The Never-Fading Light

Chapter 5: The Council

Sasuke's eyes fluttered slowly open, sighing as they shut again and he curled into the pillow. He inhaled, expecting the citrus scent mixed with ramen that always seemed to permeate from his lover, but was met with an entirely different one. "Naruto…" He stretched, feeling his side empty. "It's early...come back to bed…"

He hissed as the back of his head was unceremoniously grabbed, pain lashing through him as he was ripped up off the bed and tossed down to the floor. "Go take a shower. There is a change of clothes for you by the tub."

Sasuke froze at that, nails tightening along the floorboards as everything came back to him, turning slowly to face his brother who seemed more than a little pissed off above him. "Where am I?"

"My room," Itachi answered. "Now do as you're told," Itachi commanded, looking away.

"Why am I in your room, Itachi?" Sasuke bit out. "Did you touch me...did you…" He quieted as Itachi's sharingan eyes turned back to him. He swallowed, considering his options. "What am I getting dressed for?"

"The Council," Itachi murmured. "You're to stand before them. If you are found wanting you will be killed. If not..well…"

Sasuke considered his options, his dark eyes narrowing to slits. "You can't possibly think I would ever want to be like you? I won't join the Akatsuki. They took away my family!" He backed up as Itachi leaned down, eyes wary as he looked around for anything to use to defend himself.

"My darling Otouto," Itachi started, reaching out to grab his chin. "I took away your family. I thought we had established your foolishness in believing his lie."

"The man in the mask?" Sasuke asked, anger and hatred spilling from his lips. "Why would he defend you?" He questioned, trembling slightly at the lack of pain that came from Itachi's smallest touch. It was dangerous.

"Because he loved me," Itachi assured him, fingers turning and trailing down his cheek. "You're so beautiful, Otouto...every inch of you perfection." Sasuke felt his cheeks go warm, butterflies in his stomach at praise that he didn't deserve. Praise that would have never dared pass Itachi's lips.

"I loved you once," Sasuke countered with, trapped in those red eyes. "You were my brother."

"I'm still your brother," Itachi countered with. "I'm all you have left." He dragged Sasuke up to his feet, pushing him towards the bathroom. "Shower. We don't have much time, and they're not a group that likes to be kept waiting."

Sasuke turned back towards Itachi, not understanding how he had been put in such a situation. "Aren't you their leader?" He asked, trying to ignore the pain that came with that truth. "Won't they wait for you?"

"You didn't," Itachi murmured, and Sasuke knitted his eyebrows at the response, head beginning to ache as he felt like he should remember something...as if he should feel guilty for something.

"It isn't true, you know," He whispered to him. "You're not all I have. Kakashi, Obito, and Naruto are my family. You left me Itachi. You're the one that didn't wait...and now, what? You want me to have feelings for you? You expect me to understand these dreams I'm having?" His voice was slightly trembling. "I dreamt of you all my life, Aniki..and now that you're here...well...I wish I would have stayed at my birthday dinner." He told him, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind him before Itachi could respond. What would he say anyways besides something else to churn his stomach?

Sasuke slumped against the door once it was closed, dragging his knees up to his chin as his nails dug into them to stop his shaking. No, he wouldn't do this. His entire life he had searched for these answers. Who was the man in the mask? Where was his brother? What was the full story? Now that they were at the tip of his fingertips all he felt was apprehension and disgust. Itachi had answers about his disease. He had answers about everything, but it would cost him his soul. It would cost him his humanity to obtain them. How could he ever go home then? How could he ever kiss Naruto after he had almost begged for the lips of his brother?

The Akatsuki would kill him if he didn't join them. What choice did he have then? If he stuck to his morals he would never walk out of that room. If he joined them his soul would be damned just like Itachi's. His best option would be to go into that room and pretend. To escape as soon as possible...and to hope he didn't lead them right to Konoha...to Naruto.

What would his blond dobe think of him when he got back? Would he see that he had no choice? Would he forgive him? He'd give him what he wanted. He'd find a way to give him a child. He… Sasuke gasped as pain lit up his skull, and he grabbed for the sides as he stood up, stumbling forward and crashing into the sink. Memories filled his head, nestled in Itachi's arms...lying by a tree. "Itachi!" He screamed, not able to take the pain as he gripped his stomach, bowling over at the phantom pain as his brother came into the room.

"What is it?" He questioned, and Sasuke turned sharingan eyes up to him in agony as he couldn't decide what was in more pain.

"What the fuck does it look like!?" He growled, blood pouring from his nose.

"I meant what triggered it," Itachi murmured, somewhat annoyed as he came up behind him. Sasuke let himself be manhandled as he was spun into his arms, sighing as the pain began to ebb and fade as he whimpered a little in his arms, unabashedly burying his face into Itachi's chest and inhaling his scent. It calmed him, lulling him into an almost drugged state as the pain faded.

