Oh dear god… It really has been over a year, hasn't it? I'm a terrible person.

XXXXXX

Horror clouded the older Uchiha's mind as he took in the scene; Sasuke was covered in blood. But that wasn't all. Itachi allowed his eyes to roam across the corpse, slightly mangled by what appeared to be deep slashes, inflicted clearly with torturous intent. The raven wore a sickeningly mad smirk and there was only one word that could describe the look in his eyes... Bloodlust. "Sasuke!" He gasped the name once again, hoping it would snap the other out of the trance that he appeared to be in.

"Nii-san… It's over." The younger Uchiha faced his brother, then bent down to clean his blade on the sannin's clothed back. When he rose, he did so with long black hair clumped in one fist. Quickly, he did a few hand signs on the head and strode back over to the bed where his cloak still lay.

Itachi watched in silence as Sasuke placed the trophy into a silk bag that seemed to be meant for precisely that purpose. He seems so…unaffected. "Sasuke… Are you alright?"

The raven paused and stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "Of course. Let's go." He slipped the cloak around his shoulders and moved past the other to head briskly down the hall. I don't feel guilty… I think… I want more. Is this how he felt after the clan massacre? Perhaps I finally understand the look I saw in his eyes that night.

"Otouto…" The older Uchiha found himself jogging to catch up with Sasuke after a brief moment where he was frozen in thought. Is he putting up a mask because he feels guilt? Or could it be that his unaffected front is not truly a front? Itachi shuddered at his thoughts and knew it was best to keep them to himself; the time would come to question the raven. Now, they had to get out…

The pair continued along several hallways, all a blurred maze with how quickly they were moving. Sasuke couldn't help the feelings that were coursing through him, strengthening his confidence and resolve in what he had done. He deserved it; my peace is not unearned. Still… What he said before… No, he never had a heart; he couldn't have. Everything he has done proves the contrary. After what seemed like an eternity, the brothers burst into the pale moonlight. The raven felt Itachi's gaze burning into him, but refused to spare him a glance. He wants to know what I'm thinking… I can't tell him when I do not know.Without any further hesitation, the younger male leapt into the trees and began heading for Konoha.

Itachi followed immediately and tried to suppress the fear that continued to rise in the back of his mind. I know that he has killed before, most ninja have, but they were indifferent to him; just part of a mission or in the way… Revenge is something else entirely.

XXXXXX

Naruto sighed and rested his head on his arms; the four other nin in the room were still looking at him warily. Tsunade's visit to the holding cell had only spurred his unrest, and, since, his escape attempts had become increasingly violent. So far none had been successful, but the Jinchuuriki knew he was running out of time. They must be close to him by now… I have to stop them.

:You know what you have to do, kit… I can get away from them. They won't be able to chase after us when I am finished...:The Kyuubi's leering voice rose in the blonde's mind, making him flinch at the intensity of it.

I can't… Sure, you'll find him, but I know you; you'll take it too far and hurt him. Naruto growled under his breath, knowing the nine-tailed beast had a point… It was probably the only way he could get out in time to save the only person he had ever loved. And as much as I want him, I can't let you destroy everyone else.

:I wouldn't destroy them, per se... I could merely incapacitate them if you are enough of an idiot to not take the opportunity to reap your revenge.:

The blonde scoffed out loud, earning him a strange look from his captors. Revenge is what started this whole fucked up mess in the first place; I don't think we need any more. Naruto worried his bottom lip between his teeth as he thought briefly about the consequences of what he was about to do. Hopefully it will be worth it... I have to see him at least one last time.

The Kyuubi's delighted chuckle rang through Naruto's head, making him wonder if it was possible for the sound to actually come out of his ears. :I knew you'd come around. Our pretty little raven has always come first.:

The blonde's eyes hazed over as he remembered the last time he had seen Sasuke… He was so cold, so distant… But he was perfect. Naruto knew the beast was right. He couldn't let that beauty be taken away, even if it no longer existed for him. You're right. Now let's get this over with… Just don't kill them.

XXXXXX

What is he thinking? He hasn't said a word since we left the lair… I never should have let him kill the snake; if I had arrived just seconds earlier, I could have done it myself. Itachi had been observing Sasuke's every move with an uncanny amount of intensity, and not a single splinter of emotion had crossed his features.

The raven pushed down the guilt that was rising in his chest; Itachi's focus was devoted entirely to him. He wants me to assuage him so desperately... But I can't. I don't know if I'm okay or not, I don't know how I feel about what happened... I won't lie to him again. Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he noticed a group of nin off to the east. I think Itachi is too distracted to know they are there... I'll take care of it.

The older Uchiha blinked with a sigh, trying to resign himself to the fact that his Otouto would tell him when he was ready and not a second before. When he looked forward again, though, the raven was gone. Wait, where? When did he...? Itachi felt an insane amount of fear overtake him as he began scanning the area for his love's chakra signature and found him almost instantly. He seems to be in combat...The thought followed a second after his action; he rushed through the trees to a clearing where Sasuke was taking on five ninja. Correction, he was taking them down.

