Lily: i'm going to start two different stories, on will be Naru/Sasu, the other will be Kaka/Sasu. Which ever one gets the most reviews in one week is the one that i will continue. This one, the Naru/Sasu one, is called Beast: Ki-Tsu-Ne'. The Kaka/Sasu one is called Unfinished Solo Duet'.


Beast: Ki-Tsu-Ne
Chapter One
Tithe

tithes
1. a very old custom, at once political taxation and offering of the first-fruits; it was almost universal in the ancient world from Persia to Rome; Abraham paid them to the pagan' king Melchizedek (Gen. 14, 20; 28, 22, etc.);


Sasuke sighed. He was getting a little nervous. His brother, Itachi, and only remaining relative, had left for a business trip on Monday. He was supposed to have come back Thursday, but it was now Saturday and he hadn't come home. It wasn't like Sasuke couldn't take care of himself, he was perfectly capable, he was merely worried, that was all. Sasuke gave another sigh, shut his thick book and flicked off the overhead light, nuzzling down into the blankets to sleep.

That morning, as Sasuke went down stairs to make breakfast, he saw Itachi. Itachi was slumped in an arm chair, an empty bottle of jamaican rum dangling from his fingers. The shadows under his eyes were even deeper and he looked somehow, transparent.

Sasuke gently shook his arm. Itachi squeezed his eyes shut, blinked a few times, grimaced, yawned and then focused on Sasuke. The mere sight of Sasuke seemed to send him deeper into the gaping chasm of misery. Tears welled up in his blood shot, liquor dried eyes.
he whispered huskily.
What is it, itachi?
Oh god, Sasuke, I'm so sorry.
Sorry for what? said Sasuke, beginning to get worried.
You... I've... oh no. I've doomed you.
What are you talking about? Sasuke kept his voice calm and controlled, hiding his apprehension.
I... got lost on the way to the meeting. I must have taken a wrong turn, because, next thing I know, I'm in front of this big, gothic, french looking house. It was beginning to snow really bad so I went up to the door and I was going to knock, but it just swung open and then I went in and there was this huge feast laid out and I just ate, I was so hungry, Sasuke and... Oh, Sasuke. Itachi trailed off, pushing one knuckle in his eye to stop from crying.
Itachi, calm down. What happened?
I had finished eating, so I went to look for the owner. I didn't find him, but I found a huge library. I know how much you like books, Sasuke, so I went and picked one up to take with me. It was a book of european fairy tales, I know you like those.

Then... then this giant thing came through the door. And... and it began to speak. It's voice was so horrible. I don't know why it was, it just was, it made me want to cry or something. It said that it had been a gracious guest and now I repaid it by trying to steal one of it's only companions. It said that I could keep the book, the food and my well being, as long as I paid a tithe. Tithe's are ancient things, he said. They were old fashioned taxes. They would take the first and the best.

He looked at me and said that because he was second best, that he would take the second best. Bring me your second son or your younger brother. And then he sent me home.

Itachi stared up at Sasuke.

You see? You have to go to his house and he'll... he...
But, Itachi, he said it could be the second son. Wait until your married and have kids. That'll be a good while, won't it?
Itachi violently shook his head.
No! He won't wait. I know he won't. If I don't give you to him, he'll kill me! Please, Sasuke!

Sasuke sighed. his brother had finally gone mad. Good thing he had a plan, though. He would go and when he found no stupid, imaginary beast, he would come home, get emancipated and sign his brother in as a full-time mental patient.

Fine, Itachi. I'll go.
Oh, thank you so much, Sasuke!
I'll go pack.

Sasuke went down the hallway to his room and began to throw things into a duffel bag. He didn't know why, but he had the oddest feeling. It was like he knew that he needed only a few things but, they had to be important things. Special things. Sasuke grabbed his favorite books, placing them reverently on top of ne another. He tossed in his CD player and a few CDs. Sasuke very carefully put a framed photo of Itachi, his mother, his father and himself in the bag. He grabbed his army jacket covered in 70's and 80's band patches and pulled it on. And that was all he needed.

Sasuke went back out to the living room, gave Itachi a quick hug and walked out to his car, a junky, preowned, pre-crashed, Echo. Sasuke flung his bag into it and slid into the front seat. He turned the key in the ignition and began to drive away. Away. New life. New story. New plot. New people.

Sasuke did feel sad at having to leave the town he had grown up in, the town that was still filled with ghosts of his parents. In stories, it would be raining or snowing terribly, but this was not a story and the weather was beautiful, a sunny winter day. In stories, things happen the right way. Itachi would have been brave and saved Sasuke. But this was real life and Itachi was letting his seventeen year old brother go to face the unknown in his place.

And yet, Sasuke couldn't help but feel happy.

Freedom. This was freedom. Driving in his car, a few meager possessions and no idea what was at the end of the road.

Lily: i know it was short but please!!! VOTE!
Phantom: votevotevotevotevotevote
Fly-Girl: we would like to thank Jason, who was the inspiration for many a kiss scene and, we think, is the real muse.