The Secret: Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Gin, but I don't particularly want him…

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter! I really appreciate everybody's comments, even the flames… but c'mon Mayhem! My grammar isn't that bad! At least I make an effort, after all I cud b writin mi stori lyk dis wit no punctuation at all! :shudders: Still, I appreciate the comments and I will take them into consideration for future writing.

Please enjoy the next installment… now complete with 33 per cent more grammar! :D

Oh and it's still raining here…

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(Inside Gin's house…)

"Put on your clothes you little whore!" Gin hissed as he spun around and threw Sasuke's clothes roughly at his face. "We don't have time to finish our fun, but not to worry; we'll still have our excitement… just in a different way."

Sasuke remained frozen to the spot, barely noticing the clothes being thrown at him. He took deep breaths in a desperate attempt to calm down and compose himself. The relief that Gin wasn't going to rape him again after all helped, but he was still shaking and still unaware of what his abuser might do to him next. Gin was unpredictable, there was no denying that and the boy couldn't shake away the terrifying thought that he might not live to ever see Kakashi again.

Despite this, he sensed his saviour was near and Gin's reaction to the crashing noise downstairs confirmed his suspicions. The boy wanted to be happy, he wanted to run into Kakashi's arms and get the hell out of here, but he knew it would not be that easy. He was all too aware that Gin would kill him before he'd let him leave, especially now that Sasuke was absolutely sure about his secret. If anything, he sort of wanted Kakashi to run, to leave him here and escape with his life. He was as good as dead if Gin caught him. From praying only moments ago that Kakashi would come and rescue him, instantly his frame of mind changed. Kakashi was risking his life for him! He couldn't allow that to happen! It was then that the boy decided to sacrifice his life to save the other man if it should become necessary. After all, Kakashi had so much more to live for than he did. Kakashi had a life, friends… family. He couldn't allow the person he loved to die for some worthless little piece of rubbish like himself who had no connections to the world. Besides, Kakashi had more than proved himself and helped the boy on his way to regaining his trust in humanity again. There are people out there who care enough to risk their life for him. Sasuke would have better appreciated the thought if he wasn't so terrified at this exact moment in time.

"I said put on your clothes!" Gin hissed again, breaking the boy's thoughts. His tormentor was careful to keep his voice down to ensure that they would not be heard, but his voice was filled with just as much venom than as if he was shouting. He just needed to find Kakashi now and Sasuke would be the perfect bait. He smiled to himself sadistically as he watched the trembling boy struggle to pull his trousers back on. Perfect! The boy could be used to draw the other man out from where he might be hiding. Gin knew that Kakashi would come running if he threatened to hurt his precious little whore.

"Come with me, NOW!" Gin narrowed his eyebrows and grabbed the boy violently by his arm, trailing him to his unsteady feet. "I'm sure you've already worked it out, but your hero is here! Isn't that exciting? I wonder if how much of a hero he'll be to you as you watch him die helplessly and pathetically, just like his father. Not to worry though. You'll be dead shortly afterwards. You won't have the memories for long."

Sasuke's eyes widened in fright and he desperately wanted to run and scream to Kakashi to get the fuck out of here, but the stronger man's vice-like grip on his arm meant he wasn't going anywhere. His heart raced as he tried to pull himself free. Gin smirked, amused by the boy's futile efforts and quickly dragged him out of the room.

"Make a noise unless I tell you too and your pervert of an older lover will die a much more slow and painful death," Gin warned Sasuke before proceeding to lead him closer to where Kakashi had made his forced entry into the house.

Now, where would Kakashi be hiding? Several thoughts entered Gin's mind. From what he knew about the younger man, he probably wouldn't attempt a straight forward ambush attack because there would be no way he'd have the physical strength to fight the bigger man off. Instead, he'd probably bide his time and hit when Gin least expected it. In other words, Kakashi would probably fight dirty, but he could fight even dirtier. Gin smiled to himself again, enjoying the rush of adrenaline that was pumping through his body. He lived for this sort of feeling.

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(Kakashi's point of view)

"Alright we're in," I whisper to Itachi who climbs in through the window shortly after me. As our luck would have it, Gin locked all the doors of his house. Perhaps to prevent Sasuke from escaping if he's in there, but I'm not sure. The only way in was through a downstairs window into the main living room. As hard as we tried not to make too much noise, the shattering of the glass was sure to have caught Gin's attention. He knows we're here… well, he knows I'm here. We still have the advantage so long as Gin doesn't discover Itachi.

