Slave to a Shark

by KisaItas

The Uchiha's are legends sought after for their special eyes, beauty, grace and power. One day, Sasuke steps into the outside world and gets caught, his brother Itachi tries to save him but ends up caught as well. The two are captured and sold as slaves to a man known as the Monster of the Mist. KisaIta AU. Lots of SasuSui later, some Shisui x Male OC too.

8. It's All Over

Slave to a Shark - Chapter 8: It's All Over

Warning: rape & explicit sex in this chapter, also blood
-.-.-

"Itachi..." Kisame watched the man he loved with surprise in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Suigetsu changed back into his human form from the puddle below and watched the exchange.

"What does it look like I'm doing here?"

"Saving my life?"

"Yes."

"Thanks."

Itachi shrugged. "We need to talk."

"Okay." Kisame couldn't exactly deny the man who had just saved his life, could he?

"I also need to speak to him." Suigetsu cut in. "Get in line."

Itachi glared at Suigetsu in a way that made him take a step back. "Or you know, I could talk to him later." Suigetsu turned to face Kisame and said "I'll come to you when you're in your office."

Kisame nodded towards Suigetsu, who picked up his Executioner's blade and left the room. After Suigetsu had left, Kisame turned towards Itachi to ask him about what he wanted to talk about - before he could, Itachi spoke.

"Who was it that I just killed?" Itachi's voice was as sharp as a razor.

"His name is Kakuzu. The doctor I told you I was protecting Sasuke from."

"Why did Kakuzu want Sasuke?"

"He didn't, not specifically. He just wanted Uchihas. The eyes, you know."

"Why was my family here?"

"Kakuzu hunted them and brought them here. I had it with him and decided it was time to get rid of him."

Itachi was observing Kisame with practiced ease, his eyes like that of an interrogator. The scariest part for Kisame was that Itachi's was completely emotionless but his eyes were blazing a bright crimson red, the black three pointed star swirling constantly within them.

"Whose blood was in the torture room?"

Kisame blinked. Itachi didn't know already? A fear rose inside of Kisame as he thought about what Itachi would do to him - once again the fear of losing the slim chance of love he might've had.

"Answer me." Itachi sounded dangerous, threatening.

"A girl named Tohru."

Itachi inhaled and held his breath, giving no other indication he had heard. A moment later "anyone else?"

"Just her."

"Is she dead?"

"Yes."

"What about the boy who lost his eyes?"

"I don't know. He's probably in a cage somewhere in Kakuzu's labs. His eyes are on the desk over there." Kisame pointed towards the desk where Kakuzu had been seated before the battle. As an afterthought, Kisame added "He might be dead."

Itachi had noticed the eyes, just refused to look at them longer than necessary.

"Why did you order me to clean up the blood in that room?"

"... I'm sorry." Kisame couldn't answer. He couldn't look at Itachi, instead turning his gaze towards the window.

"Look at me."

Kisame looked. Itachi's expression was impassive, hinting at something sinister below. It was frightening, even to the Monster of the Mist.

"Tell me why."

"I wanted to make you suffer."

"You have done nothing but make me suffer since the moment you brought me here." Itachi couldn't disguise the bitterness in his voice.

"I'm sorry."

"I hate your apologies." Itachi knew now he had the upper hand. If his ability to order Kisame around earlier meant anything, it was that the monster was capable of guilt. His apologies added to this. It meant Itachi could manipulate and use him given the right circumstances, now Itachi had to make those circumstances happen.

"I admit it. I am the worst, I am a monster. I don't deserve you." Kisame could feel so many conflicting emotions inside of himself, and he was surprised at his own feelings. He wanted Itachi so much - not just his body, but his heart. He had shown sides of himself to the crow that he hadn't shown anyone, ever. He made himself vulnerable around him. If Itachi still couldn't reciprocate knowing the effect he had on the shark, then... Kisame thought back to before. He didn't have to have all of Itachi. He could satisfy himself with just Itachi's body if necessary. "But please... I've never wanted anyone the way I want you. I want to love you, and I want you to love me. I don't expect it now, I don't know whether I'll ever receive it, all I ask is that you don't close the door and give me a chance. From here on out I will do anything it takes for you, as long as you promise to give me that chance and don't slip away."

"Anything?" This was working out for Itachi better and faster than he thought. For a brief moment Itachi was glad that the Monster of the Mist was not a true monster, otherwise he couldn't be handled the way Itachi was planning to handle him.

"Anything."

"Let my brother go."

"Okay."

"Remove my curse mark."

"Okay." Kisame's heart sank. If he removed Itachi's curse mark, would Itachi leave him at that moment?

Itachi tilted his head to the side then said "Help me find Shisui."

"Okay." Kisame was reduced to nothing but a servant at Itachi's feet. It may be Itachi who wore the slave's mark, but it was Kisame who was truly trapped.

Kisame watched as Itachi strolled across the room and picked up the eyes in their container on the desk. He didn't look at those eyes directly, instead he held them close to himself, as if afraid he would break them.

"What are you waiting for?" Itachi asked. "Take me to the possible places he could be. And call for a surgeon who can place these eyes back inside Shisui."

