Song of the Caged Blackbird

Abby Ebon

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' or 'Naruto'. Or 'InuYasha'.

Note; in which Itachi makes a "friend", and there is smutty-man-sex between Itachi/InuYasha, and heavily future implied hints between Itachi/Kouga.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

An All Too Familiar Past

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Though it was likely they had only gotten a few hours of sleep, and the still dark night offered no other threats, none of them could sleep. Itachi had retreated to a point that was safely away from the group, though within a wary distance of the forest being consumed by black flame. It was eerie, how the flames flickered and waved, silent as the wind, though so like the shadows that seeped through the night he could have thought the flames an illusion of shadows.

Though he strained not to show it, Itachi had weakened himself with that burst of power. He knew he would be useless if they arrived to where they were going (that Itachi was unsure showed all too well the fact that he was not welcome among this close nit group) only to be exhausted by having gone all this way. If he let Harry down in such a way…it did not bid thinking of.

A small mewling cry alerted him to the fact that he was not alone. His eyes took in the sight of the small two tailed cat that had followed him the distance away from the others, only to settle at his feet and look up at him pleadingly for attention.

Itachi pressed his lips in an expression that could be equal parts amusement and annoyance, knowing they would miss the little critter if it wondered off in a huff simply because he had refused it attention. Likely ignoring it would end up alienating him all the more. He could not afford to lose the only possible allies he had in this strange place.

So it was for this reason, not some imagined softness for animals, that he bent and picked up the small bundle of fur. It cooed happily, its tiny tails curling about his hands and fingers as if reluctant to let him go. He tried not to show how that oddly possessive gesture disturbed him.

His thought that the critter – Kirara, he remembered the cat demons name to be – would be missed proved correct when he glimpsed the little fox boy – Shippo by name, tug on the long sleeves of Sango, glancing in Itachi's direction. Her eyes met his, and took in the sight of Kirara nestled in his arms.

She seemed amused, rather then alarmed. She patted Shippo's hair before smoothly rising to her feet, Itachi noticed – as he was sure he was meant to – that she had left her demon bone boomerang weapon, the Hiraikotsum with the group. Itachi had little doubt that she did not have other weapons, but it was still a show of faith on her part.

Miroku watched her leave the group – he was not the only one – but it was he who Itachi concerned himself with as he wasn't sure what to make of the monk. While Miroku had walked ahead to greet his group after emerging from the now burning forest, Itachi had stayed behind.

There had been hugging – and sniffling, and until now they had spoken in hushed tones with only the occasional glance in Itachi's direction. It was rather obvious he was being talked about, he found he did not care, so long as they did nothing to keep him from following they could gossip of him all they pleased.

Itachi came back to the present when Sango stopped within arms reach of him. Kirara chipped a happy greeting. For a while, it was the only sound as the two studied each other. Itachi was not a fool, he recognized Sango for what she was – she was a ninja, or what they had originated from as demon hunters. It was an interesting fact, and explained their secretive ways, and why demons more often then not chose to attack them rather then civilians. It also, Itachi knew, explained how demon blood had seeped into ninja families over the course of generations.

"It might help us trust you," Sango began letting Kirara sniff her gloveless fingers, "if we knew something about you." Itachi glanced away, frowning, it went against his nature to trust her, but he felt a kinship with her. A bond, alike what he had felt for shinobi he had worked with.

"I search for my brother." Her volunteered words startled him, and he met her eyes hesitantly. She smiled, though he saw it for something like a mask to hide the pain. There was more to her then that simple statement.

"My own brother would have said the same, before I let him find me." Itachi didn't know why he let her know that. It wasn't as if she could do anything with his words, but he knew he wasn't fooling himself – every bit of information held power, it was what you did with it that changed the opinions of those around you.

"That is an interesting way to say what you mean." Sango commented, not making any more threatening move then to run her fingers through the fur of the small two tailed cat demon that had claimed Itachi's arms. He knew they were being watched, knew that Kirara had likely planned to make him appear harmless, so that one of them would approach him. For the first time he realized how cleaver the two tailed cat demon truly was. For some reason she liked him – he wasn't sure the feeling was mutual.

"We two are of the last of our family, the Uchiha – I killed the others." He didn't have any reason to hide that from them – they suspected he was dangerous. He spared only a moment to wonder what she – what they – would do with the information he had given over willingly.

"Why?" Sango asked, her voice was steady, calm, though he wondered why that was.

