For Summery, Disclaimer, and Warnings, see the first couple of chapters.

I feel that I must warn you about something... but it would seem that I've forgotten what it was. :( I sure it wasn't that important anyways.

Chapter 9: They Sleep He Reaps

Sasuke was so happy he almost skipped down the hall. Key word being almost.

He was on his way to Sakura's and Ino's room to tell them about the picnic tomorrow. He also had some questions he wanted to ask them and maybe get some tips on how to improve his relationship with the human slave.

He was about to knock on the girls' bedroom door but hesitated. He really wanted to talk to them and tell them everything that had happened but at the same time he didn't want to bother them with his problems. He knew they didn't mind listening to him but he was an Uchiha dammit! Didn't that mean anything!?

Inside, he could hear movement. Sighing, he turned away from the door...

...only to be grabbed by the shoulders and yanked backwards into the room. He managed to let out a sharp, "Hey!" before his back came in contact with the floor. Ino stood over him, grinning with her hands on her hips. Off to the side, Sakura and Kiba sat on the floor playing what looked to be strip poker. And by the facial expressions Kiba was making and his lack of clothing and Sakura still fully dressed, Sasuke was willing to bet that the dog lover was losing big time.

"Hey, Sasuke! What brings you here?" Ino asked, still not bothering to help her friend up.

Sasuke growled at her as he got back on his feet. "I wanted to know if you guys wanted to come with me and Naruto tomorrow for a picnic?"

Silence. Sasuke shifted nervously as three sets of eyes turned to him. They had even went so far as to let their jaws fall open slightly as they stared at him with widen eyes.

"I'm sorry... I think I heard wrong." Kiba mutters, sticking a finger in his ear to try to "clear" his hearing. "You said you and who was going on a picnic tomorrow??"

"Me and Naruto... and hopefully you three." The Uchiha said, looking at his friend pleadingly. Said friends gave each other a look before quickly huddling together on the opposite side of the room. Sasuke stayed where he was, arms crossed over his chest, his sensitive ears picking up everything they "whispered".

After a moment of their "whispering" the three turned back to their friend.

Ino was the first to speak. "We've decided! We're going."

The wolf, dog, and cat demon blinked at the blonde female.

"You are?"

"We are?!"

The blonde nodded with a short "yup".

Kiba blinked, confusion easily showing in his brown eyes. He turned to Sakura, asking, "Did we not just agree to stay here while they went out or had I dreamt that conversation?"

"I'm pretty sure we did, unless I dreamt it, too." Sakura answered, looking just as confused as her friend.

Ino shrugged. "I changed me mind."

"You can't do that!" Sakura and Kiba shouted.

"Says who?"

"Says the I.E.W.R.Y.W.!"

"'I.E.W.R.Y.W.'?"

"International Estates of We're Right and You're Wrong!"

"Sound's interesting," murmured Ino. "Unfortunately, I don't care much for internationals, estates, or me being wrong." She than turned to face her Uchiha friend, who had made himself comfortable on Sakura's bed and was busying himself with flipping through one of her girly magazine (which he would totally deny reading when questioned about it later). "So, Sasuke, what else did you want to talk about? Or did you only want to invite us to the picnic?"

Sasuke shifted, uncomfortably, on the bed. "I wanted to tell you something else," he said, "but I don't know where to start."

"The beginning is always a nice place," stated Kiba. He and Sakura were preparing another game of poker. Ino had taken a seat on her bed and was doing a cross-work puzzle.

Sasuke looked around. He could tell his friends honeslty weren't interested in whatever he had to say, but were welling to listen nonetheless. Not because it was what friends did, they just were waiting for some black mail worthy material to use against him. Some friends, right?

"Well," he began, "I thought that because I'd been gone for so long, Itachi might have tried something-"

Kiba cut him off. "You know we wouldn't let anything bad happen to Naru-chan." The two cat demons nodded in agreement.

Sasuke took a moment to stare at his friends. They really did care about Naruto, didn't they?

"I know that," Sasuke said. "I was just worried-" he ignored the amused looks they sent him- "and wanted to make sure for myself. When I made it to his room, he was... um... dancing? He never did answer me... Anyway, we talked-"

"Without arguing!?" Kiba cut him off again. "My god, what is the world coming to!?"

"Kiba," growled the Uchiha, "if you cut me off one more time... I swear to the Hokage that I will tell your sister where you live!"

The dog lover paled to a incredible degree. "Let's not do anything rash now, Uchiha." He whimpered. "There's no need to bring Hana into this."

"As I was saying," continued Sasuke, "we talked and I invited him out for a picnic. I believe some fresh air well do him some good." The other three demons agreed. Naruto had been locked in his room for almost five weeks now.

"Well," said Ino after a pause, "that's interesting."

Sasuke grumbled something to himself, then, suddenly, he remembered something he wanted to ask them. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," his friends answered, "what is it?"