"Alright let me call for a surgeon first. All the rooms in this wing belong to Kakuzu, Shisui could be in any one of them."

"Fine. I'll search. Join me as soon as you're done, I don't want him rotting here any longer than necessary." Itachi strolled past Kisame, the eyes still held close to his chest.

Kisame's nervousness caused a slight trembling of his hands, which he immediately shoved into his pockets. He watched Itachi kick down a locked iron door in amazement, realizing just how much he underestimated the crow.

With a final glance at the empty doorway, Kisame stalked in the opposite direction to find Jared. This wasn't difficult, Jared made it a point to be in the general vicinity of Kisame always, almost like a bodyguard. He would find something to do in the particular area Kisame was in at all times.

I wonder if he follows me when I'm not at home too. Does he keep watch over me outside as well, like a protector from the shadows?

Kisame had long ago noticed Jared's unwavering loyalty to him. That's why he could never be mad at the butler - who could when the person in mind always has the best intentions for you? Yet somehow, until meeting Itachi and seeing someone with unwavering loyalty put into an extreme situation, it never occurred to Kisame to wonder just how far Jared's loyalty to him went.

Would Jared die for me? How much does he care? Does he love me like Itachi loves Sasuke and those two Uchihas?

Kisame stopped his train of thought as he finally noticed that he was in the entrance to the hospital wing, where Jared was adjusting a painting.

"Jared, could you please call for a surgeon?" There. Please. How long had Kisame been subconsciously polite with Jared? When had he stopped commanding and starting asking? Or had it been like that always? This was the first time Kisame had noted it.

"Of course, Master Hoshigaki."

"Jared..."

"Yes, Master Hoshigaki?" Jared looked at Kisame expectantly, his head tilting slightly as one of his curly white bangs covered his eye.

"Nothing. Please get the surgeon." Kisame had wanted to thank Jared but somehow... Somehow he couldn't bring himself to do it. Was it necessary? Did their relationship have to be put to words? Or could it remain an unspoken bond? Yet with Itachi, it had to be said. What was the difference? Why did he have to speak to Itachi but not to Jared?

Kisame frowned and headed back towards the hospital wing, he would help Itachi find Shisui for now.

-.-.-

"So you found me." Sasuke commented without turning around as Suigetsu materialized into a solid form.

"What are you doing here?" Suigetsu asked, his blade still attached to his back. He had come straight for Sasuke after leaving the shark and the weasel, using his water droplets to find him quickly.

"Exploring with my newly realized freedom." Sasuke continued walking around the attic. It had been a pain to get in here or even find the entrance to it - but it was full of amazing and interesting things. It was well kept as well, meaning someone came in here to clean things up regularly. Sasuke picked up a large, heavy, metal, golden ball with various snitches and buttons and linear crevices. "What is this?"

"I don't know." Suigetsu responded, bored. This wasn't his cup of tea.

"It's... Interesting." Sasuke pushed a button and a small part of the ball came popping out, revealing two tiny double doors in the ornate golden part. Putting the ball down, Sasuke opened the doors and removed a strange blue ring.

"It opens?" Suigetsu asked, intrigued as he got closer and began to examine the golden ball himself.

"You look like hell." Sasuke observed, now that Suigetsu was in his line of sight.

Suigetsu shrugged. "We all have days like that."

"Were you fighting?"

"Yeah." Suigetsu ran his fingers over the ball. "Someone put a lot of effort carving this ball." As Suigetsu's fingers rolled through he discovered a hidden button and pressed it, a part of the ball circled and then it was still.

"What just happened?"

"I don't know. I did something." Suigetsu responded.

-.-.-

Itachi slammed the door to the next room open, his feet and hands throbbing from his intense kicks and slams. These doors were rusted and stuck, difficult to move. They all required great strength, Itachi guessed it was to keep the weakened prisoners from having the strength to leave once they were in.

Shisui's eyeballs jumped within the liquid of the container they were in with Itachi's movements as he strode into the dungeon and froze. Gently, Itachi laid down the container of eyes and ran towards the cage at the end of the room.

There was Shisui. He was in the cage, bloodied and beaten, his skin tearing off in various areas. His chest rose and fell on the cold, hard ground, his hand slipping through the rusted iron bars. Itachi tried to break the cage with his hands but couldn't, using every ounce of his energy to break the bars, a grunt escaping his lips.

"Shisui!" Itachi slammed his fist against the iron bar. Shisui didn't respond, there was no indication he even heard. "Shisui..." Tears fell from Itachi's face as he realized yet another family member would be lost.

He rose and stalked through the room looking for keys, he was shuffling through a drawer when he heard Kisame enter. He refused to turn around and look, refused to let that monster see his tears.

"What are you doing?" Kisame eyed the container of eyes on the ground.

"Looking for keys." Itachi maintained as close to an even voice as he possibly could given the circumstances, while simultaneously wiping away the tears and returning the impassiveness to his face.

