Pein woke the next morning, rubbing his eyes, noticing how even minor movements like this caused him pain. It felt like he had been thrown against a brick wall, ripped in half, then hit by a double-decker bus!

He yawned and slowly sat up wincing as a sharp throbbing pain ran down his back; he would have to be careful. He scratched his chin, suddenly remembering that a certain Akatsuki member owed him a visit. A lovely smirk formed on his lips. Today wasn't going to be easy, in any sense, but he was sure as hell going to enjoy his time with that stuck up Uchiha. He'd make him learn.

He just couldn't wait!

Itachi glared at himself in the mirror, noticing how the marks on his face had become more defined over the past eight hours or so. He now had dark bags under his eyes from his fitful sleep.

The Uchiha had barely been able to sleep, being so frustrated with having to deal with Leader-sama. No matter how much he tried to calm himself down, he would just get ticked off at the thought of having to act as a nurse for the Akatsuki leader.

He glared at his reflection, quickly washing his face.

Why couldn't Konan do it? She seemed to know the most about the mysterious pierced man out of everyone.

Even so, it seemed there was no skipping out on his 'punishment', Pein wouldn't even reason with him. He would much rather have been flogged, beaten to a bloody pulp, tortured for hours, than made to serve his leader and bring him back to 100% health.

Most people would count themselves lucky, but Itachi preferred pain, at least then he might have enjoyed it.

He breathed a huge sigh, trying to regain his stoic composure before leaving for his obligatory meeting with Pein.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The moment Itachi stepped into Pein's room he knew he was in for it. Pein had a creepy smirk on his face, pain clear on his visage and sweaty brow.

Pein reprimanded him for being 'late', even though he never specified a time.

The Uchiha rolled his eyes at this, thinking Pein's eyes weren't on him.

"Don't give me that kind of look Uchiha… that kind of behavior can get you into trouble. A kind of trouble I don't think you want."

This was followed by a stifled laugh and a wince as Pein's hand went to his wound on his gut. Everything about the raven haired man in front of him was so amusing..and inticing…

"Help me up." He said bluntly, watching the Uchiha expectantly. Itachi scowled slightly.

"Help you up..?"He almost wanted to laugh. This was so pathetic.

An orange eyebrow rose in question. "I'm waiting."

A reluctant Itachi walked over to the side of his leader's bed holding out a hand plainly. It reminded him of the previous day when he had to carry his not so light leader.

Pain looked at it as if admiring the outstretched limb before looking back to Itachi's face. "I'm going to need a little more help than that."

Clearly annoyed, Itachi held out his other hand and Pain took them into his own.

Somehow in the process of helping Pein , Itachi's arms ended up around his leader, Pein's weight pressing him against the pale white wall, a cocky expression back on his face that was now a little too close to his.

"Guess you're stronger than you look." He whispered, arms trapping Itachi's firmly as the younger squirmed.

The raven gulped at the close proximity of their bodies, trying to pull away. Pein chuckled and let him go. "Run me a bath."

"ch…hell no." Itachi spat out at his leader before even thinking. Pein glared fiercely at Itachi, the rennegan catching Itachi's obsidian orbs in a silent challenge.

"What was that..?" Pein's voice suddenly sounded more threatening. Itachi wouldn't show it, but he was slightly afraid. Those mysterious eyes of his… the black and white rings around his pupils… they looked like a hypnotizing device, suckering him in.

"I…er…ok.." He turned and walked into the bathroom right next to the wall where he has just been pinned down. Itachi mentally cursed himself. He was an Uchiha, proud and strong!

But on the other half of things, this was the leader of Akatsuki, he could do whatever he wanted to Itachi and they both knew it.

Begrudgingly, he did as he was told. He bent over, twisting the crystal knob, glaring at it as if it was the one offending him.

He gasped, feeling a warm hand on his back and turned around.