"Let's find Sasuke and then blow that bastard's brains out," Itachi states, no emotion creeping into his voice. It's like he's conditioned himself over the years to do this. He can't show any emotion about it or else it might stop him from doing what he needs to do. I hope he can push all emotions aside and do it when the time comes. For Sasuke's sake I pray he doesn't chicken out when it comes to the crunch.

"Yes, but whatever the hell you do, don't blow his brains out in front of Sasuke. The boy's been through enough as it is, I don't want him burdened with that on top of it all," I sigh, hoping that I can get Sasuke away before Itachi fires the fatal shot. The poor boy has already witnessed a murder in the past and the trauma has shaken him up no end. I don't want him to have to experience that again, even if it is Gin and even if Sasuke actually wants him dead.

"I'm not going to do that!" Itachi hisses at me; irritated that I keep undermining and patronising him. I can't help it though; I just want this damn thing to go as smoothly as possible and I'm worried that Itachi will mess things up. I'm not sure why, but I just… I just don't trust him, Sasuke's older brother or not.

My heart is in my mouth as I begin to step away from the window. The floor creaks underneath my feet, and to me it sounds almost deafening. I'm almost afraid to breath. I don't want to make any noise at all that might alert Gin as to where I'm going. The last thing I want is for him to ambush me because I don't stand a chance if he does that! He's too big, too strong and he could probably tear me limb from limb if the notion took him. I'm afraid for my life right now, as well as Sasuke's. I did the worst thing I could do, I turned against him and I'm sure Gin will want his revenge. This time last year, hell! This time a few months ago even, the thought of Gin wanting to kill me would never even have entered my mind. I would never have believed it, but I have Sasuke to thank for showing to me Gin's true nature. In all honesty, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner, but I suppose he was careful to keep his real self hidden from me and he did a damn good job of it! I'll admit I was totally, one hundred per cent oblivious to everything and every day now I curse myself for it. How could I have been so stupid? Still, I often wonder why he choose to be kind and loving towards me and my family when he turned against Sasuke's family, making their lives a living hell. I don't understand and I probably never will. I probably will never find out just how any other families he has most likely victimised.

"I'll go on ahead," I whisper to Itachi after I collected my thoughts back together once again. "You stay behind, but stay close. Make sure Gin doesn't see you because you're our damn only hope, you understand that? I can draw him out and then you can take him by surprise. He'll never expect it!"

"Right, ok. Go find him then," Itachi states coldly, still annoyed that I'm kind of dictating everything to him when he'd much rather be doing this on his own. He knows he can't do it on his own though, the same way I know I can't do this without him. We just have to put our trust in each other, which is hard because we're both complete strangers. I might end up having to trust him with my life… and visa versa.

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(Back with Gin…)

"You want to be with Kakashi, don't you Sasuke?" Gin grinned, that wide, sarcastic smirk spreading across his face, his eyes brightening up. Sasuke pretty much saw a metaphorical light bulb turn on above his head as he asked him that question, but the boy didn't dare question any motives. Instead, he looked down at the ground and hoped that Gin would forget he was there or something. He'd tried this approach many times in the past. It never worked of course, but Sasuke prayed that now might be the first time it would. No such luck.

"Answer me you little slut!" Gin hissed much more loudly than he'd anticipated. In his annoyance he shoved the boy roughly against the wall, earning a yelp from his already injured victim. It pissed him off massively when Sasuke refused to answer his questions, but still, he hoped in the back of his mind that Kakashi had not heard him. He didn't want the other man to find him before he could discover where he was hiding. He grabbed the boy again and shook him for a response.

"Yes," Sasuke whimpered, afraid to look his tormenter in the eyes.

"Alright. Go to him then," Gin smirked as he released the terrified boy from his grip and leaned back against the wall, folding his arms tightly during the process."

"Huh?" A surprise look quickly formed on Sasuke's face.

"You heard me. You're free to go, now go and run like a frightened dog to it's master. I have no need for you anymore."

"Huh…" Sasuke tried to piece together what his abuser was saying to him. Let him go? Really? No, there had to be an ulterior motive, Gin wouldn't just let him go, especially considering that he knew his biggest secret and would have absolutely no problem telling this secret to the one person Gin never wanted to find out about it. The boy remained frozen to the spot as Gin's impatience grew and grew.

