Disclaimer: Don't own, please leave your complaint after the beep. (notice, it doesn't come)

Yet…

By: Apherion

Chapter 4: Redemption?

Itachi couldn't have blinked to stop time, despite the 'almost always active' sharigan. And so it were that the time of the full moon approached most devilishly upon the campsite that was forced not to move, in order to keep safe those who wished not to die a most painful death for betraying either Orochimaru or Itachi.

The camp sustained a quiet rep throughout the duration of the stay, but for lack of fear gave way to something else a bit more unexpected. Love in their midst. Ridiculous many of those who were refusing to see the signs. Some just couldn't care less. Others just stood back and glared maliciously. Those people found it sick that their leader had acquired the taste, let alone found it repulsing that he had in fact gone soft where the boy was concerned. Those people, these other people, amounted to the one Sasuke.

No, Itachi was as subtle as the best sneak to mask the feelings that had become him. Those who had caught on, no doubt with the help of Sasuke ignored the threat and/or warning to its fullest potential. Those people didn't want to hear of it, and wouldn't believe a word of it.

"Itachi knows what the hell he's doing!"

"Damn kid, he's just luring the fox into a sense of security before we deprive him of his body so Lord Orochimaru can have its powers for himself."

"Get out of my way; he's no way what he says he is!"

And when the girls showed up, much to the pleasure of most, Sasuke had no hope of convincing them. Whoring sex toys, is one of the things that Sasuke would fondly say about them-and it was the nicest to boot. Though, Sasuke had yet to get proof of this, he wouldn't let it go.

The morning's rays cut through darkened clouds threatening rain just barely. The weak sunlight wasn't rousing anyone from their deep sleep, unless that person had been up all night trying to loosen the ropes. Itachi's eyes creaked open, weary, but satisfied morbidly at the sight before him. His lips were wetted by his more skilled tongue discreetly. He sat up, his knees bent in front of him, his elbows on said knees. He was leaning back, a cool posture with his uncaring eyes staring arrogantly at the boy. As much as he'd have liked to have loosened the ropes or at least have tied him there, he had to have someone tie Naruto. He couldn't be the instigator as much as he'd have liked. Things were beginning to become complicated.

Complicated.

The word echoed like a cackle in his mind, and the smug smirk slipped from his face when Naruto let his head bow in defeat of the ropes. Only two weeks ago had he done this…but for different reasons now. Itachi got to his feet, slowly, dexterously, and stepped toward the boy he was finding reason to not want to let him go, and yet knowing he could save him if he did. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder, causing him to look up into his eyes.

Those blue eyes.

They came together, Itachi expertly wrapping his arms around Naruto's upper torso. He crashed his lips softly against the boy's, who let out a gasp of surprise. Itachi held him possessively as they were embraced by lips and arms and hands. Naruto's hands were lightly pressed against his back, silently begging for the continuance of the kiss.

Itachi opened his eyes as he broke away, taking in the sweeter tasting air after the kiss. His eyes immediately looked down into the still closed eyes of the one in his arms. Naruto breathed slowly, as though asleep, though he was not, and he looked like he was basking in the memory that had conspired between the two of them.

That had only been two days after their first kiss together.

He didn't know what was going on though, Itachi found himself thinking. But those blue eyes brought him back to the camp, back to reality, back…to Naruto. His eyes spoke everything without him having to say it. Itachi's right hand rose to stroke Naruto's cheek, obeying what the eyes were begging him to do.

He leaned down, pressing his lips against the boy's, drawing him into his lips with his hand on his cheek. As he broke the kiss though, he lingered by Naruto's lips, who eagerly tried in vain to capture Itachi's. He was denied the pleasure though.

Itachi raked a hand through disheveled black hair. He looked shiftily at Naruto. He would have to tell him. Yet…

"I…I don't…" Naruto tried to find words for something, something worth saying. He just pulled him into a hug, leaning his head on the boy's. Itachi felt Naruto hold him back and a rush coursed through him. It controlled him and comforting words came from his lips.

"It's doesn't matter," he said it with conviction, feeling the confrontation going to his heart. The heart he believed he didn't have.