"Do you have any children?" Sasuke questioned, pupils blown in his state. "Do you have a wife?"

He felt Itachi's chest shake slightly in laughter at that prospect. "No, Otouto. No children...no wife."

"That's what I saw," Sasuke murmured, allowing himself to be walked backwards as Itachi leaned down to start the bath and set him on the tub.

"You saw me with a child?" Itachi questioned, voice more than a little skeptical.

"No...not you…" Itachi's brow furrowed further, eyes curious.

"Spit it out," He hissed at him, and Sasuke flinched at the tone.

"It's not as if these visions are the clearest...I just saw you with your hand on my stomach...I was asking about our children." Sasuke snorted at that, shaking his head. "Naruto would have loved that. A version of me that wanted a child...as impossible as that is."

Sasuke let his arms raise as Itachi drew his shirt over his head, too exhausted from the headache to feel vulnerable. He didn't think his brother had helped him into the bath since he was a toddler. He turned bleary eyes up to his brother, observing how pale Itachi had gotten, his eyes full of hurt.

"If I stay here...will you erase me for him?" He asked, the clues going more and more together. "The one who looks at you like you're the only thing in his world?" He loved Naruto, but he had never looked at him the way he saw himself look at Itachi in his mind. He leaned back as Itachi slipped off his pants.

"Take your bath, Sasuke," Itachi said quietly, pushing him backwards and into the water. Sasuke spluttered, pushing himself to the surface, but by the time he did Itachi was already gone. He washed up in the bath, scrubbing away dried blood and grime that had accumulated from coming to this hellhole of a place.

When he finished up and got dressed Itachi was gone from the room as well. He glanced around, trying to remember if Itachi's room back in the village had looked quite so plain. The walls were covered in scrolls and books. His brother, ever the scholar. The bed was clad in taupe sheets and blankets, and Sasuke had a feeling if he were to reach under the pillow he would find the kunai Itachi slept on as a habit ever since he had been a child.

It was odd how well he knew him. Sometimes he wondered if it came from his memories, or the false ones implanted in his brain. For instance it made sense that he knew Itachi's favorite food was bacon and eggs...it didn't make sense that he knew he loved to have the skin stroked just behind his ear. He sank down onto the bed he had woken up in that morning, feeling once more like his mind was being stretched too thin. It would end soon...one way or another...Itachi had been right, the headaches were going to kill him...if the Akatsuki didn't first.

He felt angry with himself for some reason...disappointed for what he had told Itachi in the bathroom. What business was it of his what he was thinking about? Why would he go and tell that bastard a secret? Wait...a secret? What secret? A child that didn't exist? No...a fantasy. Something he wished...longed for...something Itachi would never give him.

"Quiet!" He heard himself growl, just before that stretched feeling finally culminated and his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

,,,,,,,,,,

"I don't get it...doesn't he know we're waiting, yeah?" Deidara asked impatiently, leaning over in his chair as his pony tail hung over the side. "I'm booooorrreeeeddddd!" He whined, turning his one good eye towards Itachi. "Didn't you tell him where it was? Maybe he's lost? Maybe you should go fetch him. Maybe…"

"Would you be quiet for one instant of your life?" Itachi hissed back at him, and Deidara gulped, sitting up in his chair.

"Sorry," He murmured. "I'm just excited is all. It isn't every day we get a new member. You've been taking your time finding a replacement for Orochimaru. Missions have been a bitch…"

"Deidara!" Pein growled from the other side of him. "We do not speak that cretin's name in this organization. You know that."

The blond sighed then, throwing his hands up. "So many rules! Can't we all just have fun and rule the world together?"

"I'm in for that," Hidan murmured from beside him. "I'm almost hoping the kid puts up a fight. I want another crack at him," Hidan flinched at the look Itachi shot him. "Umm sorry boss...I keep forgetting he's your...uh...brother."

"Fuck buddy…" Deidara murmured under his breath, earning several more glares. "What!? We were all thinking it."

"Dei…" Sasori murmured, frustration filling his voice as he rubbed his face. He knew that tone. That tone said shut up if you know what's good for you. Itachi be damned with his commands, but he always listened to his man.

"Right...Sorry...I won't mention any more how Itachi brought home a stray and then proceeded to molest it in front of all of…"

"Dei!" Both Hidan and Sasori shot at him, and he heard some laughter come from Kisame as he leaned next to Itachi.

"Don't get grumpy, Itachi...it's all in good fun." The shark like man clapped him on the back. "If you ask me this will only help the vote...you need to get laid."