"GO! I'm fucking letting you go you little fucking idiot," the older man dug his nails into his sides in frustration. He'd expected the boy to run at the first given opportunity, but there he was standing immobile like an imbecile. Figures.

Sasuke's body soon sprang into action as soon as the imposing figure started to move towards him, fists clenched in a striking position. He backed away from him, in two minds whether or not to make a run for it. Perhaps his tormentor was testing him… checking his obedience like he used to do in the past. If Sasuke ran then it would mean a beating for daring to run even though Gin told him too. The point was to make Sasuke understand that he would never be free and it was something the cruel man had done before on him. Sasuke eyed the stairs, then looked back at Gin before focusing on the stairs once again. What if he really was letting him go? He could find Kakashi, wrap his arms around him and be lifted to safety. Thoughts of Kakashi's warm embrace spurred him on. He chewed the bottom of his lip nervously for a few seconds before making the split decision to run. He needed to get away from Gin and more than anything else, he wanted to feel Kakashi's soft, gentle touch on his skin once again. That way he would instantly feel safe and protected.

Before Sasuke even realised it, or had time to fully think his decision over, he was already at the stairs and making his way down them as fast as his injured body would allow. He ran towards where he heard the crash; the main living room of the house. It would make sense for Kakashi to try and get in there anyway if the doors were locked; the windows in that room are bigger.

His heart thumped as he checked to see that Gin wasn't chasing after him. He saw the bigger man in the distance, his arms still folded and watching the boy's every move. Sasuke continued to run. He could almost taste freedom and feel his older lover's secure arms around him once again.

He limped to the bottom of the stairs and ran for dear life, constantly checking behind him to see if Gin was in pursuit. He had moved closer to the stairs, but he certainly wasn't chasing after the panicking boy. Sasuke decided to try and wipe him from his mind and concentrate on finding Kakashi, whom he was certain should be in the house somewhere. The sound of shattering glass he'd heard previously had to be Kakashi, it just had to be. Gin even told him it was.

His route eventually led him to the room where the sound had come from just minutes before. There was shattered glass scattered across the floor near the window, just the indicator Sasuke needed to see. For a brief second or two, his racing heart slowed and a feeling of calm overtook his small frame. It didn't last long though. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs he'd just made his escape from and he knew it was Gin. His heart raced back to maximum speed when it occurred to him that his tormentor was in fact chasing after him, but just not at a particularly fast pace. The pressure felt like a lead weight attached to the boy's back. At this rate, he would never find Kakashi and escape from here without encountering Gin. Pausing, he looked at the front door of the house, he could easily unlock it from the inside and make his escape without Kakashi… no! He knew the other man was here and he sure as hell wasn't going to make this rescue mission even harder by disappearing off outside and abandoning his saviour to his fate.

Instinctively, he ran off again, following the obvious route Kakashi might have taken. The back stairs at the rear of the house! Surely he would be making an attempt to get to those so that he could search another floor of the house. He continued to run as fast he was able, desperate to catch up with his saviour. Making his way to the front hall of the large building, he proceeded in the direction of the other staircase. He cursed the house under his breath for being so large, almost like a maze. Plenty of hiding places, but it meant it would be harder to find the person he was looking for.

It wasn't long before he heard footsteps behind him once again, suddenly much louder and nearer this time. His heart jumped. How could Gin have made it here so quickly? His vision blurred from the panic as he imagined what was going to happen to him. It was a trick, it had to be! Gin had given him false hope and was now going to punish him harshly for his disobedience as he dared run away, despite being told to do so. In his panic he wanted to scream Kakashi's name out loud so that his saviour would emerge from wherever he was hiding and come to his rescue, but Sasuke couldn't even open his mouth. His damn body had frozen on him again! It always let him down when he needed it the most!

"Sasuke!" a familiar voice sounded, its tone saturated with sheer relief.

"Kakashi!" Finally the boy was able to speak, albeit only just. He threw himself into his lover's arms and tucked his head deep into his chest, inhaling the familiar scent. The tears he'd been holding back began to trickle down his cheeks. He felt secure, protected and safe as the other man wrapped his arms tightly around his waist. He could finally leave this place and never return. But his relief was short-lived. It wasn't long before he heard footsteps again, this time coming up behind them fast. He knew it was Gin for sure; the footsteps were too loud and heavy to be anybody else's.

