A/N: Hey! I got two reviews already? I'm so happy! Alright then as promised is the second chapter to the story. I really like this one for some reason. Maybe it is beacause it uses a Malice Mizer song? Most likely. No particular warnings for this chapter...that'll be for four and five. So let's dive right into it then shall we?
The wonderful song used is: Syunikiss by the amazing Malice Mizer. Definitly check it out! Although it is song in Japanese I used it translated for obvious reasons... And I slightly changed some of the lyrics to fit the yaoi theme. wink wink
Disclaimer: Nope. I most definitly do not own these characters or this song. I would be 10,000's times more excited if I did. But then they probably wouldn't be as good...TT
--A--
Hold on...you're gonna be okay...
"There you are Neji now pull up your left hand. Yeah, just like that." Tenten was instructing Neji on how to move his body without excess motions. Currently he was maintaining a nearly impossible position- standing on the tip of his toes on one foot. His arms were raised out to varying angles as he held his balance- eyes narrowed in concentration.
Tenten herself was even amazed at the boy's determination and stamina. It had been three weeks since the charges had arrived. Next week would mark their first time observing first hand how Companions preformed for their clients. They were nearly ready to go out on their own but another month would be required. In that month they would cultivate their own performance based on their various talents and experiences.
Just then- breaking the silence- was Naruto. He was yelling at Ino to catch him if she wanted to tell him "anymore crap he needed to learn". He ran between the two- breaking Neji's concentration. He growled softly, glaring at the spot the blonde was moments before. Ino ran up breathless- looking less than pleased.
She yelled after the retreating blonde. "Naruto!! That in no way for a Companion to act!! Get back here!" She resumed her chase- eyes aglow with determination. Tenten rolled her eyes.
"Looks like they are doing fine."
Neji shook his head- sitting down to rest for a moment. "Instructor Tenten…"
"What is it Neji?" She sat next to him.
"Do all Companions dislike their clients?"
"Dislike? What do you mean?"
"Well…….Instructor Itachi….he doesn't seem to like his potential buyer. But yet Instructor Haku adores his."
Tenten smiled- looking up to the cloudless sky. "Ah, that. It really just depends. But I don't think Itachi's situation really counts into the equation. He is a special case after all." She stood. "I think that is enough for today. You go ahead and get some sleep, alright?"
Neji nodded. He had wanted to know who exactly it was that Itachi loathed so much. He had noticed that after the Client's week was up with their Companion of choice it always seemed that Itachi took a day longer than the others to recover. He would refuse to see anyone for at least a day after. At times maybe Sasuke or one of the older Companions could visit him in his quarters. Sasuke never said anything was out of the ordinary. He either thought it was none of anyone's business- or he just hadn't noticed anything different with his instructor.
But Neji knew something had to be happening between Itachi and his mysterious Client. But what? He shook his head and began to walk slowly back to his room. As he passed through the shaded garden he heard a soft murmuring from the bushes nearby. He paused and crept quietly towards the sound.
He found Hinata kneeling beside what appeared to be a fallen nest. She was placing the misplaced eggs gently back into the soft confines of the mismatched grass and twigs- whispering gently to calm the silent mother bird nearby. Neji found it odd that a wild animal would be so quiet with a human near- mush less allowing said human to touch it's eggs. He attributed it to Hinata's oddness.
"It's fine….they'll be fine, you'll see." She picked up the nest- cupping it gently in two curved hands. Reaching up she placed the nest firmly between two low branches. Kneeling back down she held out her finger for the bird to perch itself on. It was then that Neji noticed it's wing was injured- laying limply at it's side.
"You are lucky, momma bird." She smiled as it hopped back into it's nest- covering the eggs with it's plump feathered body. "You do not have a controlled life. You could move at anytime you know. Free to go where you choose. But I will stay here…."
She grew quiet- staring at the bird intently.
You gaze at the sky with lifeless eyes
As if you know the place to which you must return
"I….we… we are caged birds here."
Neji felt himself soften towards the girl just a bit. His time spent learning the ways of being a Companion had been filled with loathing for the girl. It was due to her- he believed- that he was here in this situation. If only it hadn't been her birthday. If only his family hadn't traveled so far just to be there for something so insignificant- he would be with them now. He would not have been snatched away with her in the dead of night while their families had slept on.
Yet he somehow could sympathize with her. He felt exactly the same. Confined to this life- this place. He belonged here. As did the rest of them. Even once they left the Akatsuki, they would simply be moved to a cage with less people.
He sighed and turned away from the scene. There was no use fighting destiny. He would just have to perform as commanded. And hope his own Client was nothing like what Itachi experienced.
--A--
Sasuke sat on the edge of the small porch. His legs were drawn up against his chest as he waited for his instructor. Itachi said today they would be reviewing his possible talents and strengths.
