Imprisonment

Currently an idea I adopted from chibisrule943. She didn't know what to do with it so I took it over for her but she is the original plot creator. I'll try to keep it as close to her original idea as I can.

YAOI! Boyxboy so if you don't like, don't read it, it's as simple as that. It's called the miracle of the BACK BUTTON! I do not own Naruto. (Sadly)

"…" = Speech/talking

'…' = thoughts to self

Flashbacks

Story Summary: Itachi's parents wanted him to find a pet to care for to help him with his depression. He really didn't want one, but what were his choices? So when he went to go pick out an animal he found himself strangely compelled to actually take one home (go figure) and grows to like it more than he realizes.

Story So Far: a half human, half cat hybrid named Naruto is taken home by Uchiha Itachi. His first few weeks were sketchy and Naruto tried his very best to run away or make their lives miserable. Just when things were picking up, a visit from Fugaku and Mikoto threw things askew. Not to mention the very nasty visit from an old owner. Naruto finally explains his past and opens up to Itachi and winds up meeting a part of his past. The deadline draws closer and closer and Itachi is just about at his breaking point. How far will Orochimaru go to get Naruto back? How far will Naruto go to protect the family he loves?

Here we go!

Chapter 13 – Calming Fears and Realization of Love

He was going to go crazy. Like, literally, mentally unstable. There was only so much tension a man could take. Since last week and that incident with Naruto's so called 'brother', Itachi had been nothing but a bundle of vibrating, tense, contracting nerves ready to implode upon itself any second. Luckily, Itachi had one thing that calmed him down.

Naruto.

While the kitten was the very essence and reason he was tense and worried as he was, he was also the only thing that could occupy his mind enough to make him calm down. One look at the bright face, innocent eyes, white smile, and tiny body and it was all Itachi could do to not morph into a pile of Jell-O at Naruto's feet. But of course that was completely unacceptable for an Uchiha to do. He could do it in his head though. He also did a lot of other things in his head that he wasn't supposed to in real life. But that was besides the point...

The deadline was tomorrow. November 14th was tomorrow. Tomorrow was Saturday... that was also the day his parents were due to come back with early Christmas presents because they wouldn't be there for the actual holiday. How much more frustrating could this be? Itachi only wanted to focus on keeping his neko safe, not dealing with his parents. Or their drama.

He was almost ready to just start screaming and tearing his hair out. There was just too much going on. The end of their filming was coming up so he and Naruto were working harder to do everything right so it could get printed and sent out, Sasuke was starting to skip school now and had gotten a suspension for fighting with a fellow student, their parents were coming into town tomorrow to spread the good cheer of business (not the holidays. Holidays were a waste of time for the Uchiha's), the deadline for that God damned letter was tomorrow and only God knew what was going to happen if Orochimaru got his greasy mitts on Naruto...

Too much...

"Don't hurt yourself..." the sarcastic voice rang in Itachi's head, breaking his thoughts apart. Fine dust in the wind. Itachi looked up and saw the object of his desires standing in front of him, biting into a plump, juicy looking Granny Smith apple.

"I'm just thinking," Itachi murmured quietly, resisting the urge to lick the juice glistening on those pink lips.

"Yeah, I know. I can see the steam coming from your ears... Take a break, Itachi. You've got us all holed up in the house with security guarding every entrance. You can relax. Watch TV or go cook something..." Naruto suggested, nonchalantly. He turned and strode into the living room, still happily crunching on his apple.

Naruto was right. Itachi couldn't worry about it. He was safe in here with all his security patrolling the grounds. And once Sasuke was home, he would feel that much better. Until then, he needed to unwind and make himself believe that nothing bad was going to happen.

See! See the influence that feline had on him! One second, a basket case about to lose it and the next, a mellow, optimistic Jell-O mould. What would he do without Naruto?

Die.

But he wouldn't think about that. No.

Itachi sighed mentally and followed after Naruto, sitting on the couch next to the boy and turning on the TV. Today and tomorrow were going to be extremely long days...

...

"You have 19 days, till November 14, to come back. If you are not back here by that time I will come looking for you..."

Naruto could hear Orochimaru's voice in his head. He could hear the arrogant smirk and the know-it-all sparkle in those dark, devious eyes. He would come looking... if Naruto didn't show up, he would come and look for him and take him away and probably do something cruel to punish him.

The thought of it made him feel nauseous and sick. If Orochimaru had to come and get him, what would he do to Itachi and Sasuke? Would he hurt them? Kill them? Or would he take them too and do to them what was done to Naruto? Naruto wouldn't be able to stand any of that. He would never forgive himself if the Uchiha's were hurt because of him.