Itachi watched, dumbstruck, as his brother grabbed two nin, a face in each hand, and forced the blue lightning of the Chidori into them until each head fried and broke apart from the impact. He then advanced upon another, drawing his katana as he went. After imbuing lightning into the blade, he sliced across the man, leaving a long diagonal slash in his wake for only an instant before the remaining parts of the nin fell to the ground.

Although Itachi was fully aware that he should do something to stop Sasuke's mad advances, he found that he couldn't move. He was frozen in place, crippled by a feeling that he hadn't felt in a long time... Fear. He was terrified by the hideous amount of blood that littered the clearing. It took him back to that night, now so long ago, when he had killed every one of his friends and family except Sasuke. Suddenly he wondered how he had lived with himself, how what he did that night no longer affected him. I killed them for Otouto, not myself... I wanted him so desperately that I would do anything to keep him within my reach, even if I could never grasp him.

When the older Uchiha returned from his thoughts, he was greeted with the gorey sight of the last two nin being literally torn apart as multiple snakes coiled together and ripped their way out through each man's chest. Itachi shivered as their screams subsided; the clearing was now dead silent. After surveying the damage, his gaze landed somewhat reluctantly on its source.

The raven let the mad grin fall from his face. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was glad Itachi hadn't seen him wearing it. I'm sure I could convince him that they were a threat... That's what he wants to believe. But there would always be a part of him that didn't quite accept my explanation, and it would only grow until it ruined us both. Sasuke blinked slowly as he turned to face his brother. The older Uchiha's look of undisguised horror and despair caught him off guard. But how else would he react? I just slaughtered five men without thinking twice about why they were here or what their intentions were.

Itachi flinched when the raven's sharingan gaze met his. Although his face was stoic, Sasuke's eyes were alive. They burned with an intensity that the older Uchiha had only seen in his love when in the throes of passion. He's really given in to it... I won't let him surrender and ruin all that we've worked for.Itachi's expression hardened with his renewed sense of purpose. "What the fuck was that, Sasuke?"

The venom dripping from his brother's voice made Sasuke's chest tighten in discomfort. In all his life he had never heard Itachi sound so furious, least of all with him. Before he could begin to compose a response, the older Uchiha was upon him, violently forcing his back against a tree as a forearm crashed against his throat.

"Answer me." Itachi's eyes bled red, the sharingan intensifying his focus on his otouto's expressions. At least he seems surprised... That's the most real emotion I've seen him have all day.

"I..." The raven's gaze returned to normal and he looked away, unable to face the inevitable disappointment of his brother. Obviously he came back from this... Even after killing the clan, he still cared about me, about our future... "What do you want me to say?" I think in a way I've hurt him more than I'll ever know; I alone was enough to bring him back, and if he can't do the same for me...Sasuke's suspicions were confirmed when he made himself face Itachi.

His eyes were filled with despair for only an instant before he turned away and let Sasuke slump against the tree. He doesn't regret it... He won't even pretend to. After a long silence, the older Uchiha steeled himself and spoke. "I never should have let you kill him." Killing the snake has poisoned him... And it's my fault. I've ruined him... I've killed a part of him that can never come back.

"Nii-san... It isn't your fault." He moved to try and comfort the other, but stopped short of touching him. Maybe he...doesn't want me anymore. Sasuke felt cold ripples of fear wash through him. Maybe I'm broken now... Is that what he's trying to say? Why would anyone want something that's broken? Especially if he thinks it's his fault... I would only be a reminder of a mistake.

But it is... "I could have stopped you both times. But I didn't..." Itachi turned to confront the other Uchiha. "They were from Ishigakure, Sasuke. They were just passing through; they probably didn't even know who we were, let alone that we were there!" I should have done something. I should have been paying attention to what was happening to him, to what he was doing..."If you were worried that they would see us, why didn't you just use a genjutsu? You didn't have to..." He glanced at the bloody remains in the clearing and looked away.

The raven blinked and shifted his gaze to the ground. "It was my first instinct to attack... And even when I knew they hadn't stood a chance, I... I knew it was easier to just...kill them." Even as Sasuke voiced his thoughts he realized that there was a crucial flaw in his logic. I thought I gave it a sufficient amount of reasoning, but... If that's what I came up with...

The brothers were startled out of their mutual discomfort by the sound of clapping. "Well done, Sasuke... I think you're finally living up to your full potential."

Itachi was immediately overcome with hatred as he glared at the intruder. How can he possibly have the audacity to interrupt at a time like this?"Madara... What do you want?"

"Oh, not much..." The masked man strolled around the clearing surveying the damage. "I just wanted to congratulate dear Sasuke on his newly awakened bloodlust... It'll make it much easier for Akatsuki to cash in on the favors he owes us."

Jesus, I can actually feel his smirk polluting the air around us. Maybe I shouldn't have been so eager to get Pein on my side by making promises I can't keep...

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Itachi's hate immediately turned to wariness. He has to be bluffing... He's coming in at a time of contention in hopes that I'll doubt Sasuke and inadvertently alienate him further.