Kisame strode over to the cage, Itachi turned around just in time to hear a loud cracking and metal breaking sound as Kisame tore off the lid of the cage, the veins on his muscles popping. Kisame tossed the lid over to the side and leaned in to pick up Shisui, careful so as to not let the sharp edges of the rusted cage bars graze his skin.

Itachi was by Kisame in a second, instantly reaching over to touch his cousin.

"Shisui." He whispered lovingly, his hand reaching over to Shisui's bloody hair and his eyes sparkling with some unknown feeling. Kisame watched mesmerized by the display of emotion, but said nothing, and stood as still as possible for fear of destroying the moment.

A moment later, Itachi withdrew his hand and his expression was as cold as before, the mask of the unknown back again. "Be gentle. Carry him to where he can have surgery and be comfortable. How long until the surgeon gets here?"

"She should be here soon." Kisame said, already making his way out. He head shuffling behind him and knew Itachi was picking up the eyes isn't the center of the room.

-.-.-

"How many layers does this thing have?!" Suigetsu asked, his hands in the air in sheer annoyance. "Can I just cut it?"

"No." Sasuke glared at Suigetsu before turning back to the golden ball. It was now less than half its original size, one puzzle after another it kept opening further and further until it was where it was now.

"What do these symbols mean?" Sasuke wondered while Suigetsu looked through the pieces that had fallen off.

"I don't know, and I don't really want to know. I just want to know what's in the sphere."

"Aren't you at all curious what someone went through so much trouble to carve?"

"Nope." Suigetsu flattened his expression. "It's obviously just decoration, I doubt it has meaning."

Sasuke sighed and slid the small dial on the golden sphere in a specific order such that it began to circulate again. "Ah found the right combination."

The outer layer of the sphere came out revealing a tiny trinket. It was the same sphere they just unlocked only around a golden chain. The golden sphere was small enough to fit into the palm of Sasuke's hand.

"What, that's it? Lame." Suigetsu observed the trinket. "All that work for nothing."

"No." Sasuke responded. "Now the real puzzle begins. This is the first step. We have to read the pieces that fell out to unlock the rest of the puzzle."

Suigetsu groaned.

Sasuke glared. "You don't have to be here you know."

Suigetsu grinned evilly. "But then how else will I annoy you?"

Sasuke ignored Suigetsu and reached for the golden puzzle pieces.

-.-.-

Itachi waited outside the room where Shisui was now in surgery, his eyes were glazed over and he just stared at the door, unmoving. Shisui's eyes were inside, but the surgery was not being done on his eyes, it was on the rest of his tattered body.

"Don't worry." Kisame said. "Shizune is one of the best surgeons around."

Itachi didn't respond. The two had been sitting outside the room for over forty five minutes. The doctor, a middle aged woman with short black hair and pale skin had insisted that no one be in the room during surgery but herself and her apprentice, a young girl with long blonde hair.

Kisame sighed and got up. "I'll go get some work done, you can wait here on your own." Unfortunately Kisame did have work to do and had been neglecting it as of late.

Just as he was about to leave, there was shuffling behind the door as Shizune came out, shaking her head. "There's nothing I can do."

Itachi's world broke. Nothing could describe the earth shattering experience, he could no longer feel. The only thing worse would have been Sasuke's death. All around him the world blurred, he did not move. His expression was unchanging. He just stared at Shizune, wondering what was wrong with the world that was spinning all around.

"Please... Don't see him just yet. Wait until we clean up." Shizune said with a sigh. "I suggest you grieve away from here until he's ready to be seen."

"No." Itachi croaked out, and suddenly strong arms had surrounded him.

"You don't need to see this, Itachi."

"Don't decide that for me." Itachi said coolly, any second now he might scream.

And a moment later Itachi was being lifted and carried.

"Let me go!" Itachi growled this time, his voice full of anger, his eyes blazing in their dark crimson with the shapes spinning out of control inside.

"No."

"I hate you. You killed my family." Itachi wasn't thinking now, any emotion he may of had was stuck on the loss of Shisui. In another life, had he taken his training of emotionlessness more seriously, he may have withstood even his closest friend's death. But Itachi had a relatively normal life, had already pushed himself to the limits, and was falling over- only a thin thread connecting him to Sasuke kept him from losing every ounce of sanity he struggled to maintain. "I hate you more than I've hated anything, anyone, ever. I didn't know what hate was before - I had never felt it. But I know now."

Something broke in Kisame hearing those words. So it was true. It would never work. He would be doomed with nothing but hatred. The overpowering need to dominate Itachi - prove who was in charge, who had the control, who owned the other coursed through Kisame's veins. His wilder side took control and he gripped Itachi tighter, closer to him, his demeanor changing to be more like that of a beast, like the shark he was called.

Itachi noticed the change in atmosphere due to Kisame's mood change and was quiet instantly, fear rising inside him. The aura in the air was one of danger, it was like Itachi was in the hands of the beast - which in a sense he was already being crushed.

"K-Kisame?" Itachi ventured, not even using honorifics and causing his curse on the neck to flare up in punishment.

Kisame did not answer, instead continuing his swift stride, with each step giving into his basest desires.