"Does he?" Deidara's head snapped to the entrance as Sasuke came in, the scared little kitten who had been hanging from the trees all but gone. "Was that what this was then?" He questioned, eyebrows raised and focused on Itachi. The odd thing was, the elder Uchiha wasn't looking up at all. He seemed almost...cowed? No, but that couldn't be right.

"What what was?" Pein questioned. "Forgive me for being away at a mission when you were brought in, Uchiha, we weren't properly introduced."

"I know who you are," Sasuke assured him. "No introduction needed. Besides...it seems you're all but irrelevant next to my brother anyways." He murmured. "Second fiddle and all that."

"Watch your tongue," Pein growled back. "I heard you had fire, not stupidity running through your veins."

"Did you? Were you expecting fire?" He made hand signs, blowing at the wall as it swirled around, lighting up the tortures all around the room. "I wouldn't want to disappoint."

Itachi had glanced up at that, sharingan eyes cold and dead as he looked at his brother, but it was odd...he seemed...off his guard...scared almost. But Itachi didn't get scared.

"Let me explain to you why you're here…" Pein started, but Sasuke held up a hand.

"No need to bother. Believe me...I think I've got it. You want me to join you to get information on Naruto, correct? The Kyuubi is the one missing piece of the puzzle...the most powerful and just out of your grasps." He yawned. "Boring...You could have gotten to him ages ago. You didn't." Sasuke's eye landed on Itachi then. "You left him alive for a reason...You don't want just to harness their power...You want to become them." Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest. "The Kyuubi is the perfect test subject for this...he's been implanted before like the others, yes, but Naruto has been able to harness and control him in ways the others never did." Sasuke stepped closer then, seeming to not be aware of his own mortality by the livid way Itachi was staring at him.

Pein glanced over to Itachi, as if looking towards his lead at the fantasies this Konoha scum was telling. Itachi didn't quiet him. He didn't torture him. No, he took a step back from him.

"That's what I thought...same game. Someday you'll tell them the real game you're playing, won't you Aniki?" Sasuke grinned cruelly, lifting up his shirt slightly to show off his navel. "When it's back inside me that is...the one child you could ever give me."

Itachi sprang forward then, just in time to catch Sasuke as his eyes seemed to roll to the back of his head, supporting his back just before his head cracked on the pavement. He scooped Sasuke into his arms in one fluid motion, and Deidara saw with surprise that his hands were trembling as he held him.

"Sasuke speaks the truth. We are going to take the Kyuubi." He told the group. "Sasuke can lead him out into the open, and once he is we will extract the demon inside of him. We will give it a new master, and overtake Konoha with the blood pouring from its teeth and claws."

"Sasuke?" Sasori spoke. "He's the vessel, isn't he? That's why he knows the plan. That's why Hidan couldn't torture him."

"Now now...I tortured that kid plenty," Hidan defended himself, earning a scowl from Sasori.

"How long have you known what he was? The headaches? Are they part of it?" Sasori questioned, and frowned at Itachi's silence. "You made this boy a part of our lives Itachi! Mine and Obito! You will not deceive us when we can so obviously see the truth."

"Oh?" Itachi questioned. "And what truth is that?" He asked Sasori. "You don't know my brother. He is not what you think he is, and yes he will be the vessel. No one else could take the Kyuubi and survive."

Deidara sighed, stretching in the chair. "Can we just go ahead and do the vote already. Who wants little psycho there to be one of us?" He prefaced his answer with a raise of his own hand. The look he got from Sasori made him shrug. "He seems fun...even if he did cut off my arm. I mean...I got better."

"No one is joining us," Pein snapped. "Not until I find out just what happened there. His soul is fractured...jumbled...broken." The orange haired nin glanced towards Itachi. "It's screaming in pain."

"He's fine," Itachi assured them, voice cold even as his hand stroked Sasuke's hair almost gently, the contrast jarring as he watched them.

"Clearly," Sasori grumbled. "He's getting worse being here. Not better. You put a Jinchuuriki in him as he is now and he will die."

"I know," Itachi growled back, obviously not used to this level of reproach. "He won't be as he is now. I'll fix him. He will be the reason we rule the world some day."

"Aren't we already ruling it?" Kisame questioned. "I've certainly got no complaints."

"All of it," Itachi hissed, glowering at his partner. "Konoha is the key."

"Naruto Uzumaki is the key." Pein told him. "That bundle in your arms is 'your' key. There's a slight difference." He watched them both, finally sighing and raising his hand. "Fine. But you will tell me this plan of yours and what that boy has to do with it."

Kisame raised his hand, Zetsu and Kakuzu were next. Konan stepped next to Pein, fingers curling around his hand. "Itachi...it isn't right what you want from him. I will not give you your reason to abuse him."