"There is demon blood that flows through me – though all Uchiha, I don't know what kind of demon, but whatever they were they don't willingly share territory with kin when they grow strong. It would not have been a problem, had my family not acted to restrict my movements. I could not handle their manipulations, not when I found the truth…" Itachi let himself smile, knowing it was not a pleasant expression. He was not afraid of the fact that he liked to kill, but Sango met his eyes – had not turned away – and he wondered if like did not after all recognize like.

"My little brother was possessed by a spider demon under the influence of Naraku. He set a trap for us – and Kohaku had little choice but to kill our group – even our father could not raise a weapon against him. I thought I was dead when his chain-sickle stabbed me in the back – when I was shot with arrows along with my little brother. But we did not die. I went home – to find it destroyed. Naraku manipulated me into thinking InuYasha had killed them; I was overcome by blood lust for revenge. He could have killed me. He did not, only later did I understand what had happened, and now I look for Kohaku – though he is alive only because a shard of the Shikon…" What she was implying, Itachi knew, was that they were not so dissimilar. It was an offer of – if not friendship – then understanding. An understanding that they could work together if they chose to, slowly, Itachi nodded, and Sango smiled as Kirara leapt into her arms.

She turned to leave, to rejoin the rest of the group – then paused.

"We search for Kikyo." So, he was not the only one who wondered what had caused her plans to protect Kouga to change.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

It seemed to Itachi, that once one made the mistake of saving someone, one was somehow burdened with carrying said someone. Especially seeing as how Kouga had had his legs slashed open, had bled out – and the damage had been done. As a group they had decided Itachi was the resident pack-mule. It was most annoying. Mostly because Kouga would not stop squirming.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

Or speaking, Itachi grunted what he hoped sounded like an affirmative.

"So, I've got to wonder how it is you got in the monks pants – he seems like one to talk a lot while being seduced." Hot breath brushed the back of his ear, Kouga at least kept his tone low or else Itachi would have killed him. As it was his lip curled in distaste at the twist in topic, before Kouga had been rambling on about his pack, his lands – as if Itachi should care about such things.

"Unless he did the seducing…" Kouga chuckled darkly, feeling Itachi tense up beneath him.

"Wouldn't have pegged you for a submissive…" The wolf demons voice was a low growl, and he shifted position again, bringing Itachi's attention to his hardening length pressed almost possessively against Itachi's backside. Itachi gritted his teeth, but Kouga did not speak again. He had made his point. It was obvious he was 'interested'.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

InuYasha was no fool; he had smelt the scent of sex waft off Miroku when the perverted monk had rejoined them. He would have been worried, Kagome had certainly reacted strongly to the blue-burning orbs, she had chased after him, and her scent of arousal tempting – but InuYasha had known she would never forgive him for satisfying his lust with her, however willing she had appeared when not in her right mind. Nearly a day later – it was certainly becoming dusk once more, and his lust, while abated, was still stirred.

It was hard, with Miroku beside him, and Itachi – who smelt just as strongly of sex – behind them. It really was no wonder that Kouga had become interested in the dark haired dangerous eyed man who carried him upon his back. InuYasha had heard the promises interlaced within the wolf demons words, though Itachi did not likely recognize them as such.

Promises of food, of care – of a pack and somewhere to go home to, such promises, InuYasha was both pleased and amused to see, had had no affect upon Itachi. Though what Kouga wanted had become obvious when he had become suggestive. Itachi had said nothing, and InuYasha was grateful – for that had shut the wolf demon up. He was pouting even now that his ploy hadn't worked, thought Itachi found that most amusing.

Shippo was, luckily, distracted by Kirara and Sango to notice or question the scent that practically smothered the two males. Neither had spoken of the incident, but it didn't seem to have caused a rift – as if in the midst of sex the two had reached an understanding.

It was the sort of understanding that InuYasha knew he craved. He also knew he would not admit such – not even on his deathbed. He had called a stop to the group's progress earlier, and was amused that Itachi seemed to take cover beside Miroku and Sango who sat alongside Kagome, so the wolf was distracted. That was another thing; Itachi was easing his way into their group almost too easily. It disturbed InuYasha, this trust the humans held with this obviously dangerous individual.

Then again, it could be – he knew well – the fact that this man had tortured him was why he did not trust Itachi. Envied him, lusted for him inadvertently because the man's scent was soiled by sex, yes – but trust and respect came slowly for InuYasha.