He loved them too much.

What could he do though? He didn't want to go back to Orochimaru. He already knew what was going to happen to him if he did. But if he stayed, something bad might happen to Sasuke and Itachi.

It was a really hard choice for the frazzled feline.

What was the lesser of two evils?

...

"Are you sure about that? You saw that happen?"

"Yes. Naruto was so conflicted with Kyuubi. Kyuubi said that Naruto was shifty and closed off today too. Even in his own home while talking with Itachi and Sasuke," he reported dutifully.

"Excellent. So I was right in my assumptions. Be waiting outside, Sai. He will find a way here to protect those precious Uchiha brothers of his," Orochimaru snickered.

Sai nodded and left the pet shop, swallowing hard before going to his hide out position that would enable him to see Naruto coming from a long way off. This was it.

All this planning and calculating and long, painful waiting! It would finally pay off and he would have his kitten. Months of agonizing watching, waiting, and trickery. 8 months of grit teeth and undetectable stalking and he would have his prize. The bribes he paid! The crimes he committed! The lies he told! All to get closer and win his Hybrid. It would all be worth it once he got his hands on that morsel of Golden God.

And Kyuubi! Kyuubi was such an asset. It took an unbelievable amount of research to find the brother. The mother couldn't be found anywhere. She was presumed dead and the father was unknown. It wasn't even worth trying to find him. But the brother had survived much like his little brother had. For some reason, both kittens were given the strange power to morph into human form. Sai had found Kyuubi in an underground subway tunnel living amongst the deranged and drugged for years. He had earned his place alongside a big city drug dealer by being a thief. Kyuubi was a terrific mischief maker, pickpocket and a fantastic spy. Who would suspect a cute kitten?

Needless to say, it was damn near impossible to get Kyuubi to come work with him. But the prospect of finding his 'long lost brother' was too good a chance to pass up. Foolish boy.

Once Sai had Naruto, Kyuubi would go to Orochimaru and the brothers would probably never see each other again. Fools! They let emotions get the better of them. Curiosity killed the cat...

...

That night, Itachi had trouble sleeping. It was close to midnight and his head would not stop whirring and whizzing with ideas, plans, scenarios, people. He thought he would never get to sleep when he heard Naruto leave Sasuke's room.

Sasuke had graduated High School already but for some reason, Sasuke had committed himself to extracurricular studies. He wasn't technically in school, but he was still doing school courses. Maybe advancing his studies or something. He wouldn't explain it to Itachi. But since he had been running himself ragged, he needed Naruto's help going to sleep most nights. Like Itachi.

Naruto opened the door and quietly snuck in; most likely thinking Itachi was asleep as well.

"How is he?" Itachi whispered, knowing Naruto's hearing would pick up his voice in the dark.

"Better now he's sleeping. He isn't looking so good. Especially since the fight on Wednesday," Naruto whispered back, undressing in the dark. Itachi listened to the rustle of the clothing; the jeans sliding heavily to the floor, the shirt being dragged softly over that perfect flesh, the ball cap being tossed into a corner somewhere. Then on came the sweat pants that Naruto had long since claimed as his.

Itachi felt the edge of the bed shift gently as Naruto crawled up behind him and crawled under the warm covers. With a sigh, Itachi felt himself relax. The feeling of having Naruto close by made him feel at ease and much safer. Turning around, Itachi draped one of his naked arms over the equally naked torso of Naruto. Naruto didn't mind either. He turned his tiny body so he was facing Itachi.

Sapphire met Crimson.

For a few moments, they just stared in each other's eyes before Naruto put on the best grin he could. "You worry too much!"

"I don't worry enough."

"'Tachi," Naruto whispered, his grin fading, "I'm not gonna let anything happen. I promise."

"Naruto...It's not up to you. I wouldn't know what to do without you. Sasuke and I would be lost."

Naruto swallowed the growing lump in his throat and let his eyes flick quickly down to those soft lips that enticed him so much. He wanted to tell Itachi that he would die if Itachi or Sasuke was hurt because of him. But he knew if he told him that, Itachi would instantly know what Naruto was going to do. He was that smart.

So, instead of making a blunder verbally, maybe he could do something else to take Itachi's mind off of it. Licking his eager lips, he squirmed closer to Itachi till their legs were entwined and Naruto's face was only an inch away from Itachi's. The neko could see the confusion and tension in that handsome face. Naruto didn't like to see Itachi looking like that.