Sighing, Sasuke shifted. From what he heard from Naruto and the others- their Instructors had already pointed out what they were good at and had begun to work on their various talents. Yet Itachi had barely said a word to him in these past three weeks. What was wrong with him? Surely he was worth some of the older man's time?
Itachi stood slowly. He had kept the boy waiting long enough. He didn't know why the boy was so impatient to learn what would attract possible client's attention. If anything that was what he would prefer to avoid. He paused a moment at the door, contemplating the figure before him.
The boy was young. Very young. Itachi hardly believed he had ever been that age. Compared to the other charges- Sasuke was the most naïve about this world of night. He had heard from Naruto that Sasuke had come in late as an orphan to the school- but had excelled so well he was allowed to proceed with his age group. A prodigy whore. Itachi sighed. They just seemed so young…..
"Sasuke." Itachi's voice held none of it's usual coldness- instead having a gentle warmth to it. He found that this tone was what suited the boy more. He just seemed too frail and easily frightened.
"Yes, Instructor?" Sasuke turned around and looked up with large black eyes. Itachi was silent for another moment- simply allowing himself to read their dark depths.
Ah...to the lord who dwells in the sky that granted my prayers
I make one more wish "Return to him, his heart"
Itachi knew he didn't want these children to be so grown. They didn't deserve his fate. But since when did he have that choice? He couldn't even escape his own life.
"Today we shall examine one of your possible futures." He didn't want to say aloud that the boys future contained nothing more than a luxurious form of slavery. That was something that was understood- whether spoken or not.
"Yes Instructor." Itachi winced slightly at the title.
"There is no need to call me that. Itachi will do fine."
"B-but….even Instructor Tenten calls you that. I couldn't possibly call you by just your name."
Itachi held back the smile that threatened to show. "I only ask that you refrain from using it when it is just the two of us. I think that is but a small favor, right?"
Sasuke was speechless for a moment- but he slowly nodded in response.
"Good. Now tell me, what is it you are good at?" He looked Sasuke over as he sat down next to him. "You have a lithe form, so a bit of dancing won't hurt you….." Itachi tilted his head- examining his face carefully. "Can you sing?"
Sasuke blushed slightly looking away. " Not really. Naruto always made fun of me when we were in class for lessons on that."
"Then we will ignore that particular area."
"What are you good at In-….Itachi?" Sasuke shifted slightly.
Itachi looked at the boy slightly taken by surprise. "What am I good at? Well…." He could not help the small smile that escaped his usually stoic mask. "Just about everything that a Companion could offer, I suppose."
Sasuke's jaw dropped. Everything? Was that even humanly possible?
Itachi chuckled at the boy's expression before reaching out to ruffle his hair. Sasuke missed the slight wince in this action. "It is not a blessing I can assure you. Now, we shall focus a bit today on the art of body movement." He stood slowly to begin the lesson he had been taught years ago- a lesson he had turned to art through practice.
"Often times you will find that a Companion will do more communicating with their body than anything else. You can tell the Client how experienced you are and what you are good at- merely in the way you carry yourself. Now come and stand here."
He waited until Sasuke stood meekly in front of him- clearly a bit uncomfortable. Itachi shook his head. "Relax." Sasuke made a valiant attempt to calm himself before trying to stand still. He was still stiff but looked a bit more at ease.
"You are going to take some work Sasuke. But listen to all I have to say and you will become strong enough to stand up to even our more outrageous Clients. Do you understand?"
"Through you I can get stronger. Yes…I understand Itachi." His voice shook and his eyes showed the fear that would always be there- as Itachi came to realize later. They were just so young……
Itachi had him do various exercises as he observed his movements- analyzing how best to proceed with his training. A more subtle style would suit the boy. His personality was different from his own- that much was apparent. He had innocence something that could be used to his advantage.
Innocence? What was Itachi thinking? He snorted softly. Only in this world of night would such a thought be considered humane. Natural. His own innocence was ripped away from him so why should this boy gain any sympathy from him?
"Itachi! Did you see that? I actually did a whole routine without messing up!" Sasuke looked at Itachi expectantly. If Itachi wouldn't willingly praise him, he would just have to make him say something.
For a moment Itachi wanted to hug the boy to him and tell him to never, ever even consider being a Companion. To latch onto that innocence and escape this place. Instead, Itachi merely locked his heated gaze onto the boy. "Can you do it again and again? Until it is unnatural to ever mess up even once?"
Sasuke looked crestfallen at the question. "W-what?"
"A Companion never makes mistakes. A successful routine shouldn't take precedence over one that is not perfected. This is something you do not seem to yet grasp. Do it again now."
