments and I'm happy that not too many people seem angry at me for stopping the sex scene! Kakashi, although being presented as a stuck-up, snobby bastard in this fic, he is still a good guy and he genuinely cares about Sasuke even though he doesn't really know why yet. He'll work it out soon enough though! ;) Oh, just to clarify, Sasuke is being written in as 16, he's not underage… he just kind of looks younger.

Enjoy!

………………………………………………………………

(Kakashi's point of view)

In theory he should be inexperienced, but he's not. He gives blow jobs far too well for someone of his age, either he's a fast learner or he's had his innocence stripped from him at far too young an age. I'm going with the latter. His master said he had only turned 16 a month ago, so he shouldn't be this experienced. It's meant to be illegal before him to use him like this before his 16th birthday, there's something not right here.

He tries hard not to let on, but the fear in his eye's say it all. He can't hold back the trembling as I'm about to enter him, his body is tense and his eyes are screwed shut like he's expecting pain. He got the shock of his life when I told him I couldn't do it. I just don't want to hurt him anymore than he has already suffered from what I expect has been from an early age.

He quickly breaks the direct gaze he had with my eyes as he remembers his place. He covers his face with his hand, expecting to be hit. I'm not going to hit him. I still don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to lift a finger to him. His little body has had enough, enough beatings and enough rapes.

I couldn't go through with this because it would mean absolutely nothing to him, just another meaningless encounter with a complete stranger intent on hurting him. He had no erection and his body was trembling in my arms. He's still lying naked before me, his head tilted to the side so as to avoid my gaze, and seeing his thin, badly beaten body exposed fully makes me feel even more guilty for what I was about to do to him.

He is so beautiful and I want him more than anything right now, but I can't let this be another meaningless encounter, or rape should I say. He may seem willing, but I know he isn't, he's only allowing me to do this because he doesn't have a say in the matter and I guess he can't risk angering his master.

Seeing him lying on the bed before me allows me to see just how exhausted he is. How many times is he made to endure this a day? Does he get any sleep at all? He may look child-like and innocent in appearance, but he's been through more than any person should. It's a wonder he hasn't cracked by now, he must be so strong inside to be able to put up with this abuse and not lash out.

Unsurprisingly, he's completely unsure about what he's supposed to do now, so he lies still and waits for my next command. The poor boy must be so confused.

"It's ok," I whisper to him, gently stroking his cheek. "You can get some sleep now."

Instinctively, he attempts to get out of bed so that he can lie on the floor, where rented slave boys like himself are supposed to sleep. I know he's a slave and he should be kept in his place by being made to sleep on the floor, but I can't stop myself from wrapping my arms around his fragile little waist and pulling him back, making him even more confused than he already is.

"You're not sleeping on the floor," I smile at him and encourage him to lie down back down on the bed. I pull a blanket over his still naked body and he curls up into a little ball. I want nothing more than to hold him as he falls asleep, but I resist. This kid is confused enough, and he probably would never be able to fall asleep in a stranger's arms, so I leave him alone.

I can hear the sound of his soft breathing as I leave the room and head towards the bathroom. There's still the problem of my erection, but I guess I'm just going to have to sort that out myself.

……………………………………………………………………………………

(Still Kakashi's point of view)

As the light hits my face the next morning I rub my eyes in an attempt to wake up fully. Still in a daze, I smile to myself when I see the small figure curled up on the bed beside me. Strands of his jet-black hair have fallen across his face and his breathing is soft. He looks so peaceful, just like how he should be, but a feeling of dread hits my stomach when I suddenly remember that I have to return him to his master later on today.

I don't want to see him chained back up to that stall in all weathers, especially now that it's getting colder as winter is approaching fast. I've given up trying to work out why I care about this particular boy so much, I've just accepted that I do. I can't resist the urge to keep staring at him until he wakes. He's just so beautiful and he deserves a better life than this. I wonder if his master would consider selling him? That way, if I owned him, I could make sure he gets the looking after he needs. I don't want to get my hopes up though; chances are that his master is making too much money from him to let him go.

Suddenly the little figure beside me starts to move and his eyes flicker open. He doesn't know where he is to begin with, but as soon as it all comes back to him, the hope fades from his eyes.

"Good morning Sasuke," I say to him.

He doesn't reply, but he smiles. He's got a lovely smile, I wish he'd show it more often, but you can't really blame him for concealing it. He rolls over onto his back and lets out a yawn as his eyes explore the room once again, before quickly sitting up to await any command I should give him.

His stunning dark eyes return to their emotionless state. For a few seconds as he was waking up, he looked so full of hope until reality hit him hard as I'm sure it must do every morning. He can't control what happens to him on a daily basis, so waking up in the morning knowing that he'll be expected to deal with a variety of clients, must suck him dry of emotion. I'm not returning him until he has had at least two proper meals today and the worst of his wounds have been tended to.

