Chapter VI

"Sasuke..Someone's close," Karin says, while walking into my room. I look at the girl, who only has a towel to cover her body.

"Just one?" I ask her, and decide it would be best not to look in her direction. She steps closer, invading my personal space.

"Yeah…could just be someone wondering..You ok?" She asks softly, and I can practically hear the smirk in her voice. I know she's attempting to seduce me, to get some sort of rise out of me, but I feel nothing. I get up.

"We can't take that risk…I'll go check," I push past her, but she takes this time to curl her fingers around my hand.

"You've been out of it lately. Come on Sasuke," I see her hand move away from her towel. The piece of cloth isn't trying to hard to stick to her skin; instead it's slipping. "Maybe you need to relax. I'm sure who ever is out there, isn't worth bothering with. I can help you relax."

"Hardly," I use the word to answer both of the statements that left her lips. I tug my hand away and walk out of the room. I can hear Karin let out a sound of annoyance. This will not stop her from coming up with some other plan to seduce me. Why does it seem that everyone is attempting to do so? Itachi, Karin; I wonder if the girl will go looking for my brother. After all he cannot move, or does not move away form her touch. She's become rather fickle.

I step out into the woods, and take to the branches. I am not planing on making a scene, that would only draw attention to the hide out. Instead I try to locate the intruder, to see if he really is a threat or not. I glance around the area close to the hide out. Then I move out a little more, and repeat my searching. Finally I spot something suspicious. A figure disappearing, no, melting into the ground. I watch him as he takes his leave, and I wait for a long time after he's disappeared.

Once I've decided it's safe I jump down to inspect the area. I find a note pined to a tree trunk, the tree was behind the man the melted away. I don't touch it, but simply read it, at a safe distance.

"The fox does not lie, but instead leads the hound to another victim of the haunt. However big the forest is a home can still be found in time. No, the fox does not lie, however the crow does."

I eye the note suspiciously; it's Akastuki. Why should I trust them? Then again why should I trust that Itachi is telling me the whole truth? It could just be a tactic to make me distrust Itachi even more. It would be convenient for them to cause inner turmoil and then swoop in unexpected. I'm not stupid, I will not let this note—nor Itachi's words, get to me. That doesn't mean it would hurt to inquire just a bit further. I'm still in charge of Itachi, even if he's lying to me. He's still pathetic and blind.


I step into the dark room that holds Itachi still chained to the wall. I'm surprised Karin is no where to be found. I swing the bar door open, and step in. I look down at Itachi, and he makes eye contact.

"It's been a while since your last visit, little brother," He points out. It's true, I haven't been bothering myself with him for a week. I know he must be uncomfortable. He's probably wishing for a bath, but he seems clam; like always.

"How important am I to you?" I question him, I shift my weight to one hip.

"You want reassurance?" He voice is mocking, and cold. "I've told you before how I felt. That hasn't changed."

"Then why are you lying to me?"

Itachi looks up at me, acting innocent. "You're not telling me the whole truth? I'm tired of playing with you Itachi," I say putting emphases on my words by kicking him in the side. He coughs a little, and lets his head hang for a moment. Then his demonic eyes come back to look at me, a soft smirk on Itachi's face. Blood trickles down from between his lips.

"Why would I lie?"

"Don't act stupid. You claim you love me, but you don't show it very well. I suppose that's because you're heartless. You've never been capable of communicating with people. You were never anything more then a pawn."

"And so are you."

I kick him again, this time in his stomach. Itachi attempt not to double over, but he fails. I smile as I take in the sight, and hear him sputter out more blood.

Itachi takes in a deep breath, "That won't change the fact that we've both been used," he says emotionlessly.

"What does Madara want?"

Itachi looks to the ceiling, "I've told you I do not know."

"Bullshit," I yell at him, ducking down. I glare at him, even though I know he cannot see me.

"Why would he tell me about his plans, little brother?" My hand shoots out and takes a hand full of his hair, I tug on it hard. It's slick, and grimy, because it hasn't been washed in so long. Itachi lets out a slight gasp, but his face stays blank.

"You like that?" I question him, and he doesn't respond. "I know you do, because you're sick. And you love your little brother. You think this is so damn funny don't you?" I shove him back, causing his head to hit the cave wall.

He smirks, "Actually I do."

"You don't love me Itachi, you never did." I hiss out. "If you feel anything honorable for me at all, you'd regret what you've done. You wouldn't lie to me. You just want to be a rebel, run down the list of the seven sins." I actually spit on him. The liquid runs down his cheek, and he seems unfazed.

"I do love you, Sasuke," Itachi tells me. "Protection can be painful, I should have killed you when you were younger."

I slap him, and my breathing is uneven. "Shut up!" I don't look at him, but turn around. I want to leave, but my feet can't carry me. Itachi doesn't say anything, for a moment I couldn't even hear him breathing. Why do simply statements, which he puts no emotional emphasis on, upset me so much? Finally my feet move and I exit the cell, slamming the gate behind me with more force then necessary.