Itachi tried to struggle in Kisame's arms but could not - he was being crushed. "I can't ... Ahghh... Breathe... Kisame..." Itachi spoke in horrified, struggling gasps. He hasn't expected anything from this - so he was surprised when the grip on him was loosened.

It took a moment for Itachi to realize Kisame was no longer moving.

They were in the torture room.

Again?

-.-.-

Mangetsu was looking for his brother, Suigetsu, when he entered the Hoshigaki estate. He could've used his ability to find him but out of respect, he chose to do things normally. He waited for a while, but impatience got the best of him and he headed towards a random part of the house.

"He will die soon... We should give him medicine so he can die painlessly." Mangetsu heard a voice lecture another as he approached a room. "There is nothing else we can do for him with what we have."

He pushed the door open and saw two ladies in white clothing and gloves - surgeons probably - working on a man who appeared to be undergoing surgery.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." The older woman with dark eyes said as soon as Mangetsu entered.

"He's dying." Mangetsu noted immediately. "I can save him."

-.-.-

"K-Kisame..." Itachi looked up in pure terror, up at Kisame's cold face, memories of his previous times here flashing before his eyes. If not for the fact that Itachi wanted to live for Sasuke, at this moment, Itachi would have stopped caring. But he did care. "Let's talk about this..."

Kisame had stood at the doorway a while, thinking it seemed. He was done now though, striding forward he let Itachi down near a wall with ropes hanging from the ceiling.

Itachi tried to make a run for it the moment his feet hit the ground, but Kisame was too fast. He slammed Itachi against the wall by his chest, then grabbed Itachi's hands and pulled them over the crow's head.

"Let me go Kisame." Itachi ordered dangerously, trying to maintain calm. His face may have his practiced ease with terror below, but his body gave away his emotions - he was shaking. His body clearly remembered his times here. The cuts and bruises over his body were not yet fully healed.

Kisame moved his face closer to Itachi's so that their eyes met. Itachi's crimson red eyes widened under the intensity of Kisame's dark, beady ones. At this distance, Itachi could feel Kisame's hot breath against his face, could smell the salty, sea scent that was Kisame.

Itachi gasped and bucked towards Kisame when Kisame's hand was suddenly under Itachi's shirt and sliding over his stomach to his chest. Kisame's rough hands were surprisingly gentle as they grazed over Itachi's skin.

Itachi took deep breaths, closing his eyes and trying to calm himself. A moment later. He opened his eyes and the red faded to dark brown as he blinked under Kisame's gaze. "K-Kisame?"

Again, Kisame refused to respond. Instead he let go of the arms that constrained Itachi and moved his hands lower to pull Itachi's shirt over his head.

"Please stop." Itachi sighed, not fighting back. "I know you're mad, but torture isn't going to solve it. I know you don't want to torture me. Please, work with me. We can find a better solution." Itachi tried to plead in order to get Good Kisame out. Survival took priority. He could mourn Shisui's death later, and Tohru's too.

Once Itachi's shirt was off, Kisame used the ropes to tie Itachi's hands so that they were above his head. Itachi hung off the ground just ever so slightly, the tips of his toes could barely feel the floor.

"Kisame please..." Itachi again tried to plead, his eyes changing hue slightly, but not quite to a red yet. In his mind, Itachi counted backwards from fifty to maintain his cool.

What made Bad Kisame come out? Was it me saying I hated him? He has said he loved me… He freaks out when I say I hate him…

Kisame was not responding to Itachi at all. He stood back and stared at Itachi, ignoring the bandages covering the still open wounds all over the crow. They were healing, there was great progress for sure, but they would take months to completely heal and probably still leave scarring.

Words, Itachi's words ran through his mind. The words Itachi spoke now we're completely ignored, he couldn't even hear them. All he heard were the old words, like a chant or an evil spell.

"I hate you." Kisame ground his teeth together.

"I hate you more than I've hated anything ever." Kisame's eyebrows twisted down over his eyes and his fists clenched.

"You killed my family." Kisame's fist trembled.

"I hate you." Kisame was only vaguely aware that through all this, Itachi was speaking, yet somehow it was as if he was listening through murky water, the words couldn't reach.

"Until you... I didn't know what hate was." Kisame broke.

Itachi is mine. I own him.

Kisame made a beast like sound, his eyes glinting with rage as grabbed onto Itachi's ribs so roughly he heard a crack and a cry from Itachi - he ignored it and crushed his lips to Itachi's, kissing him roughly, plunging his tongue into Itachi's mouth and dominating. Below him Itachi may have been struggling, he couldn't tell. Itachi could have turned into an elephant or grown wings, at this moment Kisame wouldn't have noticed. Kisame could taste blood suddenly - his sharp teeth had cut Itachi's tongue just slightly.

When Kisame's broke his angry kiss of dominance, Itachi's eyes were blazing once more and a hint of red dripped down Itachi's chin. Itachi gasped for air the moment the kiss broke and coughed out a small amount of blood from his tongue.

"Stop Kisame." Itachi sounded defeated. He whispered one last plea. "Please..."