"Why does the Curse Mark react whenever Naruto touches it? No one has been able to use it since Ino... so why can he use it?"

"I was wondering when he would ask that," started Kiba.

"Us too," said Sakura, guestering between herself and her sister.

"Do either of you have an answer than?" Sasuke asked. Sakura and Kiba shrugged in an I-don't-know short of way. Luckily, Ino had answers.

"Remember when Kakashi first put the mark on you?" the blond demon asked.

"How could I forget?" growled Sasuke darkly. "If he hadn't interfered, you girls would have lost." To say the less, Sasuke was still a little bitter after the whole incident. This earned a snicker from the two cat demons.

"Because we became friends," continued Ino, "I no longer had to use the mark to protect myself against you. And, in time, the spell stopped working. No other human or half demon could use it, because no one close to you needed to protect themselves from you. That is... until now. Sasuke, be honest, would Naruto still be alive if he couldn't use the curse mark?"

"Of coarse!" Sasuke answered, quickly. The others gave him a look of disbelief. He sighed. "Ok. Maybe I would have let my temper get the best of me and would have killed him. Happy?"

She nodded. "Very. So, you understand now?"

"Kinda. But why couldn't Sakura use it?" He asked.

"Well, Sakura is a full fledged demon." she said as if that answered everything. "With her strength, she should have been able to protect herself against you anyways." Off in the corner, the bubble gum haired demon muttered something to herself. "The curse mark only works for those with human blood pulsing through them. Because, on strength alone, humans are weaker than demons. Kakashi placed the crush mark on you so that those weaker than you can protect themselves from you. Naruto needs to protect himself from you, therefore, he can use the mark. Get it?"

"Yeah, I understand now."

Sasuke stood up, thanking his friends for listening and answering his questions. Ino and Sakura sent each other questioning looks from across the room. Should they tell him? Should they not? Naruto should really be the one to tell him, not them. But...

"Um, Sasuke...?" They began.

"What?"

"Sasuke, I don't think we should be the ones to tell you this, but..." Sakura trailed off, looking to her sister for help.

Sasuke looked between the two. "Well?"

"Well, Sasuke, you see, Naruto um..." Ino also trailed off, much to the Uchiha's annoyance.

"Dammit you two! Spit it out already!" snapped Sasuke.

"Naruto likes you, Sasuke." They both blurted out together.

The Uchiha stared at them, his mouth hanging open slightly. "H-He what?"

"He likes you... a lot." They repeated.

Everything was silent as their words sunk into the Uchiha's head. Was what they said true? Did Naruto really like him? But why would he? Sasuke hadn't been exactly what one would call nice to the human. If anything, he was the exact opposite. Sasuke had been rude, cruel, and uncaring since day one to the human slave. But what reason would Ino and Sakura have to lie to their friend?

Finally, Sasuke scuffed. "Ya right."

The two girls blinked. "What?"

"I don't know what you're trying to pull... but I'm not falling for it."

"But Sasuke...!"

"I don't want to hear it," he told them, eyes narrowed. "Just forget it."

The two girls sighed, defeated. "I guess you need to hear it from him, then."

Sasuke, lost in his own thoughts, silently walked out the room.

His friends sent each other worried looks, but shrugged it off. Sasuke and Naruto had plenty of time to work out their problems. It wasn't like something drastic was going to happen anytime soon, right?
--

"Scream and I swear I'll kill you."

Naruto froze, his body going limp in the others hold. Struggling was the last thing he was thinking about at the moment. The nails that were currently digging into his neck were painful, and he did not wish to make them dig into his flesh any deeper than they already had.

Even if Naruto had not heard the person speak, he would have already known who was behind him. This person's presence was not one to be easily forgotten.

"I-I-Itachi-dono... is so-something the ma-tter?" he asked meekly.

Unnoticed by the blond slave, Itachi grinned. Words could not express how happyhe was that Naruto had not forgotten about him. He spun the slave around to face him. The boy swayed, put off balance by the sudden movement. When his eyes came back in focus, Naruto, to his utter fear, found Itachi's face mere inches away from his own. He made a movement to take a step back but was painfully reminded of the hold the wolf demon held around his neck.

Itachi's eyes were filled with lust and need, unlike Naruto's, who's blue eyes held so much fear it almostmade Itachi regret what he was about to do to the boy.

Slowly, the slave was lowered onto the bed, Itachi straddling the boy's tiny waist. Naruto felt tears come to his eyes as everything that was happening started to sink in. It was like icy cold water being throw in his face.

Itachi was going to rape him.

Naruto began to struggle against the demon as he was flipped onto his stomach. He hit his head against the headboard, and he could feel a warm substance began to run through his hair.

