Warning: language. Sorry for that, I couldn´t contain myself. Also, I´m not completely sure about those card names. The fic might contain typos. Many of them in fact. I need someone for beta read. If anyone is interested, pm me.
Sasuke couldn't do otherwise than stare at the beautiful young man, who seated himself right in front of him. He was just...flawless. The most fucking gorgeous thing he ever saw. Pale skin, dark onyx eyes and luscious lips with a mysterious smile. He wore a dark red button up shirt which made his perfect black eyes stand out even more. He was like a magnet to his eyes. And he seemed about his age too. Sasuke wouldn´t guess more than twenty two or three to him. But it was probably his face which made him look elder. He had two almost invisible tender lines under his eyes.
„Good evening, gentleman." he said with a deep rich voice to the two of them, but only looking at Madara. Sasuke could swear that the temperature in the room decreased at least by ten degrees. Feelings of uncertainty and questions slowly crept to his mind as he was watching the two males in front of him. There was a while of silence and the air was somehow full of electricity, if it was even possible.
"Deidara said something about baccarat." Madara finally broke the silence sounding only mildly interested, while his eyes were saying something totally different. He looked as if he was trying to read the man´s thoughts and was failing miserably at it, a mixture of anger and rivalry mirroring in his orbs.
"How much do you want to bet then?" he asked straight, when he didn´t get any answer.
They were once again only staring on each other for a good while, maybe calculating, while the boy sat there forgotten, with a lump in his throat, spasmodically holding his knees under the table. For some reason he began to shiver. He didn´t like the place from the beginning and right now he would prefer to disappear somewhere, if possible…
"I don't care about money, actually." this time the young Uchiha broke the silence with his seductive voice.
"And what would a young man like you want, if not money?" Madara asked amused. He was quite sure, that whatever his opponent chooses, he can buy it with money. And if he himself was good in something, it was money. Stealing, laundering or even killing for them. After all, he is one of the richest people in Japan. Sasuke knew about all Madara´s money. Well, he didn´t know the exact boundaries of how rich Madara actually was, but he knew that they still won´t be enough for him.
But what about the other one? He came to casino, but don´t want money? What does he want than? Revenge? Or just some fun? He doesn't even look out of normal. Sasuke never heard about him nor seen him, although he looks somehow familiar. Better saying his eyes look familiar. He would almost think he saw them somewhere. Even so he was hundred percent sure he would remember someone like him after seeing him only once. There was just something about him, and his eyes. They looked different…
Sasuke´s hand reached towards the drink he was given, and the man´s eyes instantly flashed from Madara to him. He wasn´t sure if this was a game or only his imagination, but if it really was a game, he will join in. Not that his future can get any worse than the present. He brought the glass to his lips and slurped a small amount of alcohol, when the man´s gaze left him.
"I want him." he said calmly, once again boring holes into the eldest.
"What? You mean Sasuke?" the latter screamed, and the lounge got suddenly silent, all eyes on the trio in the corner. It took Sasuke almost everything not to choke.
"Right." the man was still speaking with calm voice, not even a bit affected by Madara´s outburst.
"No. No way!" he growled and immediately clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
Sasuke stared at them like a dumbstruck. He wasn´t sure, if he was delighted or offended, because they talked about him, like he was only a piece of meat. And why the fuck was he suddenly interesting?
"I heard that you are the best player in Tokyo. You wouldn't reject a game with someone so ordinary like me, now would you?"
The man surely knew how to deal with difficult people, deciding to use psychology on Madara. He knew very well, that this was the only one thing, which worked with him. As soon as his position was mentioned, he was ready to defend it with all he had. There was always him, his ego and his money. Anything else was just trash.
"What do you want now, Itachi?" he hissed, and his features darkened.
Once again, Sasuke didn´t understand the whole situation. It seemed that the two knew each other. Quite well, judging from the last statement.