Itachi's pants were off. Kisame lifted Itachi's legs with his arms and positioned himself between Itachi, his cock sliding against the seam of Itachi's ass. Every ounce of his humanity remaining screamed for him to stop, but the overwhelming animalistic urge to dominate, defeat, and claim the creature in front of him dulled his senses. He hesitated briefly, eyes glancing up at the face before him, delicate emotions crossing those red eyes about to be crushed.

"Kisa..." Itachi couldn't even bring himself to continue. The look in his eyes were of a defeated man, despite the deep red of his eyes, his expression was dead, a few tears rolled down his face and he was no longer looking at Kisame.

Then he screamed as Kisame entered him with no warning. The long manhood the shark sported ripped at the tight ring of muscles, tearing the flesh apart as it made it's ascent into the cavern. Pain filled every ounce of Itachi's being, he felt as though he was being ripped from the inside out. He had never had anal sex before - he was a virgin in that sense. He felt himself being split open, Kisame hadn't bothered to ease his way into it or use fingers first. There was no lubricant. Nothing.

There was blood. Kisame had torn through Itachi and now the blood was the lubricant, sliding down Itachi's shaking body as Kisame continued his angry assault. Strong, powerful hips slammed against his unwilling body, thrusting the steel rod deeper and deeper into his core. Any pleasure that may have derived from such actions were lost in the overwhelming waves of pain rocking Itachi's body, the blood had traveled down his legs and dripped to the floor with every thrust, creating a satanic scene for any witnesses. The blue powerhouse of a man, no, a monster, crushing the pale figure beneath him as blood leaked from his reopened wounds and the newly shredded entrance; surrounded by the dark walls of the chamber with torturous devices around every turn. Itachi thought he had experienced Hell before, but he was wrong - this was hell's true form.

Kisame for his part felt none of the pleasure usually associated with this act. This was one for power, for dominance, meant to overpower. That was what it was – every inch of him wanted to claim the man before him, to demand what he wanted from Itachi and to actually receive his demands.

"You're mine." Kisame growled out angrily, his hand clenching Itachi's hair. "Mine alone. No other thought should cross your mind."

So what's what this is. A cry for dominance. It's because I said I hated him that he is doing this. Then the way to change him and regain control is… Itachi's mind swirled but was filled with pain quickly as Kisame increased his speed.

Itachi ground his teeth to hold back screams, his eyes clenched shut, trying to hold back the tears that fell with each thrust. In his mind, he was counting again. One, Two, Three… He couldn't concentrate. Every breath he took, every beat of his heart, every pulse that traveled through his blood stream caused him unbearable pain. He felt as though his very soul was being torn to shreds and burned in the eternal fires of Hell. The pain was too great, he would going to pass out again if this didn't end soon.

"I love you!" Itachi screamed out as loud as he could. He didn't mean it. I hate you. Was what he thought. But he had the feeling that those words would give him the control he had lost… The way to control Kisame… Was faux love. This was a theory. Itachi had to test it.

Then Kisame came. The magical words he had longed for shook him to the core and he shuddered as hot cum streaked through the newly opened wounds and tender flesh, causing more pain to wash over Itachi's broken soul. The stinging was nothing compared to what Itachi had already suffered, but it was enough to shatter what resolve he still had. His eyes shut in momentary relief when the assault was over. He groaned softly, body worn and tattered as Kisame removed himself from the flared red hole, a small dribble of his release falling to the floor. Cum and blood mixed together and trailed down Itachi's legs from the deflowered boy, creating an image of absolute defilement.

Now that the act was over, Kisame's rage subsided. He looked at Itachi and the realization of what he had done washed over him. Guilt again seeped through him and for the first time, Kisame wanted to kill himself. Kisame backed away and left Itachi like that, tied to the ceiling and hanging lifelessly.

Outside, Jared had been waiting. He knew what happened, but hadn't stopped it. As long as Kisame got what he wanted, he didn't care. Yet, he too felt guilty as he watched Kisame leave the torture chamber and head off. He saw the expression on Kisame's face and knew something was wrong. Yet what was he to do? Get Itachi? Go after Kisame?

Jared settled on Itachi. He entered and lost his cool. He hadn't lost his cool all those times he cleaned the blood and gore, the limbs and all from the torture chamber in days past.

Yet, he cared about Itachi. The sight of him hanging against the ceiling with no life left in him broke something in Jared and his hands trembled ever so slightly as he removed Itachi from his constraints. Itachi fell to the ground but made no movements. His eyes were a dark brown and faded, dull.

Carefully, Jared took him to a more comfortable place.

Itachi was into vaguely aware of Jared's actions. Emotions could no longer be felt by him - it was as if he were having an out of body experience.

Jared only just dropped Itachi off, exactly as he was, in Kisame's bedroom, laying him on the bed. His most pressing concern was Kisame - although he cared for Itachi, his focus would always be his master.

Before leaving, almost as an afterthought, he came back and pulled a blanket over Itachi, whose eyes were closed shut. He wasn't asleep, but he wasn't looking either.

-.-.-

"Master stop!" Jared was hysterical as he fought with Kisame. His hand was struggling with Samehada, Kisame's giant sharkskin blade.