"'The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear – fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants above everything else is safety'... do you know who said that, Itachi?" Naruto whispered, his eyes locked on the man before him.

With a small smirk, Itachi's tension almost vanished. "Henry Louis Mencken," he answered, just as quietly.

Naruto leaned forward and captured those smiling lips with his own. And it took his breath away. Kissing Itachi for the movie was so, so so much different than this. Itachi's mouth was so warm and passionate and inviting. So much more tempting than it ever was before. The kiss felt so much more real and special now. The reason? There were many.

This was the first time Naruto ever made the first move to kiss Itachi. Like, really kiss. It wasn't fake. It wasn't acting for an audience. It wasn't forced or uncomfortable. There was no one watching.

It was just him and Itachi. And Itachi was a fantastic kisser. His lips moved hungrily against the kittens and left no space for hesitation or folly. Naruto's heart thrummed painfully against his chest as he felt Itachi deepen the kiss and bury his fingers in the sunshine hair. A shiver ran down his spine, making Naruto push himself against Itachi and making goose bumps rise on his warm skin.

This was beautiful. Naruto had never imagined it would be like this. He never imagined that he would enjoy it as much as he did. It made his heart feel suddenly heavy at the thought of what he was about to do. He suddenly didn't want to go. He didn't want to hurt Itachi this way.

But what other choice was there?

Leaving was the lesser of two evils.

Naruto pulled away from the wet kiss, panting very lightly as he locked his eyes on Itachi's and smiled, running a thumb over the pale mans lips. Itachi's eyes were half-lidded and he shivered slightly at Naruto's touch.

What did this mean? Naruto was too afraid to find out. So he kissed Itachi's forehead and told him it was time for sleep.

Itachi didn't need to be asked twice. After that kiss, after the way Naruto looked at him like that... everything was ok. Nothing and no one was going to take Naruto and Itachi felt himself drown in the heat Naruto's body was giving off. How beautiful. 'Naruto... oh, Naruto... I love you...'

Itachi's muddled mind could only hope he hadn't said that out loud...

...

Naruto fought his way to freedom an hour or so later, making only small movements so as not to alert Itachi. He felt heavy, laden with guilt and grief. Loss. He wanted so badly to stay and kiss Itachi awake in the morning and tell him that it was ok. Admitting that he liked kissing Itachi wasn't so hard anymore. He wanted to kiss Itachi. He wanted those strong arms to hold him like he was important and wanted.

But Naruto had to do this. To keep Sasuke and Itachi safe from his fate, he had to leave. All the poor boy could do was pray that somehow, someway, things would turn out alright. He doubted it, but hey, he could hope, right?

So with this thought racing behind sad sapphire eyes, he wrote a small note and kissed Itachi's lips so gently. A butterfly light kiss. A good bye kiss.

Then he slipped out of Itachi's room and shut the door without a sound before heading down the stairs, mindful of the squeaky stairs. You would think he was a ninja cat with the way he crept through the house, not making any sound that could be heard by human ears. The security outside was still thick and spot lights lined the outside of the yard.

This was the exciting part.

Slipping out of Itachi's sweatpants, Naruto transformed into his orange tabby form and hopped up on the kitchen counter. The kitchen had the smallest window opening and the guards weren't paying attention. He flattened himself down and slid his flexible structure through the tiny gap before dropping down to the ground behind one of the many hedges in the yard. Without a sound of course.

Waiting to time the guards' rounds, he dashed from bush to bush when neither was looking. Close to the edge of the yard, the feline jumped up on the 5 foot fence, balanced precariously for a moment to choose his landing spot, then dropped down with grace that a prize winning, pure bred would be jealous of.

And just like that, the kitten was free. Just like that, he had escaped the only home that ever loved or accepted him and he was on his way to the nightmare he swore he would never return to. Despite the doubt that clouded Naruto's mind, he ran down the winding streets to the dreaded building. All the way, the only thing keeping him from turning tail and running back home was the fact that it was for them. It was so Itachi and Sasuke wouldn't be hurt. The brave kitten would endure whatever came his way because he held that knowledge close to heart.

For Sasuke who tried so hard to seek approval yet never getting it from the one who mattered most. Sasuke was so young, so lost, so confused and yet so caring.

For Itachi who gave him a safe home to stay in. A home where he fit in and was cared for. Itachi loved Naruto. Loved him and would do anything for him.

This was for his family.