"I'll take mid-watch." Itachi spoke up, obviously believing he did not need as much sleep as the humans that surrounded him.

"Last." Kouga murmured softly, hungry gaze on Itachi who otherwise ignored the wolf demon. That left InuYasha with first watch – a task he found he did not mind too much. It meant he could make up the sleep he had lost the night before. InuYasha was both amused – and annoyed – when Itachi settled to sleep in the tree he had claimed as his own. He understood though – it kept him away from Kouga whose legs had not yet healed to the point where he could stand, let alone climb trees. Still, the wounds no longer bled, and were healing cleanly. Likely he would be walking in another day or two.

InuYasha wondered if the other would be relieved to have such news, he turned to speak to find Itachi asleep. It was odd; to see him so peaceful, there was always tightness about his jaw and eyes when he was awake. Tenseness to his shoulders and the way he held himself.

He is expecting, InuYasha realized in that moment as he gazed at the otherwise helpless form of his torturer, an attack.

InuYasha wondered what his childhood must have been like, if he had been alone – like InuYasha had been - or if something worse had happened to him. InuYasha knew he was lucky in his early life, in those critical beginning years; he had always had someone watching out for him, ready to protect him. Who, if anyone, had this man had? InuYasha thought, perhaps, that Harry – the boy they were looking for – might have been the key to Itachi keeping himself sane. If he was, InuYasha hoped they found him alive. He did not look forward to facing Itachi without any sort of restraint on the part of the other.

Startling him, Itachi made a pained sound, InuYasha glanced to him, wondering if he should wake the other, or let him suffer within his own mind. Itachi seemed to struggle, unable to call out. It was then InuYasha moved; leaning over the other caught in his curiously as he studied the tormented face of the one who had tortured him. What would such a man have nightmares of?

InuYasha held his breath; a small movement from either of them might end up in one or the other touching, skin to skin. The thought was revolting, and oddly attractive. Itachi tensed up before he jerked to wakefulness. Half lidded black eyes watched InuYasha, wary – he had not jerked away when he realized his position – his vulnerability. That spoke of training. InuYasha covered Itachi's slender hands with his own long ones, clawed tips digging into the soft flesh of his wrists. This man was mostly human, though his demon traits were obvious.

"What do you want, InuYasha?" The whisper breathed over him, lulled his mind, temped him – tormented him. InuYasha could hurt him. Kill him. He didn't want to.

"What you had with Miroku." Itachi's eyes grew cold at InuYasha's answer.

"What he and I shared was an understanding of survival. It would have killed us otherwise." There was not accusation in Itachi, he was not being blamed for the circumstances that had forced the pair to…mate. He understood that, but he couldn't stop the rush of heat that tingled from the palm of his skin where it made contact with Itachi's hands to along his spine and tightening along his lower region.

"I want to…to feel…" InuYasha found he could not say what he wanted, though he thought it well enough. He wanted the understanding that Itachi seemed to share with Miroku. He wanted companionship. He loved Kagome – had loved Kikyo, he did not love Itachi. They both knew that.

"Why are they drawn to you?" It was hissed, stung with anger and something deeper – jealousy.

"I do not know." Itachi murmured, knowing that though his life was in danger, he wasn't afraid. He could be free of the others grip, despite the claws that dug painfully into his wrists, but while he knew that…he did not want it.

"They want you…I…" InuYasha found the words stuck in his throat, he glanced away, eyes flicking to the ground below and his sleeping companions below. He didn't notice the wolf demon shift in his 'sleep', only to turn his attention to the pair in the tree. InuYasha's attention caught on Itachi, he wore a curious expression – as if he understood.

"Want me?" Itachi murmured, closing his eyes as he remembered moments in the past, people, who if not for Kisame would have taken advantage though Itachi had not understood what the former ninja of Mist had protected him from. This was the first time Itachi had mused over killing his long companion, it ached – but it had had to be done. He knew that, no matter the regrets.

"Yes…" InuYasha finally answered having been caught up in the expressions that had washed over Itachi's face in the moments it had taken him to speak. He had recognized the regret – pain, and felt that he knew them as closely as Itachi did. There was a kinship in this pain they shared. The pain of being something different, of being alone until someone had changed that. Itachi seemed to realize this in the moment that InuYasha did. The dog eared boy lowered his head, licking Itachi's bottom lip to comfort him – to encourage an answer. It was not too late to turn back – one of them could put a stop to this.

