Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 14

Had you all fooled, didn't I? Huck huck . . .

It, being a Sunday, Sasuke had no choice but to start thinking about his competition. His parents were home that day, and Sasuke felt like it was going to be even harder to concentrate. Shamefully he didn't feel very trusting of them right now. The lies were piling up, and Sasuke fought not to hate his parents. He tried to reason in his mind why they had lied in the first place. Was it to protect him? Protect Itachi? To protect themselves? Sasuke sat at his piano mindlessly tapping the keys in no particular order. He wanted to work, but he had lost all if any ambition. He decided since it was early he would work on it tonight. The sudden ringing of their home phone made him jump and his heart beat nervously. His mother answered it in the hallway. He heard approaching footsteps and for some reason, steeled himself.

"Sasuke," his mother said. "Kisame is on the phone. He wants to know if you're up for working tonight. Said he could really use you," she smiled. Sasuke gave her a strained smile and took the phone from her.

"Kisame?" He asked.

"Hey Sasuke, long time no see! I hate to call on such short notice, but I could really use you tonight!" Kisame said excitedly on the other end. Sasuke heard his mother walk away as he spoke into the phone.

"I thought Friday nights were your busiest nights," Sasuke asked.

"Me too, well maybe because we have a live singer tonight. Sasori's cousin Konan is visiting and singing in the club. Lots of people bought tickets so it's bound to be a blast! I could really use you. I don't know anyone else with faster fingers," Kisame said. Sasuke mulled it over in his head. He really wanted to get out of the house and away from his thoughts for a while.

"Sure Kisame that sounds great," he replied.

When Sasuke was picked up by Kisame and brought to the club, he had to stick close by the larger man. All Sasuke heard was people talking, laughing and chatting. The club was so packed that a line was going out the door. Sasuke managed to make it in and was lifted up onto the stage by Deidara and Sasori; once he was situated behind the piano he gave a sigh of relief. Deidara after not seeing him for such a long time squealed and latched onto him like a long-lost puppy. Sasori patted him on the head before going over and talking to the drummer. Deidara and Sasuke had a conversation for a while until his nose caught something sweet. He tilted his head to the right where the smell got stronger.

"Sasuke, this is Konan! She is singing tonight," Deidara introduced. Sasuke blushed when the finger nails tenderly scratched the back of his neck, giving him goose bumps. He heard a small giggle at his reaction.

"Hello Sasuke, everyone tells me you're fantastic on the piano. I'm really looking forward to hearing you play," her voice was soft but strong. Sasuke gulped and nodded, knowing his face was red.

"T-Thanks! You sound really pretty," Sasuke said, smiling in her direction. He heard her giggle before she sat down next to him on the bench.

"Kisame didn't tell me you were so young! And here I was almost hoping we could hook up later," she mused. Sasuke blushed even harder, and Deidara laughed beside him. Sasuke frowned and reached his hand out toward the blond, effectively pushing him off the bench. He smirked when he heard Kisame laugh down by the bar and Sasori, and the drummer laughed at Sasuke's good aim.

"If you can laugh, then you can play!" Sasuke told him. Deidara pouted and crossed him arms.

The bar was packed; Kisame had never seen so many people fit into such a small space. Not saying that the club wasn't big, but it was absolutely filled tonight. He had to hire extra help at the door just to control the line coming in from outside. Konan was a beauty on stage, and Sasuke was amazing behind the piano. The blue man smiled as he watched the small boy's fingers fly to the rhythm, always memorizing everything before he went on stage. He hoped someday Sasuke's amazing talent would get him somewhere with some very important people. Kisame and his friend Tobi worked behind the bar as more and more people ordered drinks for their tables.

When the set ended the people on the dance floor applauded for more. Sasuke flexed his fingers and rubbed his palms from the amount of playing. Konan bowed and waved to the audience.

Remembering the next set, Sasuke began to start off slow, the sound soothing.

Kisame had just finished pouring a tray of beers when he heard some people talking at the end of the bar.

"So, how old do you think that kid is?" A red-haired man asked his friend.

"Can't be any older than fourteen, he's way too small," his friend the blond said.

The two didn't see but slowly Kisame crept a little closer to their conversation.

"I heard the brat's blind," the red head said. "Saw the guitarist leading him around, poor little shit."

"Would make it kind of fun though wouldn't it?" the blond mentioned. His friend frowned in confusion at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked. His friend the blond took a drink of his beer before answering.

"Getting fucked and never seeing the guy who fucked you. It would be the perfect get away," the blond looked at his friend. The red head slowly smiled and looked toward Sasuke on the stage.

"You get off both physically and legally," he laughed.

Kisame growled and felt a bubble of protection well up inside him. He ground his teeth and made his way over to the two drunkards. He'd known Sasuke ever since he was little, he used to baby-sit the kid for heaven's sake! Just hearing someone intending to do harm to his adopted little brother made him see red and boil on the inside. Kisame quickly motioned to one of the door men, and the guy came over.

"What's up Kisame?" Hidan asked, sweeping some of his white hair behind his ear. Kisame leaned over the bar and whispered in his ear. Hidan's eyes went wide, and he growled deep in his throat.

"Who the fuck said that?" He whispered. Kisame motioned with his head toward the two at the end of the bar, and Hidan nodded in understanding.

"Leave it to me," he hissed.

The two men sitting at the bar yelled in surprise when they were both lifted by the collars of their shirts and throw outside and into the street. Hidan and his friend Zetsu stared them down heatedly until the two eventually grabbed their jackets and ran down the street in fear. They looked toward the bar and smiled when Kisame gave them thumbs up and continued serving drinks. The band stopped playing, and the audience hooted and applauded. Konan waved at them and gave a sweep of her arm toward Sasuke, who timidly smiled when she mentioned him. It wasn't until around midnight that the band stopped and the bar cleared out. Kisame was as happy as a cat with a plate of tuna. Hidan and Zetsu escorted out all the drunks and locked the doors, so they could help clean up. Tobi and Kisame sent the glasses to the kitchen as Konan and Deidara put away equipment. Sasuke yawned and rubbed his fingers; they were sore from playing for so many hours. Sasori eventually walked up to him and rubbed his back.

"Let's get you home kid, your mom is going to kill Kisame for keeping you up so late," he said, grasping a sleepy Sasuke by the upper arm.

"Oh chibi! Hold on a moment!" Kisame called from the bar. Sasuke was set down on the floor by Deidara after a teasing kiss to the cheek by Konan. He blushed and faced the direction of the bar, he heard Kisame's heavy footsteps.

Something was shoved into his hand, and Sasuke felt it with his fingers. His eyes bulged when he realized what it was.

"Kisame! This is way too much money!" Sasuke said, holding out his hand to give the money back. Kisame shook his head and closed his small fist around the bundle.

"Believe me kid; you made me enough of it tonight. You deserve a cut of the profits after putting on such a great show. Put it toward your college savings or something," he smiled. Sasuke sighed but pocketed the small bundle.

"You really shouldn't," he said again. Kisame chuckled.

"That's what my mom said when I got that idea for that tattoo to be placed on my . . . " He began.

"Kisame!" Deidara and Sasori yelled. Sasuke smiled but suddenly felt very tired.

Sasori drove him home and showed him into the door. His father was still up finishing up some work, so he greeted them both before tucking Sasuke in. The boy's mind buzzed that night. His earlier thoughts about his brother whizzed by now that he had a moment to think. He closed his eyes and clenched them tight. Another thought suddenly occurred to him, and he chewed his lip nervously.

"I need to see Gaara tomorrow," he whispered.

TBC