I step out of bed and pull on the same clothes I wore yesterday. I'll change into something clean after I've had a shower and breakfast. Digging about in my cupboard, I hand Sasuke an old t-shirt and pair of trousers to put on.

They drown his small, skinny frame, but I'm not putting those rags back on him. They can go in the bin where they belong. However, I can see by his face that he's still tired, and I suppose it is quite early in the morning.

"Go back to sleep for another hour or two and I'll wake you for breakfast later," I tell him and immediately he lies back down and pulls the covers over his head, happy to be allowed more sleep, and in a comfortable bed of all places.

I'd like to help him get some of his strength back before I have to return him, but I don't know how I'll be able to do it. If his master refuses to sell him to me, it will break my heart to have to leave him behind.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

(Still Kakashi's point of view)

The car journey back was even more of a nightmare than I previously thought. I can't look at him because I know I have to return him, facing him his hard. He sits in silence, displaying his characteristic distant gaze out of the window. He doesn't want to go back, I know he doesn't. He wants to stay curled up in the safely of my warm bed. Who can blame him?

This time yesterday I'm sure he would have been indifferent about going back, but probably for the longest time he can remember, someone has been kind to him and has treated him well. I'd imagine he'd want to stay.

Well, at least I can return him without hunger pains and with some warmer clothes. I deliberately take the longest possible route back so that I can keep him in the car with me for as long as I can, and also that he can remain inside where its warm.

My heart sinks when I finally park the car and tell him to step outside. The weather isn't much better than it was yesterday, but at least the rain isn't as heavy. It's still bitterly cold though, even for September. I'd much rather have him wrapped up in a blanket, sitting in my living room with the fire lit, but the odds of that happening are low. I don't want to fool myself.

He obediently stays still and allows me to tie his hands together and slip a collar around his neck, so that he can be lead back to his master. Fifteen or so minutes later, he's back at the stall and back in the hands of the man he despises so much.

"Just chain him up over there," he tells me, "Here's the lock and key. Make sure you tie the blue ribbon around his arm so people know he's not underage."

Begrudgingly I lead him back over to the almost shelter-less place where I first found him, and my guilt hits even harder when I see him start to shiver again with the cold. He sits down on the hard, wet ground and brings his knees up to his chin, and wraps his arms around his legs to try and stay warm. I force myself to leave him alone.

"Would you be willing to sell that boy, Sasuke, if the price was right?" I ask his master. My heart begins to race as I wait for his answer. He doesn't have to think too long before he replies, almost instantly.

"He left an impression on you, did he?" The man jokes.

"Yes, he did," I reply.

"Sorry, but Sasuke isn't for sale, whatever the offer. He brings me in too much money every week for me to even consider getting rid of him. He probably makes up over half my earnings, despite the fact that I own many other boys. I've had many big offers for him in the past but I always turn them down."

My heart sinks, but I had already predicted his answer before he said it. Obviously Sasuke is valuable; he's probably the prettiest little thing down here. Definitely by far the most beautiful I've seen anyway.

"Is there any chance of renting him out again tonight?" I ask hopefully. If I can't buy him, then maybe I can allow him another night of rest.

"Sorry again, but in half an hours time there's another man coming for him, then tomorrow he's booked and I'll probably not see much of him for the next few days. As I said before, he's a popular boy and my customers love him. He's good looking and he knows how to do the job well."

What can I do? I'm defeated? Sasuke has just been put back and already there are other people looking at him, and touching him. It must be such a curse for him to be beautiful. He's clearly been dragged into this industry at too young an age. He's broken to the extent that he doesn't care what people do to him anymore. In a way I want to learn more about him, but I would probably find it far too upsetting.

I walk back to my car, feeling numb and empty, and climb inside; not knowing when I'll get to see Sasuke again, that is if I ever see him again. I can't go back there… I just can't, knowing that there is nothing I can do to help him.

As I press my foot on the accelerator of my car to drive away, I struggle to hold back tears. How can one encounter with one lowly little slave boy end up reducing me to tears? What makes him so different from all the others?

(End of Chapter 4)

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Hello again! Thank you for reading! Harsh for Kakashi I know, but you didn't think I was going to make things easy for him, now did you? ;) If not already bad enough, things are going to get a whole lot worse for Sasuke in next chapter, just to give you a heads up!

Again, thank you to everybody who has reviewed, I'm glad you like the way this story is turning out and I hope this chapter isn't a let down. Please keep giving me feedback so I know if you like how things are turning out or not.

See you next chapter!

Laura xx