"Why?" Kisame stopped struggling. He hadn't been serious anyway - but for once was a little surprised that his butler had the kind of strength to fight even a little. Apparently it wasn't just Itachi.

"You shouldn't kill yourself. I won't allow it." Jared responded, his eyes in a panic. He had arrived only barely in time to prevent Kisame from suicide.

"I don't understand." Kisame let is blade fall between the two of them. "Why would you want to save me?"

"Because I love you! You are like my son! You mean more to me than the world." Jared responded, walking around the blade and wrapping his arms around Kisame, who was shell shocked. Unbelieving at the words, and the physical intimacy of being hugged by someone. Someone who... Didn't hate him?

"You mean more to me than the world." The words shook Kisame to the core. What had he done to earn such loyalty?

"Why?" Kisame croaked. "I am an awful person, I have done awful things. I destroy everything I touch. I hurt Itachi."

"Then fix it!" Jared broke his embrace and looked at Kisame seriously, not even trying to deny what both knew as truth. "Fix it."

"How?"

"Be kinder."

"I tried that."

"Don't freak out when Itachi says bad things. A family member of his died and you can't ignore that it was partially your fault! Let him grieve and take his anger out on you. Let him yell, scream, even hit you. It will pass. He will calm down. He will be better."

"I don't understand... How can it pass?" Kisame furrowed his brow in confusion.

"He was grieving! He didn't really hate you. He might have even liked you deep down inside."

"Really?"

"Well... Not anymore. He's practically dead after what you did." Jared sighed. "But you need to let him be angry. Don't lose your control. You know how you get angry and do things to him that you don't mean?"

"Yeah."

"He does the same. He will get angry and say things he doesn't mean. Then afterwards he will realize it and you two can make up. That's what he was doing. You assume that he says everything he means because you don't understand how to communicate effectively with others. That's how you grew up – you take his words at face value. Don't. Learn to communicate with words."

"So... He didn't hate me?" Kisame's voice was unreadable, but it was obvious there was great emotion behind it. He sucked in his breath as he waited for Jared's response.

"At that moment he didn't. I can't speak for him now." Jared looked Kisame in the eyes. "You hurt him deeply Kisame. Rape is serious."

"I deserve to die."

"Live your life for Itachi." Jared may have said this, but in his mind he was thinking Itachi needed to exist for Kisame. If Itachi failed in this goal, it would have to be Jared who killed the kid, and Jared who would deal with Kisame's anger after. But he was prepared for it.

"What do you mean?"

"Make up to Itachi by giving him everything, being his everything."

"How can that make up for anything? I could spend my entire life, even after life and it could never make up for what I've done. Or worse, what if I do something even worse to him? What if I hurt him even more?" Kisame clenched his fists and his earlier resolve to kill himself and rid the world of his own monstrousness came back. "Besides... If I did everything he said he would live a nice life without me. He deserves that. It's better he get that and know someone like me is dead."

"You won't hurt him if you control yourself, which you are capable of doing. Don't release his slave seal. But do release his brother. If his brother is free, he will lose that stress in his life and be better off. Give it time and eventually he may come to love you." Don't worry, Master. I'll make him love you.

"Do you really think I can fix things?"

"Yes. But it will take a long time. It could take years. But it will happen. You will have to be patient. You will have to maintain control. You cannot slip like you did today. Promise me you will not slip and try your best."

Kisame looked at Jared earnestly. "I promise."

Jared smiled and stood. "Then go to him now. You're the last person he wants to see, but you have to deal with that right now. Don't apologize but clean his wounds. Be gentle. I'll replace the mattress and sheets while you clean and bandage him up. Tell him you will release his brother and then do it. Stay by his side constantly for the next few days."

Kisame nodded. "Thank you..."

Jared lifted his hand and placed it on top of Kisame's head - causing Kisame to respond by widening his eyes in surprise and admiration.

"Kisame... You are not a monster. I believe in you." Jared smiled genuinely and it seemed to Kisame that he was looking up at an angel.

Jared retracted his hand and stood at the doorway, his back to Kisame. "I will make arrangements for a new mattress. Go to Itachi." Jared didn't see the single tear roll down Kisame's cheek. He was already gone.

-.-.-

Mangetsu ended up using his technique and found - surprisingly - his brother alone with one other person in the attic. He followed the directions, wondering whether he should enter.

Is Suigetsu in the middle of something? Should I leave them be?

When he entered, he was surprised to find his brother, on the floor, arms wrapped around a kid his age, who also had his arms wrapped around Suigetsu. Both were asleep, all around them were pieces of golden metal.

Suigetsu, how unlike you...

-.-.-

When Kisame entered the room and noticed Itachi laying there, he didn't know what to do. The man who fought him back with such fiery passion for his brother looked lifeless before him now, if not for the fact that his eyes were still burning red like fire, Kisame would've thought that Itachi felt nothing at all.

What have I done?

"I-Itachi?" Kisame called, trying to keep his voice from betraying his feelings.

He received no response, and honestly hadn't expected one. Moving forward, Kisame approached Itachi who looked lifeless. Through the blanket a small blood stain was visible. Kisame closed his eyes, he almost couldn't bring himself to look. But he had to. He did this.