He's playing his games again, always keeping me in the dark. I feel just like I did when I was little. Itachi is bigger older...smarter, and I'm just left lingering in his god damn shadow. Stuck trying to catch up! I'm the one in charge, he's the one chained to the wall. Then why is he able to act so confident? Why won't he just give in? I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I never thought there would be so many outside forces making my task even harder. I cannot stop, because I will not fall behind Itachi. I'm not going to stay in his shadow. I want him to crawl behind me, need me, and feel honored that I even let him linger in my shadow.


"You're getting better with each day. When's the last time you fed him?" Suigetsu ask, with pride. He knows the answer but he just enjoys hearing me repeat it.

" I believe it's been nine days today, since he last ate," I mumble out. I'm not interested in making conversation with Suigetsu, however he's taken an interest in my torturing Itachi.

He smiles, "He'll break soon enough, You have been roughing him up too right?" I don't' answer, but the boy doesn't need me too. "He'll be eating out of your hand in no time. Now if only we could train Karin to behave," He taps his chin with his finger. "There are a couple of empty cells," he muses out loud.

I walk past him, a bucket of water in hand. Juugo has been spending a lot of time outside among the forest animals. He's carved many things out of boredom, or relaxation; whatever his reasoning. He's made Karin a wooden box, Suigetsu a little fish. Of course Suigetsu said it was ugly and a sorry excuse for a fish, and that he didn't want it. However it was all for show, seeing as he's tied the little fish to Kisame's sword, like some sort of charm. Juugo made me an Uchiha emblem, which I have pined upon the wall over my bed. After making all these gifts, he also decided that our 'clan'—as Karin likes to call it—needed a bucket. A bucket didn't seem important or necessary, and usually Karin uses it to pick berries or flower, but now I can see its use.

I walk up the stone steps, away from the Hot Springs. I walk toward the metal door, which leads to Itachi's prison. I set the bucket down and then walk up to Itachi's cell. I open the door, and step in kneeling down in front of him. I release his wrists from their confides, he says nothing.

"Get up," I order him, and he stands with shaky legs. He hasn't been standing for over a week now, the chains won't allow him to do anything other then sit. I strip him of the filthy kimono he's wearing, and let him shiver as I go to retrieve the bucket.

It doesn't take long for me to get the water. Itachi stands completely still, he's trying hard not to shiver. Trying hard to hold on to some of his dignity. I walk towards him slowly. I know he can hear me, but at the same time he probably doesn't know what I'm about to do.

I stop approaching him, the moment I'm only a foot away from him. He lifts his head, most likely in confusion; though he doesn't let the emotion play on his face. In that moment I dump some of the water over his head. I'm not given the satisfaction of hearing him yelp in surprise, but instead he tenses. The water is still hot, and I see some skinny strips of steam rising. Itachi looks as though he's about to say something, but I splash the rest of the water on his body, and then put the bucket down.

Itachi is hiding the fact that he's cold very well. The only things indicating that he's chilly are the goose bumps rising all over his pale skin. The hot water is in great contrast to the cool air his naked form is being exposed to.

"I'll get you some new clothes," I tell him, and leave the cell. I hear water drops hitting the floor as he gathers his hair over one shoulder.

I go into my room, and look into the etched out closet. This is where I keep the few garments I have, along with a kimono and yukata that were here previously. Tucked in the corner of the closet, is Itachi Akatsuki pants and shirt. I pull them out, and close the closet. I look at the pieces of clothes, and I can't shake the thought that Itachi is definitely hiding something. His excuse seems to be that he wishes to protect me. His views of love and protection are twisted and disgusting. He deserves to be isolated, because he doesn't know how to interact with people. He doesn't understand basic human emotion. I wonder if he ever did. He use to be..no I can't let my memories deceive me. He's always been cold and distant…yet he was also able to show small amounts of affection. Something in the back of my mind eats at me, some sort of longing wishes to be satisfied; but I ignore it. It's most likely just a subconscious amount of anger wanting to seek it's revenge. Wanting to see Itachi in he's current form, small and pathetic. It can't be anything more. I grab a brush from a vanity and slowly walk towards the testing rooms.

"Here," I toss the clothes at Itachi. He gropes the clothes for a moment. "It's your old clothes," I tell him, knowing that he can't see what I've just given him. He slips on the clothes, not a single sounds escapes his lips. I watch him as he dresses himself, hiding away the almost flawless pale skin. It's not flawless however, a bruise has appeared, from when I had kicked him in his side. I smile to myself, enjoying the fact that Itachi's mine to ruin. That I've taken the perfection from his skin. If I can do that, then eventually he will not be perfect at all, but just my shadow.

Itachi is now completely dressed, and runs his fingers through his damp hair. I yank his hand away, and pull him closer towards me. Before I force him down. I kneel down behind him and run the brush that I took with me, through his hair.

"Am I your doll, Sasuke?" he questions me with a cool voice.

"Shut up, I could have just left you wallowing in your own filth." Itachi leans back into my touch. I separate the tangled tresses of hair with not only the brush, but my fingers as well. The strands are silky smooth, and shimmer a red violate in the dim light of this prison. The color complements his forever red eyes. I push Itachi away a little, as he continues to sink back. I use his hair as a sort of leach, and pull him away from me, before brushing again.