What was left of the small amount of colour in the boy's face quickly drained away when it hit him like a ton of bricks what he'd done. Gin was using him to bait Kakashi, to draw him out from wherever he was hiding and Sasuke had walked right into the trap. At the time he was too confused and driven by a mixture of fear and adrenaline. He didn't think Gin's proposition over properly at all and now he was going to pay for it. What was worse was that Kakashi was going to pay as well. Panicking once again, he pulled away from the secure grip of his older lover.

"Kakashi, get out of here now! While there's still time!" Sasuke gasped, the footsteps getting ever louder and closer.

"We're both getting out of here, come on, this way…"

"NO! Go now! Please! RUN!" Sasuke begged. "It's a trap, Gin…"

"Hello Kakashi," Gin grinned sarcastically as he leaned himself up against the doorway and folded his arms against his chest. "Thank you Sasuke, you did an excellent job at finding Kakashi before he found me. Good boy."

Gin smiled at Kakashi, who was now standing only a few meters away from him, Sasuke curled up against him once again. The look of determination on Kakashi's face amused the larger man. There was no way Kakashi could get into a fight with him and win, yet the look on his face suggested he was thinking about trying his luck at it. Gin forced himself to hold back his laughter as Kakashi protectively pushed Sasuke behind him, the boy clinging to his shirt as if his life depended on it. Well, his life actually did depend on it, but it wasn't as if Kakashi was going to be able to do much to save him anyway.

"Ironic, isn't it?" Gin sniggered, locking eyes with Kakashi. "Now it's Sasuke's turn to betray you. I knew he'd find you, so I followed. So much for any surprise attack you were planning."

"Is that so?" Kakashi hissed; the same level of sarcasm entering his voice as Gin usually oozed.

"Big words Kakashi. You talk big but I know you won't be able to go through with it. You're too weak, so is Sasuke. You two couldn't fight me and ever hope to win, even if you try to punch me with your weak fists and your worthless little dog there bites at my ankles."

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(Kakashi's point of view)

Sasuke is alive but in bad shape. I need to get away from here. He's injured and needs medical attention; I can't linger about here waiting for Gin to attack me, I need to get him away. If ever there is a good time for Itachi to appear, now is it. But no fucking sign of him!! I knew he wouldn't stick to the plan! He's probably off at the other end of the house or something instead of staying close like we'd agreed on. I can see now why Sasuke hates him so much. He's clearly the most unreliable person in the world. He let Sasuke down when it really mattered and now he's doing the same to me. As much as I want to scream: 'Itachi! Get your fucking arse down here now you bastard!' I daren't give away our only hope. We still have the element of surprise and I plan to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Holding Sasuke close to me, I feel his panicked breath against my back as he clings on to me so tightly it hurts. We can't stand around here and wait for Itachi! Fuck this! It's time to run! We'll get into my car and leave the bastard here for all I care, but I don't know if we'll be able to outrun Gin or not. I'd be able too, but Sasuke is too badly injured. He can't put any weight on his left leg and he's sore, bruised and bloodied all over. I wish I could carry him and still manage to outrun Gin, but I know it's not possible. We'll just have to try running and hope for the best. If he catches up, which he probably will, then I'm just going to have to fight.

Gin can sense I'm about to make a dash for it, my tense body language acting like a fluresant, flashing sign above my head. I can see him lean forward slightly like he's getting ready to give chase. The bastard is enjoying this so much. He loves an unfair fight when the outcome is already foretold. Gin will most likely win this one.

I curse Itachi under my breath and grab Sasuke to get him to run away with me, when I notice his eyes focused intensely behind Gin. They are open wide, almost in disbelief and he's completely unsure if what he's seeing is real or not. I quickly glance at the spot where he's looking. A smile spreads across my lips. Itachi! He took his bloody time!

End of Chapter 13

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Thank you so much for reading! I had absolutely no idea where this chapter was going, I just sat down, typed and waited to see what would happen. Anyway, this is how it turned out and I hope it isn't rubbish!

I'm away on holiday for a few days today and I didn't have enough time to proof read this as much as I'd like so I apologise for any mistakes, but I wanted to get this chapter up before I left. I've already left it so long without updating and it isn't fair on you lovely, patient people! ;)

Please review and let me know what you think of the story so far! See you next chapter,

Laura xx