Sasuke gaped at him for a moment before snapping his mouth shut. "Fine." He shot into the routine- each move flowed from his body fluidly to unheard music. Itachi was fascinated. The boy was graceful if anything. His black eyes were focused on Itachi and some small part of him felt that this dance was for his eyes alone. That is was a moment only he and this boy would ever share.
Itachi found himself breathless as if he too were dancing with the boy through the familiar routine. Sasuke came to it's conclusion and smiled again at him. "That is your routine isn't it?"
Itachi only nodded in response. "I could feel you in it. Every move was something you wanted to say. It seemed sad. Were you sad at the time you came up with it?"
What was all this? The boy had taken him literally when he said movement was a form of communication? But Sasuke had a point. Sorrow had been the focal point of the dance- something Itachi had forgotten. Sadness at being here- forever bound to others.
Itachi again peered into the obsidian orbs. "Yes….it is sad isn't it? Here, sit. Watch now as I perform it. See if you can feel a difference in the way we execute the moves."
Sasuke shuffled excitedly off to the side and took his seat back on the porch- nearly bouncing in anticipation. None of the others had gotten to see Itachi perform- he would be the first.
Itachi raised his hand to the first move of the routine. 'Now watch Sasuke watch and see what you will become here.' This thought moved him- pushing him to begin what was his physical expression of sorrow.
Sasuke watched in wide-eyed fascination as the older man slid through the same routine. He was on a whole different level. Sasuke was overwhelmed with the emotion that poured off of the man-sorrow mixed with a sort of grim determination. It was strong, so strong that Sasuke could feel himself breaking at the mere thought of bearing the burden that Itachi always seemed to carry.
With cold fingers I trace the tearstains on your cheek
Itachi stopped abruptly when- during one of his moves he had seen the tears which had escaped from Sasuke's eyes. He quickly knelt in front of the boy- concern out of place on his usually listless face.
"What troubles you Sasuke?"
"That will be me one day right? Will I be as sad as you are?"
Itachi nodded slowly. "Yes…… I am afraid so. To find happiness as a Companion…is difficult. It is something I have given up on. The others have yet to realize this I suppose…but one day, they too shall join me in this dance."
"Then….you won't be so alone, right?"
Tilting his head in confusion, Itachi blinked considering this. "Alone?"
"If you let others dance with you- then maybe you won't be so sad. Maybe….you could try to be a little happy then?"
Itachi stood up without responding. Happy because of others? "I can not be happy with them. They will leave. As all the others have. As will all the charges that come through here." He paused, sighing softly. "As you will."
"Must I really leave too? What if I got as good as you? Then Master Pein would keep me right? All I have to do is get to your level. I could do that."
Itachi noticed the change in the boy's dark eyes. The were alight with determination- something the boy had completely lacked upon his arrival here. Not being able to stop himself Itachi ruffled the boy's raven black hair again.
"Then you must work on that singing of yours, Sasuke."
Wrinkling his nose- Sasuke blanched. "I doubt that will happen. I'll just have to be extra good everywhere else."
Chuckling Itachi turned away and began to enter his room. "Yes- I suppose you will."
"Where are you going In-…Itachi?"
"It is time for my nap. I have to be rested up to keep up with you and do my duties as a Companion you know…"
Sasuke adverted his gaze. "I'm sorry…."
Itachi paused- looking back to the boy. "Don't apologize. Come- you can nap as well. You might as well get in the habit. All Companions sleep mid-day. It is second nature to us." Indeed it was- as Tenten and the others could be seen going into their rooms- screen doors ajar to let in the cool breeze from the courtyard.
Sasuke looked from Itachi to his room- nervous and unsure. Itachi looked at him impatiently but a little amused. "You know you will have to get rid of that embarrassment to be a proper Companion."
Sasuke blushed as he stalked past Itachi and into his room. "I-I know that!"
Smiling sadly Itachi pushed the door open further- enjoying the breeze for a moment. "I am the one that is sorry……" He whispered as he watched the boy look around his room for a place to get comfortable. He finally settled on a spare bed roll that had been tucked away in the corner- spreading it out a little distance away from Itachi's own roll.
Itachi settled on his own bed- handing Sasuke a spare pillow.
"Sleep well Itachi."
Itachi was silent- unused to the foreign voice in the personal quarters. He rolled onto his side- locking eyes with the boy once more. "You too, Sasuke."
Sweet, innocent Sasuke.
--A--
A/N: There you are the second chapter is complete! I didn't get to use a lot of the song in this one. It would have made it a little akward story wise seeing how no one is dying. sweatdrops So yeah.
My favorite line in this one is from Itachi, "It is time for my nap." I don't know just imagining him saying that is funny.
Now for the third chapter I don't have a song yet...I already have them for four and five...it's number three that has be stumped. It needs to be an upbeat dance song preferably since the Companions are preforming in the next chapter. Any ideas? Oh, and tell us what you think so far? We love your opinions!
-Twilight