"If you keep abusing my hair like that, soon they'll be none left for you to pamper."

"I'm hardly pampering you. I suppose you are trying to twist my actions into something you want it to be." Itachi doesn't respond, and I slow down my brushing. I run my fingers through his hair. "Go ahead and imagine that there's love behind this gesture. Image that I'm not just doing this because I want you to feel useless, and remember that I'm in control. That I control when you eat, when you bath, and what you will wear. That you are nothing but a dog that has to sit around and wait for his master to pay attention to him. Oh, and you just love it when I pay attention to you don't you?"

Itachi turns around slightly, his blind eye looking at me. A smirk spreads over his face, and I can see him plotting. I know he's going to twist my words in some way, to suit his disgusting fantasies. "Yes, actually I rather like getting attention from you, Master." He drags out the last word, putting emphasis on it, but no emotion.

I push him away from me, and stand up. "Why does that bother you so much, Sasuke?" He questions plainly. "You claim I'm the one hiding something, I'm the one who's blind…I wonder."

My teeth clench, but I try not to show my anger. I do not want him to have a victory. I don't know why I'm overreacting like this, why Itachi's words can strike deep into my subconscious. I can't give up though, it doesn't matter, I know I do not care for him. I hate him, I hate him for taking my innocents, my childhood, and my family. I hate him because he's resurrected my Aniki..after so many years…

I look away, and push aside those thoughts. I push aside the words he's saying, and the ones he's said. Why would he protect me? He wouldn't, and killing cannot be justified, and it can't be done out of pity; only rage. He didn't want to save me, that's what I have to believe. I don't' want to believe anything his filthy mouth tells me, because it's all twisted…it sounds to much like my aniki.

I jerk Itachi up and throw him against the cave wall. I then shackle him into his earlier position. I leave the cell, and let the gate shut quietly behind me. I don't' want any loud noises interrupting my thoughts right now. I don't' know why but there's to many of them. They conflict each other, and pull up different memories; but how can I tell which ones are real and which were implanted by Madara? Reality can be stranger then fiction, therefore harder to understand. Fiction can be dealt with easily, and so I ignore part of my mind. I ignore the memories it brings forth. I don't want to think about Itachi, and I most definitely don't' want to think about my childhood right now. I have so many problems I must focus on right now, in this day and age. For example, I must keep an eye out for the Akatsuki and Madara, who know that I'm hiding somewhere in this forest. I must think of some way to get more information out of Itachi. More truths, which will only add to the tangle of my mind, but information, I need none the less. I only hope that trouble will not come my way too soon.


"Have you checked on Itachi?" Karin asks me while I soak in the Hot Springs. I do not answer her, it's really none of her concern. "Suigetsu seems to be going on and on about how fun it is to have prisoner and hear about their torture. I was just wondering," She mutters out.

"I don't need to check on him," I tell her. It's been two days since I last checked in on Itachi. He must be very hungry by now, but I don't' care. I want him to suffer, I almost have the urge to enter his cell, and hurt him. My mind hasn't been at ease for the last past days. I haven't slept mush either. I'm hopping this bath will calm me, and force my mind to relax. So Karin's intrusion is nothing but an annoyance.

"You want' some company?" She asks me.

"No," I say plainly, and she lets out a disappointed sigh. A smile runs over my lips as I hear her footsteps walk away. I sink in a little deeper into the natural hot spring.

"I do love you, Sasuke. Protection can be painful, I should have killed you when you were younger."

I let out a slight groan, as my mind calls forth my brother's words. Why did Karin have to mention his name? I was perfectly at ease up until she interrupted. I do not understand Itachi, I don't' care to understand him. He's changed, and I do not trust his words anymore. For years he fueled my hate for him, and now he claims to love me, and wants to protect me. It doesn't fit in...but then what motive would Itachi have to lie to me? Maybe he's doing so to corrupt my though process, or simply to annoy me. However I do not doubt that he feels lust towards me. I shiver in slight disgust as I remember the time Itachi was excited about the harsh treatment I was giving to him. However lust and love are two different things.

My mind aches and begs for relaxation. So I try not to think of anything and continue my soaking. Itachi really isn't worth worrying about. Yet my mind continuously drifts back to him. I cannot let him get to me like this. I am the one in charge not him. I sit up in the warm water, and push my hand through it to see the ripples. The moment is gone, and I'm no longer relaxed. All because of Karin, because she had to mention that one name. I reach for a towel that I have folded next to me, and I step out of the hot spring.

I look at my skin, which is slightly pink because of the heat. I have pale skin much like Itachi's, but I have more of a yellowish tan tint to it. It's not nearly as pale as Itachi's. I'm not effeminate, like he is. I'm stronger then him. He even fights like women, through mind games, and tricks; low blows. I won't let him get to me. He's beneath me, he's the weaker of us. That doesn't change the fact that I'm going to ignore him though. Let him suffer alone for a while, let him be alone with his dreams and fantasies, while I come up with ways to break him.