Straightening his furry shoulders, he trotted to the back alley behind the pet store and took a deep breath. Lifting one, soft white paw, he started patting and clawing the metal to get the attention of the man he knew was inside. The man Naruto loathed and despised. And feared.

However, his pawing only lasted a moment or two. Then a human dropped down into the alley behind Naruto, cutting off the alley exit. Naruto's heart jumped and he made to bolt away but the stranger was faster. Naruto was in a thick black bag before he could even call for help. Thrashing and yowling and hissing were doing nothing to sway his captor and Naruto quickly began to fear.

Just what had he gotten himself into? This wasn't supposed to happen. Would Itachi be able to find him?

No matter what happened, though, Naruto was not going to go down without a fight!

Steadying himself in the cramped little bag, he felt out where those treacherous hands were and latched onto skin through the bag. Claws and fangs ripped, tore and gnashed at anything and everything and he was rewarded when the stranger cried out and dropped the sack. Naruto landed heavily but it took him only a split second to dash out of the bag and run. Sadly, Naruto realized just a second too late that he was inside the pet shop and in an enclosed room with no escape.

"Fuck!" the stranger cried out, holding his bloodied hand close to his chest. Naruto whirled around to face his kidnapper and froze in place when he recognized that dark haired boy from Sasuke's school. The one he met on Halloween who tried to get Naruto to go down into the school's basement. Didn't he say he dressed up as a nudist on strike? Yeah, something dumb like that. What was this kid's name?

Dei? Yui? No, it started with an 'S'. Sai! Yeah, that was the bastard's name, Sai! The creepy guy that kinda looked like Sasuke but not really.

What the fuck was he doing here? Why was he kidnapping him? Was he working with Orochimaru? Just what was going on?

Naruto's wide, blue eyes darted around the room, looking for escape as Sai grit his teeth and tried to ignore the stinging pain in his mutilated hand. There was nothing! Nothing! The only way out was through the door they came in that was behind Sai. If he jumped and transformed just long enough to open the door...

Naruto crouched and pounced, flinging himself over the kneeling Sai and transformed just before he landed, his hand catching the door knob and turning it, throwing the door open. In a flash, he was a cat again and out the door, down the hall, and almost to the exit. His paws made little noise on the linoleum as he flitted through the hallway. He transformed just before skidding into the back door and reach for the handle. Freedom! He was almost free!

However, Naruto blacked out. He touched the handle of the door and everything went black. His body stiffened, his breathing stopped, his muscles contracted painfully and his eyes felt glued open as he collapsed to the cold floor in a great, useless heap.

The synapses in his brain were fried and as his eyes shut involuntarily, he couldn't remember how to breathe...

...

Sorry it took me so long to update! I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I can't believe I was finally able to write this climax chapter! Yay so happy.

Just please don't shoot me for how this thing ends... Take a wild guess at what happened to Naruto to make him black out! I wanna see what you guys come up with. (Though it's pretty obvious)

Anyways!

Q And A

From Sachiel Angelo: Why is Neji on Sasuke's list?

Well, one, Neji is just a royal prick. Two, Neji was Sasuke's rival at school. They were both competing to be the best student. You know? I didn't get a chance to put that in the story because there isn't much history behind them. I only fit it in so you could glimpse the fact that life didn't revolve around Itachi, Sasuke, Orochimaru, Sakura and Naruto.

From Lanslet: Is Kyuubi with Orochimaru?

Well I hope this chapter answers your question. Also, thank you very much for your review. I enjoyed reading what you thought of it. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations despite the stupidly long wait for it! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

To XxLovelyxStitchesxX: Thank you so much for the review and I'm so terribly sorry for the wait. I hope the new chapter makes up for it! I did my best to explain where Kyuubi came from and what happened for his childhood. More detail comes later, I promise! That line with Kyuubi flipping his hair does remind me of the snobby hair-flip thing but Kyuubi is too much of a scary mischief maker than a snob! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to what you have to say!

To souldew: I must admit I had to giggle to myself while reading your review. I thought it was just adorable the way you threw in a second thought in brackets after a sentence. Thank you for the smile and I hope your suspense has been thwarted by the main climax chapter that everyone has been waiting for! Enjoy!

To AncientKyuubi: I am so glad you enjoy this story enough to keep coming back! Thanks for the cookie! I hope you enjoy the latest edition to Imprisonment! I look forward to hearing from you!

And to everyone else to reviewed my story, thank you all so much and I hope you continue to enjoy this story! I look forward to hearing from you all!

TLC