Itachi paused, also noticing the blood starting to stain the boy's blonde hair. This was all the time Naruto needed to get off the bed and make a run for the door. Unforchantly, his only way out was blocked by Itachi just when it was within reach. Naruto was picked up and flung mercilessly across the room, coming in contact with a wall, face first.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Naruto screeched, holding a hand to his bleeding nose. Itachi had already crossed the room and had him pinned against the wall. "Let me go! LET ME GO!" Panic engulfed the blonde. He kicked his legs back, flung his head around, tried swinging his arms…

His efforts were in vain. Itachi was holding his firmly against the wall. Naruto felt Itachi tug at the back of his pants and he screamed out again.

No. No. No no no. This can't happen. It can't. No. No!

His pants were now on the floor. Naruto felt his tears from earlier return. But he refused to let them fall. If he did, he would be admitting defeat, admitting how weak he was.

He continued pushing back with all his remaining strength, anything to get away, anything to escape…

Behind him, Itachi chuckled, noticing a fading scar he'd given Naruto during their first encounter. "Ah, such a pity that your beautiful flesh is marked," he said softly, leaning forward to kiss where the scar started at Naruto's shoulder blade, running diagonally down to his waist.

Seeing that he could not get away from the other, Naruto began to plead. "Please…don't…" He begged, his voice harsh from his screaming. He didn't think he could scream anymore.

But he was proven wrong; a shrill, piercing wail tore from his lips as his world was erased and replaced by a blinding, unimaginable pain…
--

Sasuke was walking the premises outside the mansion. Sure, it was late, but he couldn't sleep. So, as silently as possible, he had slipped out his bedroom window and had began to wonder around the area, planning where would be a good spot for their picnic tomorrow. Maybe out in the forest by the waterfall? Naruto was sure to love it. Maybe later they could go out into the village to the festival being held there.

He was just rounding the corner to the opposite part of the mansion from his room when his peaceful strolling was put to a stop when a sudden cry came from the mansion. What was that? he thought, listening. Fear griped Sasuke heart as another shout filled the night, followed by another and another.

He looked up towards one of the windows on the second floor where a light was still on. He noted that it was Naruto's room.

Sasuke felt his blood run cold as he caught a glimpse of his brother pass through the open curtain window.

N-Naruto!!

Quickly, he jumped up onto the balcony outside the slave's room.
--

Tears ran freely down Naruto's cheeks as the demon ontop of him thrust into him again and again. Itachi, at the moment, could be called anything but gentle. He felt as though his was being ripped from the inside out.

In, out, in, out. Punch, kick, pull, push. Slam, bang, smash, slap. In, out, in, out.

It had been like that for the past fifteen minutes now. Naruto had given up struggling for what felt like hours ago. Now, he just laid there, waiting for it all to be over, and for Itachi to leave him in peace. If he was lucky, he would wake up soon to find that this had all been a very bad dream.

Darkness was starting to creep around the edges of his vision. He welcomed it with open arms.

"Itachi."

The older Uchiha paused in his violent assault against the human slave's body. He turned his head, seeing his younger brother standing at the entrance to the balcony. He gave Sasuke a small grin. "Ah, brother, care to join me?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Get off him- NOW!!" he spat, storming arcoss the room to were Itachi and the unconscious Naruto lay on the bed.

"No, I don't think I will. You see," he guestured between Naruto and himself, "I'm not quite done here. If you'd come back in a few minutes-"

Before he could finish, Sasuke landed a solid punch to Itachi's jaw and knocked the older Uchiha off the unconscious blonde. Sasuke pulled Itachi up by the hair so the two were staring each other in the eye.

"You aregoing to pay for this. You know that, right?" hissed Sasuke, striking his brother again. He pushed his brother away from him, towards the door. "Now get out!"

Itachi stood to his full height, grinning at his brother. "Have fun with your used toy, Otoutou-chan." As he spoke, he reached for the black robe he'd discarded earlier, putting it on, and exiting the room.

Sasuke stared at the closed door, wishing that he could magically make his dear brother burst in flames. However, this did not happen to his disappointment. So instead, Sasuke turned to the bed...

...and his heart stopped beating.

Naruto looked horrible, blood covering his legs, bruises and cuts covering his inter body. All of Sasuke's earlier anger was forgotten as he wrapped the boy in the bloody blanket which he lay on. Picking the boy up, Sasuke carried him across the hall to his room, laying him carefully on the bed.

Shaking with suppress rage, Sasuke left the room, heading to Sakura's and Ino's.

He slammed the door open, to find Ino, Kiba, and Sakura, on the floor, asleep, with the radio playing. They woke with a start at the loud noise.

"What the hell Uchiha!?" the dog demon complained, annoyed, then stopped, seeing the look in his friend's eyes.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Sakura asked, already making her way over to her friend. The other two were not far behind her.

"Get packed," ordered Sasuke. "We're leaving." He spun around, almost running back to his room.