Chapter 16

Dying Inside

It was at least five minutes before the authorities came to take Kisame away; but to Gaara, it felt like an eternity. He felt sick after Kisame had touched him like that. He was still a virgin and the mere thought of somebody as evil and un-appealing as that man entering him... it shook every bone in his body. He suddenly saw everything go black before the room flashed back into focus.

"Gaara?" Konan stared down at him. "Are you okay? You just fainted..."

"Y-Yeah..." I replied. "Kisame hit me and I guess I'm a little dazed."

"Maybe you should go to bed."

"After that? I won't be able to sleep for weeks!"

"You're protected, Gaara."

"Yeah? Then how did Kisame get in?"

She said nothing.

"Who's to say that he can't get in again?" He felt another dizzy spell hit him and fell back, wincing.

Konan helped him up. "You need to lay down, Gaara."

"I'm fine."

She ignored his protests and silently led him back to his room. Itachi, Kankuro and Baki were in there. Kankuro looked up. "Alright, Gaara. You gonna tell me what the fuck is going on?"

The younger teen didn't answer.

"Don't play stupid with me!" He turned to Itachi. "You're giving me the silent treatment too, huh? Well fuck me sideways!"

Konan shushed him. "Leave them alone, Kankuro! They've been through enough today!"

The brunette relaxed a little. "Heh. Seems strange that a hot chick like you should be lecturing me... I'm available if you wanna hang out sometime."

Konan rolled her eyes. "Get the fuck out. You've got more chance of pigs flying than you have dating me."

Kankuro's mouth fell agape.

"That's right. Now leave." She shifted her gaze to Baki. "You too. I need to see to them both."

Reluctantly, the two males left, leaving Konan, Itachi and Gaara in the room.

"Sorry about my brother." Said Gaara. "He thinks he's sex on legs."

She giggled at that remark. "All right. Let me check you over."

"No. It's fine, seriously. I'm okay." He said, getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Downstairs."

"You need to rest."
"I am going to rest... In front of the TV." He then left the bedroom.

"Fine." She said, turning to Itachi. The raven looked empty; as if his soul had been sucked out of his body. "Are you okay?"

He didn't reply.

"Please, you need to answer. What if you've got a serious injury?"

"I'm fine." He whispered.

"I think you're in shock. Your heart is racing." She then checked his breathing and used her chakra to scan his body for injuries. "Looks like you're just a little bruised. You need to calm down a little or you'll have a heart attack."

"I'll try." He said so quietly. "Are you going to check on Gaara?"
"He said he's fine."
"Well he doesn't tell anybody if he's hurt does he?"

"I suppose not. Are you concerned about him? Did Kisame injure him?"
"He was hit a few times across the face."
"Okay, I'd better go and see if he's alright. Try and get some rest, yeah?"

"I will."

"Okay. I'll bring Gaara up in a bit once I've helped him." She gave Itachi a reassuring smile and walked out, then went downstairs. Gaara was curled up on the beige sofa. Once Konan came in, he turned. "Oh, hey."

"Gaara, I really need to check you over."

"I am fine."

"Please."

"All right."

Again, she used her chakra to check him for any injuries. "That's good. I think you're going to be fine. You'll be a little sore for a few days, but it'll wear off soon."

"How is Itachi?" He asked.

"He's in shock. It would help if you went upstairs and calmed him down."

"Okay. I'll do that." He got up and went upstairs, then into his room. Itachi was still sat there.

"Hey." Said Gaara.

Itachi gave a little nod in acknowledgement.

"Kisame is going to be killed. He will never ever hurt you again, understand?"

"But what about the other Akatsuki members?"

"They won't find us."

"Yes they will."

"How can you be so sure?"

Itachi took a deep breath. "I have a tracking device."

"Then get rid of it."

"If only it was so easy. You see, this tracking device is inside me."

Gaara gasped. "They operated on you?"

"N-no... not in that way..."

"Well how did it get inside you?"

"Th-This is a little embarrassing..."

"I won't tell anybody."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"W-When Kisame... entered me for the first time... he had a tracking device on his... you know-"

"Yes."

"It got implanted deep inside me and it can only be removed by Kisame if he decides to free me."

"Okay. I'm willing to put my life on the line for you, Itachi."

"I don't want you to do that. I can't lose you again. I mean- It was bad enough seeing you lying dead on the floor. There was so much blood... and you were so pale..."

Gaara hugged him tight. "It's okay. I'm alive now, aren't I?"

"Yeah."

"Stop crying okay? You're getting my shirt all wet." Said Gaara with a smirk.

Itachi wiped his eyes. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Go to sleep okay? I'll be outside the window."

"Why out there?"

"I like to look at the moon sometimes at night."

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"No. I don't need sleep."

"Everybody needs to sleep, Gaara."

"I managed most of my life without sleep."

"I suppose. Okay, see you in the morning."

"Yup."

When Itachi awoke in the morning, he felt a little better. His heart was no longer racing and he could breathe easier; like a weight had been lifted off his chest.

Gaara suddenly climbed in through the window, looking tired.

"Morning, Gaara." Greeted Itachi.

"Hn."

"What's up with you?"

"Tired."

"I told you to go to sleep last night."
"Did you?"

"Yes."

"Wait, is it Wednesday today?"

"Yeah."

"Shit! I'm supposed to be in a meeting at nine!"

"It's five to nine now."

Gaara paled and rushed out of the room, down the stairs and out the front door.