He removed the blanket and Itachi didn't even try to protest, his eyes didn't follow Kisame. He had given up trying to cry, to plead. Whatever was going to happen to him was going to happen. He had no control.

"Can I take you to the bathroom to wash away the wounds?" Kisame asked.

No response.

"Itachi?"

No response.

"If you say nothing I will take it as a yes, you can stop me."

No response.

Kisame picked Itachi up, who was completely emotionless. He could've been an object, a doll, a very well made one - but a doll and Kisame might've believed it at this moment.

In the bathroom, Kisame ran the bath and got Itachi cleaned up. The damage done to Itachi was immense - he might get infected. He had cuts and scrapes inside of him - he would definitely have trouble walking and even using the bathroom.

Itachi seemed unable to move any part of his body under Kisame's hands, which sought to clean up Itachi at every turn. When finished, he tried to bandage Itachi to the best of his ability and put a fluffy robe on Itachi.

By the time Kisame carried Itachi back, the mattress, sheets and blanket had all been replaced in the room. The smell of blood was gone as well. Kisame placed Itachi down on the soft mattress, and got on his knees on the floor.

"Itachi?"

No response.

"Please say something."

No response.

I'm sorry. But I can't say that. It's an insult to him.

"I'm going to remove the curse mark on your brother."

The mention of his brother had Itachi lift his eyes and gaze at Kisame. This was his first movement.

"I'm going to let him go, but you need to tell me where to take him so I can get there safely."

No response. But Itachi's eyes were still red. He was feeling strong emotion then, even if his body was unchanging and his face impassive.

"Okay well do you want me to bring him here before I remove the mark? Should I let him go and find his own way?"

No response.

"Okay I'm going to him now." Kisame sighed.

"No."

Kisame stopped in his tracks. "What?"

"You aren't going anywhere near him." Itachi's voice was like molten lava. If words could kill, these were it and they weren't even threatening words. It was the tone.

"I won't hurt him. I want to free him."

"Stay."

Kisame got back on his knees by the bed until he was eye level with Itachi.

"Okay."

No response. Itachi continued to stare at Kisame with his blood colored eyes.

"Itachi... I know you hate me."

No response.

"I know it won't mean much at this point..." Kisame watched Itachi, his eyes were displaying an emotion now. They said 'I'm going to kill you'. With a murderous, cold glare that made Kisame shiver. "It won't mean much but as of his moment I live for you."

"Then die." Itachi's words were like an avalanche, cold and falling down heavily on Kisame's shoulders.

Kisame shook. He was ready to. He would die. He deserved it.

"I know that's what you want." Kisame gulped. "And I'll do it. I was going to actually until Jared stopped me. I..." Kisame trailed off forcing himself to look into those cold sharingan eyes. "I know I have no right to ask for forgiveness, so I won't ask yet. I know I have no right to ask for chances, so I won't ask. I know everything I do will be unwelcome, but even so I need to do it. I will stay by your side and be what you would want me to be for just a short while. After that... When the time comes if you still just want me to die, I will gladly die for you."

Kisame couldn't believe how much things changed so quickly. How has he changed to the point that he was willing to die for another so quickly? When did he last feel guilt for his actions? Before Itachi, he never regretted his actions.

"We will go to Sasuke together." Itachi responded. "You will release him."

"Okay."

-.-.-

"Mangetsu, what are you doing here?" Kisame asked, a little surprised as he and Itachi walked towards the attic entrance, where Jared had informed them Sasuke was.

Itachi walked with a limp but still insisted on walking himself. His steps were slow and steady, each one obviously painful. He wore all black and several layers, in addition to a cloak so that if his wounds ripped open and he began bleeding it wouldn't be immediately visually noticeable.

"I came for Suigetsu... But he is tied up in some kid's arms. Thought I'd let him sleep."

"Tied up?" Itachi asked dangerously. His eyes had been red since the incident, not faltering in their color at all.

This guy looks like Suigetsu. Brothers?

"Such eyes..." Mangetsu noted, intrigued.

"What do you mean tied up?" Itachi asked again, his voice decreasing in volume dangerously.

"Go take a look." The boy shrugged.

-.-.-

Itachi sat down after seeing the image of his brother wrapped up in Suigetsu's arms on the floor, blissfully asleep. He didn't want to wake his brother, yet seeing him and Suigetsu like that evoked too many simultaneous emotions and he didn't know how to handle it.

Should he be angry with Suigetsu and stop it? Should he be happy for Sasuke and allow it? Was it an accident and meaningless? Itachi didn't know.

"Suigetsu." Kisame approached the sleeping figure and nudged him with his foot, causing him to jerk. The movement caused both Sasuke and Suigetsu to wake up simultaneously and realize their position.

There was a brief moment where their brains registered the situation. Another where they tore away and began mumbling things, both with red cheeks.

"Nii-san!" Sasuke ran towards Itachi, forgetting the situation and Suigetsu instantly on seeing his brother. Soon, Sasuke's arms were wrapped around Itachi, who smiled and ruffled Sasuke's hair. Even with Sasuke there, or perhaps more so because Sasuke was there, Itachi's eyes did not change back to their brown hue. They were crimson.