Madara grinned and attempted to move closer to the raven. The older Uchiha blocked his path. "Would you care to explain, Sasuke, or shall I?"

Itachi furrowed his brow in confusion. There can't be something to his bullshit... His heart sank as he turned to look at his brother. The raven's eyes were on the ground, avidly avoiding contact with Itachi's. "Sasuke...?"

How can I even begin to explain? The terms were so harsh that I can't even rationalize them now... Not after everything that's happened between us. "Itachi... I..." He found himself completely incapable of confessing his guilt. It was fine when it was strictly personal sacrifice, but I didn't count on falling so hard for him.

FLASHBACK

"You want me to promise that not only will I avoid attacking Konoha, but that I will take absolutely no action that could possibly lead to another Great Ninja War?" Pein drawled the sentence lazily, attempting to hide his extreme interest in what the young Uchiha was proposing. I never would have guessed that Itachi's restlessness would have led to such a...lovely turn of events.

Sasuke could feel the Akatsuki leader's lust-filled gaze travelling up and down his form. I can't let him get to me... I have to do whatever it takes to avoid another war and get Itachi released from the organization."Yes. You will also terminate Itachi's membership in Akatsuki and swear an official oath. You will be bound with a curse that activates if you break any of the terms of our agreement."

While his terms are a bit extreme, I'm inclined to accept... I bet I could get practically anything in return. With that idea, he suppressed a groan and stood. "I think I could agree to your terms..." Pein walked around the desk between them, a predatory grin in place. "Of course, you'd have to agree to mine." He reached out and let his fingertips slide across the raven's cheek before trailing them down his neck and over his shoulder.

The young Uchiha suppressed a shiver and swallowed hard. "And what might they be?" He stiffened as Pein's fingers brushed over the curse seal and lingered there. Fuck... He definitely knows my weaknesses.

"You will be mine, in every sense of the word." The Akatsuki leader leaned toward the raven and inhaled his scent. "You will fight for me, you will kill for me, and you will serve me in any capacity that I require."

Sasuke's heart rate increased rapidly as Pein relayed his terms. "For how long?"

That's the best part..."For as long as you want me to honor our agreement." He began rubbing small circles over the curse seal. "I have a feeling I'll need lots of supervision."

The raven moaned softly, finally giving in to the hypnotizing sensation. What do I have to lose? It's not like Itachi's feelings for me are anything but fucked up. "Fine."

END FLASHBACK

"I'm sorry, Itachi... I made a deal." I thought he would get his fill of me and then be gone again... But then he wasn't. Everything was so perfect that I had almost succeeded in forgetting about Pein completely. Sasuke continued to stare at the ground, hoping desperately that it might randomly swallow him whole.

He...what? "What do you mean you 'made a deal'?" Itachi tried to prevent the anxiety from showing on his face. I was getting through to him... Everything was going to be okay...

"Well I think I'll leave you two to discuss the details..." Madara shot a look of triumph toward the older Uchiha before casting a long sideways glance at his brother. "I'll see you at the lair, Sasuke... You are to return as soon as possible."

Sasuke didn't acknowledge Madara's order. He already has me feeling more trapped than I did with Orochimaru... At least there I had a fair amount of leverage. But with Akatsuki... They won't be lenient in any sense of the word. Finally, he forced himself to look into his brother's eyes; he say only confusion and the pain of betrayal. The raven literally flinched at the sight. "I'm so sorry, Nii-san..."

Why would he do something like that? Why would he trust them? Was I really so overbearing that he felt as if he needed some sort of way out? The older Uchiha was mildly relieved to see that Sasuke seemed to be genuinely distressed by his reaction. At least there's hope for us on that front...

When Itachi didn't speak, Sasuke assumed he was waiting for him to explain. I don't even know where to begin... He decided that he might as well just start talking. "When you took me from Sound, I wasn't sure what your motives were... When we got to Akatsuki, I decided to try and secure my future so that if you, uh, weren't planning on keeping me around, I wouldn't be left without any direction."

Itachi's gaze snapped up from the ground when his brother was finished. So that if I wasn't planning on keeping him around? Why would he... He realized that, especially in the beginning, he wasn't terribly clear about his intentions other than that he was going to fuck the boy. God, at first it was just so nice to be around him again that I didn't think twice about the way I was acting."Otouto..."

The raven expected an angry confrontation, and could only blink, confused, as he was pulled into a hug. "Aniki...?" Sasuke leaned into Itachi's shoulder and revelled in the warmth, both physical and emotional.

"It's going to be okay. Whatever you agreed to, we'll find a way around it. We haven't been thrown together so many times to be torn apart now, when things are finally on the brink of perfect." I won't lose him again... I don't care what I have to do.

XXXXXX

Yay! I FINALLY updated! I'm not going to promise to update soon because obviously I can't keep my word... Maybe without any personal pressure whatsoever I'll post again faster.

Thanks so much for anyone who is actually still following this story! I appreciate it so much :)

Much love,
Viotox