Never seen him move so quick. Thought Itachi with a smirk. He got up and got dressed, then went downstairs. Konan sat at the table, looking bored.

"Hi." Said Itachi, sitting opposite her.

"Oh, morning. How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Hey, don't ask about me... I'm worried about you."

"I don't need you to remind me of last night, okay? I want things to get back to the way they were."

"Gomen."

"It's okay. Hey, do you know when Gaara will be back from the meeting?"

"No I don't. Sorry, kid. I'm guessing they last about two hours."

He nodded, then changing the subject. "Are you sure Kisame is captured?"

"Yes, of course. You can go to see him if you like. I'll be dropping by there soon anyway."

"I-I need to see it with my own eyes... that he's there. I hope you don't mind me tagging along, do you?"

"Of course not. Go get something to eat and we'll leave, yeah?"

"Okay." Itachi got up and looked in the fridge. "Why are you going there anyway?"

"Since I know him, they want me to try and get some info out of him."

The raven nodded. Since there was hardly anything in the fridge, He checked the cupboards and was surprised to see them bare too. "Does this family eat at all?" He groaned. "I'm so hungry."

"I think Kankuro pigs out all the time. That's why there's nothing in there. Want to get some ramen on the way back?"

"Sure."

"Do you know how much it'll cost?"

"Not much. It's only ramen."

"Well you lived here before for four years haven't you?"

"Yeah, but I was a slave. I wasn't allowed out on the streets much. The Kazekage was very strict about me leaving."

"Why?"

"He wanted me to babysit Gaara in case he escaped or did anything stupid."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Konan proceeded to walk out of the door. "Lets go then."

Itachi nodded and followed her. He had forgotten how hot it was in Suna. How come Gaara was so pale living in such a warm place?

They walked down the street, some dusty clouds of sand blowing around. There were loads of people out already. Soon, the pair reached a large grey building with prison officers guarding the place thoroughly.

Konan held up a pass signed by Gaara and they let her past. Itachi kept close next to her, feeling slightly vulnerable. A man led them through different corridors and they came to a stop at a small cell where Kisame sat. On seeing Itachi, he grinned maliciously. "Ah. You were such a good fuck last night, Itachi. Pity I didn't get the chance to take your friend as well. I would love to pound deep into his sweet virgin body."

Itachi growled and launched toward the man. "You bastard! Stay away from us!"

Kisame grabbed Itachi by the throat, causing the prison officers to rush away, yelling for tranquilizers.

During that time, Kisame took the sweet opportunity to force his lips against Itachi's, pushing his tongue through the pale lips.

The raven tried to push him away and struggled with all the strength he possessed. Konan was trying to drag him from his attacker, but Kisame held a firm grip and tightened it considerably, choking him. The prison officers came back with stun guns and tranquilizers. They fired the knock-out drugs at Kisame repeatedly until he went down. Itachi fell to the floor, coughing, spluttering and gasping for breath. His throat hurt from that death grip and his head swam from lack of oxygen.

"Itachi, Itachi are you alright?" Asked Konan.

"Y-Yeah... I think so." He got up shakily once he'd recovered enough and stared at Kisame's unconscious form, before he walked up to the cage and spat on him. To hell with that evil bastard.

Konan gently led him away. "Come on. He'll be dead soon, don't worry."

"Justice at last." Muttered Itachi under his breath. He could still taste Kisame's saliva, smell that musky, but somewhat hypnotic scent. Damn him.

Once back at the house, the prison phoned to let them know that Kisame was now in isolation after the unacceptable incident and that he was going to be killed by the end of the week. They even invited Itachi to watch the death, but the raven chose not to. Why would anybody want to watch another person die? He shuddered at the thought of a dead body. He'd already seen one and that was bad enough since it was his best friend. The sight of Gaara laying dead, covered in his own blood almost made him have a breakdown on the spot. He couldn't let that happen ever again. Itachi decided that he wasn't going to get all worked up over Kisame. The bastard wasn't worth it anyway. No more tears...

Konan entered the room with two take-out pots of ramen. "Here." She handed him one.

"Arigato." He didn't really feel like eating, but knew that he had to because the last thing he'd consumed was some dango and that was yesterday morning. Also, he was slightly worried at how underweight he was. A few good meals would do him wonders.

"Itachi, are you okay?" Asked Konan, delicately picking up her chopsticks.

"Yeah." He smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'm not gonna let Kisame hurt me anymore. This is a new start for me. A new life, here."

She grinned and started eating her ramen. Itachi did the same, feeling good about his life. Kisame would be dead soon, so he wouldn't have to worry. Minutes later, he was content and full. In the space of six years, he'd never eaten something that had actually filled him up and he'd forgotten how good it felt. He got up and threw the empty take-out pot into the trash-compactor before returning to Konan, who had just finished her meal.

"How are they going to kill Kisame?"

"I'm not sure, Itachi. I'll inquire about it tomorrow."

"Thanks."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Meh..." He shrugged. "Curiosity."

"Ah."

Kisame sat in the isolation cell. The guards were outside the door, but luckily, they couldn't see in. He broke free of the straight-jacket that bound his arms tightly together and made a few hand symbols. A perfect water clone of Itachi Uchiha appeared right before his very eyes. "Perfect." He mumbled, chuckling darkly to himself. Leader-sama would be so proud of him.

A/N

Cliffhanger! Yes I'm an evil bitch aren't I? Muahahahaha

I'm updating faster than usual huh? That's because my writer's block has finally pissed off to hell! WOOT!

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