"Sasuke, Master Hoshigski is going to remove the curse mark on you and you can go home."

"Really?" Sasuke pulled away. "What about you?"

"I will stay here."

"No." Sasuke said with certainty.

"You will go home." Itachi said, his eyes swirled with three black swirls circling the center. "You have to."

"But-."

"No buts." Itachi sighed. "Please Sasuke, for me."

It was then that Sasuke realized what Itachi meant. His existence here was added stress.

"Nii-san..."

"When the time comes I'll see you again." Itachi met his forehead with Sasuke's. "Until then... I will always love you, Sasuke."

Sasuke bit his lip. Kisame watched the exchange with emotions stirring within him as well.

I should let Itachi leave... Go home with his brother. What I'm doing is wrong in every way.

Yet Kisame could not bring himself to go through with that action. Itachi was too great a treasure to give up. Kisame could not do it.

Suigetsu watched the exchange as well, although he made no obvious movement, his eyes glanced down momentarily in sadness. Was it sadness at seeing brothers separated, or sadness at being separated from Sasuke?

Kisame removed the seal on Sasuke as quickly as it had been placed. It took only moments, it required only Kisame's blood and words. The blood spread over the seal and then it was gone, sizzling off of Sasuke's skin.

"That was easy." Sasuke remarked.

Itachi was silent the entire time he had seen it happen.

Sasuke did not say anything, but his concern for his brother was over the roof. He had never seen his brother have eyes blaze red for so long, continuously. He knew it exhausted their kind for their eyes to remain red. Worse still, his brother looked lifeless, dead, and tired. Thinner than ever before, Sasuke could see his bones. The bags around his eyes were the deepest they had ever been. He seemed barely alive.

-.-.-

"Sasuke. Go home and tell everyone what happened. No matter what, don't ever come back here. I'll join you when it's time." Itachi said his final farewell as Sasuke stood outside the gates. Suigetsu offered to guard him until the area where Sasuke would have to continue on his own, where they originally slipped between their two worlds.

Sasuke had accepted, and Itachi had been glad. He didn't need Sasuke to get caught by any other slavers.

And that was it. Sasuke and Suigetsu left, leaving Itachi and Kisame alone.

As soon as Sasuke was out of sight, Itachi collapsed.

-.-.-

When Itachi came to, he was in Kisame's bed again. Kisame was sitting by the window and turned towards Itachi when he heard the rustling of the sheets.

"You're awake..." Kisame said, matter-of-factly.

"Yes." Itachi responded, his eyes glazed and still the color of blood.

"We need to talk about what happened."

"Why? There is no need. It is the past." Itachi responded dully, his emotions were completely gone. The lack of anything was jarring. Or maybe his emotions were still there judging by his eyes – but his expressions, his face, his lifeless voice suggested nothing at all.

Kisame wasn't entirely sure how to respond to it. "How can you just let it go like that?"

"It was necessary."

"How is it necessary?" Now Kisame was annoyed. There is no excuse for rape. How the hell can Itachi just let it go? He wanted Itachi to be mad. He wanted Itachi to attack him even, yell, anything. Why this? What happened to the fire in the young man's eyes? The fire that had threatened Kisame into buying his little brother?

"Because it made you guilty. Guilty enough to let my brother leave. If that's what it took to get him out of here it's an experience I would happily relive for all of eternity." The previously still and lifeless eyes seemed to come to life as he said these words with great resolve, the black spirals of his eyes spun again and momentarily were in a half shape before going back to their swirls and stilling as Itachi calmed down ever so slightly.

And now I know how to control you. Itachi thought. I will use your power and influence to help the Uchiha from afar. I will make the world a better place. I can do this now that I know how to control you. It doesn't matter what pain I must endure.

Kisame's throat went dry. Jared had been right - as long as Sasuke was here Itachi would always be stressed. He would never stop worrying about his brother. Even now, willing to experience hell for all of eternity just to save his brother? The agony of such loyalty twisted Kisame from the inside. Itachi was, without a doubt, a saint, a perfect being. And here was Kisame stumbling to do anything right, failing at every possible turn and making a fool of himself. Kisame was a monster. If Itachi was the light, Kisame was the dark. If Itachi was the fire, Kisame was the water. Kisame couldn't help but be filled with anguish as the realization hit him deeply. This was someone greater than himself. It was someone who deserved so much more than what Kisame could give.

"I'm ... I don't..." Kisame found he had difficulty breathing. He clutched his chest and left the room, he couldn't handle the sight of Itachi right now.

-.-.-

A/N: So what did you guys think? Comments? Suggestions? Death threats? Send em my way. Well okay just don't act on those death threats all right?

Thanks to elric0sis for editing this chapter! And HeavenOnFire for helping with some scenes :D You two are awesome. Thank you so much!

Also! I'm doing a holiday card/fic exchange where I will mail you a fic with your pairing/whatever you like! Go to my tumblr or DA or send me a PM for more information if you're interested .