The boy didn't say anything as the two looked at each other. Itachi's mind was a colorful whirl and for the first time in a long time, he couldn't think of anything to say to stop the uncomfortable pause. A loud snore broke through the camp, but no one stirred.

A flash of light, and the sun was completely cut out, the dark clouds shutting out all light except the plasma particles. A roll of thunder crackled brokenly through the morning air. A shower of rain began to pour from the skies, showing no mercy on those whom it drenched. A shout echoed over the rain splattering the ground.

Itachi didn't know how long he stood there, watching Naruto's golden hair become brown from the water, as though it was wilting before him. A pang ran through his heart, and worse, he knew why. The boy's eyes seemed to darken in the lightless area. The pain struck harder.

He felt hands pulling him back, underneath a make-shift shelter. The rain was kept from his head, but his eyes were watching the boy. Unwavering as they watched, blinking few times, just to make sure he wasn't going anywhere. Lightning carved its way through the blackened sky, as did another roar of thunder, clapping loud enough to make most in the vicinity to jump. Then it hit him. Trees weren't safe during a thunderstorm. He would have an excuse to remove Naruto from the site of all the others. He could…free him…

Acting upon impulse, Itachi sprinted to the tree that Naruto was tied to. Shouts of 'What are you doing?' and 'Lord Itachi come back!' fell on deaf ears as he whipped out a kunai. The rain was cold and he could see Naruto shivering despite his attempts to stop it. Naruto's eyes looked blank and his face was pale. He lost his sense of time, Itachi did. He must've been staring at Naruto for longer than he had thought.

"I-I-Itachi…" he whispered brokenly, his teeth chattering, clicking uncontrollably. Itachi pressed a finger to his lips and began cutting the ropes quickly. He hacked away at the bindings and finally Naruto was free from the tree. Naruto, confused more likely, headed in the direction Itachi came. Itachi gripped his arm though.

"No," he said darkly, and in a flash of chakra, both had disappeared from the sights of those underneath the make-shift shelter.

They were running, mainly it was Itachi bringing Naruto along, but they were running. When the others came to find them, Itachi would have valid reasoning as to why he just ran off with the kyuubi. A cave opening made its appearance in the gloom. Itachi steered them both inside, out of the rain, away from the others.

"I-Itachi," Naruto stammered. Itachi pulled him into him, holding him tightly.

"Hush," Itachi commanded, using his deep voice to lull himself into thinking that he wouldn't have to do what he knew he was going to have to. He was going to have to though.

"B-but, s-surely," Naruto started, pushing away from the embrace. Itachi held him though; he pressed his forehead against the boy's.

"I…I won't let him," he declared after a silent pause. Naruto's eyes managed to draw Itachi's again, despite that Itachi's eyes were closed. Itachi opened his eyes, and Naruto gave a quiet gasp of surprise. Unknowingly, Itachi must've deactivated sharigan.

"Y-your e-eyes," Naruto stammered, accompanied by a shiver. Itachi looked at him through his dark brown eyes.

"And you're still cold," he stated monosyllabic. Without indication for Naruto to know, Itachi had pressed his lips to his, removing his left hand from the boy's body to his hair. The dampened gold locks that seemed brown in their state. He broke it, looking into Naruto's eyes, hoping that the blue eyes had returned from the dull, insidious, murky blue.

The boy's eyelids fluttered open, his eyelashes tickling Itachi's face. The oceanic color had once more returned, and confusion reigned supreme in them. Itachi looked at him, into his eyes. He leaned into him-slow and calm-his eyelids only half-way shut, waiting for Naruto to inch closer. Allowing Naruto his chance…and he took it. Chastely pressing his lips to Itachi's, Naruto initiated the kiss. The kiss that soon became passionate, at which Itachi took over easily letting Naruto slip back into comfort.

All the while, eager eyes watched, unbeknownst to the two he was watching like a hawk. And he had his proof.

A/N: Kitsune-no-Yokai this is for you (I hope I got your name right) At ANY RATE. I got it up for you and the rest of the rabid yaoi-fandom community that will probably attack me if I don't hurry and finished cuz of the cliffy (not really, but it is technically I've made worse).

Ai,

Apherion