"If it is what you desire – and will convince you that I seek only to retrieve Harry, then you may have what you want…what I want…" Itachi shuddered beneath him, unresisting when InuYasha released his wrists to undo their clothing. Itachi let his clothing fall away, caught in the branches of the tree they rested in. All it would take was someone to look up and see the shadows moving, and they would be caught. It was a disturbingly attractive thought.

Itachi felt as if his skin ached and burned to be touched, and let out a startled whoosh of breath when InuYasha, letting out a rough growl, touched his teeth along Itachi's neck – lapping at the sensitive skin, biting at the vulnerable flesh – just below the skin his blood flowed, raced, seeming to tease InuYasha. One of the half demons hands clenched in his hair, holding him still. Itachi had never been so uncertain of where to place his hands and settled for touching them along InuYasha's shoulders and sides, urging him further along.

InuYasha knew the scent of their mating would frighten away lesser demons. It was ingrained; lesser demons did not survive if they lingered near a coupling pair. Most especially not something canine, though InuYasha knew other – higher demons – like his brother or Kouga, would undoubtedly question the scent if they came across it.

This was unclaimed territory, and both of them were partly human – and not considered a great threat. Though InuYasha wondered what Kouga's reaction would be – to find that the human he had promised so much to would rather have him then a wolf demon…he felt a stirring of pride as he tightened his hold on Itachi's hair, his other hand trailing between them to fist Itachi. He would see Itachi release, and then mark his claim…

Itachi's tongue danced within InuYasha's mouth, playing curiously along the sharp teeth – trailing, the tease, along the roof of his mouth, avoiding tangling his tongue with InuYasha's in a dance of dominance, instead probing gently, which stirred InuYasha more then dominance. He wanted to claim the other – regain some of the dignity he had lost, but he was touched and soothed that Itachi was curious of him, rather then using him.

Itachi unexpectedly arched his hip against InuYasha's thigh, moaning into the kiss – a deep guttural sound that urged InuYasha onward, gripping Itachi's shaft and moving against him – thrusting, rutting like he truly wished to be while within the other – Itachi shivered, biting down on InuYasha's tongue – drawing blood – as he came, arching and thrashing helplessly, against InuYasha.

Weakly, Itachi's eyes half open, he saw InuYasha's golden eyes tinted bloody red, and fear of a threat stirred, only eased when InuYasha touched his chin gently, long tongue lapping at his lips, removing his own blood from Itachi. InuYasha growled softly when Itachi reached to touch the half-demon's length, he paused, eyes on the pulsing shaft, hot and engrossed by lust. It tempted him, called at him. He wanted to touch it, to be touched by it.

He understood in that moment, what InuYasha wanted, when claws gripped his hips eagerly, spreading his legs, his groin trapped between their stomachs as InuYasha pressed into him. Itachi was grateful the other hadn't thought to prepare him, those claws touching him would – without a doubt – do damage. He'd rather be taken dry then disemboweled accidently by an eager lover.

Itachi relaxed, using meditation to ease his muscles swiftly, he was surprised to feel the head of InuYasha's groin was slick with pre, eagerly it twitched, just within him, and Itachi breathed out in pain, trying to ease the urge to tense – knowing it would only hurt more if he did so.

InuYasha did his part to distract him with kisses, licking at his neck and ears, tongue playing at his skin. Though the pain he began to feel pleasure and wondered if he did not, indeed, like the pain of being taken just a little too much to be considered normal.

As he was thrust into, InuYasha touched something deep within him and he fought not to cry out in need, instead digging his teeth and lips in the flesh of InuYasha's shoulders, shaking with need, but otherwise noiseless. InuYasha seemed to understand all to well, thrusting in faster and harder, eager to take him roughly. It was then that Itachi found he did not care what others thought of his love of pain and pleasure mixing. It was just him. Just as he loved killing in a way that was not a mere thrill, in a way many considered unnatural – he loved this.

"Thank you…" Itachi wasn't sure if he truly spoke the words, and wasn't sure if he cared. InuYasha growled, threatening to bite into the base of his throat – holding him there, helpless and crazed with want as he came inside of Itachi, his wetness coating his inner thighs. Itachi panted, InuYasha atop him, they stayed that way for a while, and when InuYasha, not saying a word, trusted him enough to sleep along side him, Itachi spent most of his watch gazing at InuYasha.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O