"Like I already said, I only play games, which are interesting for me." Itachi´s lips curved into a perfect smile, when he replied. A shiver went down Sasuke´s spine and he realized that his heart is beating like crazy again. He tried to ignore the fact that the man was looking straight into his eyes now. Maybe it was trivial, but one part of him wanted to climb on the table and crawl over to Itachi so that he could kiss him. There must have been something in his drink. He wasn´t thinking properly.
"It´s not like you have any option, uncle." Itachi stroke again. "You know, there are still people who-"
"One day!" Madara´s growled and he seemed as if he would burn the whole building now if he had a chance. Something was holding him. Or someone. It was clear that Itachi knew something he shouldn't. And also, the two of them are family? What the fuck? So maybe he did saw him. Not in person, but on photos perhaps.
"You´re not in position of dictating any conditions, you know? It´s everything or nothing." he added, reaching for a small box where play cards were hidden.
"So, banker or player?"
If Madara was aggressive when pissed, it was nothing compared to how he looked now. His normally pale face reddened and his pupils were dilated and turned to pure black. The never leaving evil smirk seemed even spookier than normal. He looked like a mad person.
"Banker." he said with a dark hoarse voice, immediately making Sasuke shiver.
He took the cards from Itachi´s hands and began to mix them. His stare never left him, once again trying to read his thoughts, while dealing cards - two for Itachi and two for himself, while Sasuke watched them in tension. Except rivalry and hate, nothing could be read of their faces.
He tried to remember the rules. He knew that the winner will be the one with the highest total, which is nine. If total was seven or less, they have to deal two another cards and when the total was eight, it was called natural. Both of them just stared into their cards and said nothing, which made the tension even greater.
"Natural." Madara cut the silence with a victorious smile and he tossed his cards on the table. It was a hearts ace and diamond seven. There was only a very little chance that Itachi´s total was straight nine, which he now needed desperately for winning. He watched without breathing, as the long haired Uchiha slowly put his cards on the table. There was a spades ace and clubs eight. The total of nine.
"You lost." he said to Madara with his deep voice and smiled again. Sasuke´s heart almost stopped, when Itachi turned to him. His face was unreadable, but the look in his eyes made him shiver for the xth thime again.
"This is not over. There is no way you escape from Japan in one piece." Madara silently whispered. The room was suddenly filled with whispers and everyone was looking at the three of them.
"Let´s go." Itachi stood up from the table, waiting for Sasuke to do the same. The raven sat there dumbstruck, looking from one to the other, trying to process the meaning of said words.
"Excuse me?" he asked stupidly, not sure if this whole scenario was real.
"I said let´s go!" Itachi growled and roughly yanked the younger from his seat. Still holding his arm, he made his way through the lounge to the exit, when Madara shouted after them.
"Two days. In two days you and your brother are dead! Remember."
"Get the fuck off me!" Sasuke screamed when they finally made it out. "What the hell do you think you´re doing?"
"I just saved your ass and that´s what you say to me?"
"I didn't ask for your help!" Sasuke hissed, not sure why he turned so aggressive. "And who are you anyway?" he added.
"If it´s my name you want, I´m Itachi Uchiha. About my identity, it would be safer for you not to know for the moment."
"Yeah, right." the young raven growled and turned to leave.
"So you´re just going straight back into their hands? You want to die that much? Or the years with Madara turned you into a sadist?" Itachi called after him. "Where are you going anyway? I´m sure you don't have money and about your clothes…you won´t survive long in this district dressed like that, you know what I mean?"
"Could you just shut the fuck up and leave me alone?" Sasuke turned to him with a scream.
"I thought you don't want to be alone anymore." the reply was silent, not meant him to hear, but Sasuke heard it anyway and froze mid-step.
"What?" he turned to the elder once again, this time giving him his full attention.
"I could bring you back to where you used to live. To your family…if you want. Do you want to?"
"I…"
I´m writing chapter three right now...