Itachi stepped forward then, eyes swirling with the mangekyou, arms tightening around Sasuke almost in pain. Pein intercepted him, standing in front of the Uchiha. "He's in. The vote doesn't need to be unanimous. He's in even without Sasori or Konan's vote."

Deidara glanced at Sasori with a frown. "Are you really not going to vote for him? This was part of your plan, yeah?"

"Whatever is about to befall Sasuke, I will not be part of it. I abstain," Sasori murmured, not afraid to meet Itachi's eyes. "That rests on the rest of your shoulders."

"How self-righteous of you," Itachi shot back. "Abstaining from hurting him when you've been feeding him poison for years."

"It wasn't poison," Sasori shot right back. "It kept him alive."

"It kept him buried!" Itachi growled. "Now look what's happening...Sasuke is Akatsuki now. I will take over his training from here." Itachi looked between the rest of the group. "You're dismissed. Go celebrate our new brother. Sasuke will be there once he wakes up."

"If he wakes up," Deidara grumbled under his breath as Kisame laughed and clapped him on the back.

"This is cause for drinking!" He shot out, causing the blond to roll his eyes.

"Any time for you is a great time for drinking, shark boy." He was smacked on the back again, shoving him towards the door.

"Shark man to you, Bimbo...And I'll kick your ass in it just like I always do." He laughed as they made their way out the door, leaving Itachi behind, his sin manifest still bundled in his arms.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke coughed at the acrid smell that filled his nose, shooting up as he choked, wiping at his nose. He batted the smelling salts away, glaring at his brother above him. "What the hell ItachI!?" He asked, looking around to find that he was in a different room than he had fallen asleep in. "Where am I?" He asked, head fuzzy and aching as he glance at the bare white washed walls.

"Your room. I'm sure you'll understand why you couldn't stay in mine," Itachi explained, moving to the chair next to the bed. "What's the last thing you remember?" He asked, thinly veiled curiosity in his tone as he stared at the wall.

"Taking a bath...falling asleep…" He rattled off, remembering that stretched feeling and that anger well up inside him.

Itachi shut his eyes at that, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he considered. "How long have you been having blackouts? Are they coming more frequently? Do they last longer?" Itachi's black eyes turned to face him. "Do you wake up in strange places sometimes?"

"Are you saying I blacked out?" Sasuke questioned back, refusing to let just how close Itachi was to the truth show on his face. How did he know? He hadn't even told Sasori.

"Avoiding the question?" He asked, scoffing. "A long time then," He deduced. "Since you were a child?" He guessed. "After the massacre."

"Who isn't a little traumatized from watching something like that?" Sasuke asked coldly back, eyes hard and narrowed at the way Itachi said it so nonchalantly. "So what if I have blackouts?" He glanced around. "And what do you mean my room? Wasn't I staying with you?"

Itachi's mouth quirked. "Didn't know you were so eager to spend another night in my bed?" He smirked at the way Sasuke blushed, then seemed to realize what he was doing. "It isn't a good idea. Us being around each other isn't a good idea."

"You dry humped me until you came in that cell a few days ago, and now it isn't a good idea?" Sasuke asked, not knowing where this sense of rejection was coming from. Why did he care? He had Naruto...Itachi was a psychotic freak. "What happened when I blacked out?"

Itachi leaned back in the chair, eyes flickering to Sasuke again, as if he couldn't help himself. "You became a member of the Akatsuki. Congratulations…" He spoke cynically. "It's a feat few accomplish."

"You almost sound proud," Sasuke mused, a little surprised. "Why did you vote when I was sleeping? Don't they even want to know if I'm a traitor?"

"They're already know you're a traitor, Otouto...rest easy on that fact," Itachi assured him. "I can only do so much to keep you alive in this organization, do try not to get yourself killed at least until the mission is over."

Sasuke swallowed hard at that, having so many questions, but being too exhausted to ask them. "What mission?"

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to, Otouto." Itachi stood up, as if debating with himself before he leaned down. Sasuke stiffened, frozen at having his brother so close to him, heart pounding in both dread and anticipation. "Clean yourself up. There's a party downstairs in your honor." Lips pressed to the top of his spikes, and Sasuke flinched as he was flicked in the forehead. "I promise someday I'll tell you everything, Otouto." He swore, the familiar lie rolling off his tongue.

Sasuke held his forehead as Itachi paused in the doorway, as if it pained him to leave. "Enjoy your party. I'll be away for a few days. When I get back we will start your training." He told him, leaving Sasuke confused and alone, but for some reason not scared any more. He needed answers, and Itachi might be an asshole, but his Aniki never failed to do what he said he would. Itachi would help him...even if it cost the both of them everything to do so.

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