My Pain is Yours

Chapter 21: The Two-Tailed Cat

Poking her head innocuously into Itachi's room, Shinsei called his name without hesitation, sticking one foot through the door. "Itachi? Are you in here?" The lights were off and she frowned, certain that she had seen him walk into his room earlier that morning. Everything was so dark and her frown deepened, peering into the ebony abyss.

That's when she heard the shuffling of sheets coming from the bed.

"Itachi?"

A groan answered her and she was drawn into the room by her curiosity. She slowly closed the door, latching it shut, and felt her way around the blackness until she located Itachi, who was lying in bed, eyebrows knitted together as if he were having a nightmare. Shinsei sucked in a deep breath, noticing how suffocating the humidity of the air was, reaching down to shake Itachi's shoulder roughly, hoping to wake him up.

His eyelids flickered open, jarred from his sleep.

"Itachi? Itachi are you okay?" Shinsei asked concernedly as he sat up, holding his head.

It was difficult to see in the darkness, but she could easily perceive his concise gasps as he clutched his chest with one hand, excruciating head with the other. Shinsei slid onto his bed beside him, holding her hand shakily against his forehead; his head was pouring with sweat.

"I'm okay," Itachi barely managed to murmur, obsidian orbs glossy.

Shinsei swallowed hard. "You're lying. What's really going on?" Her reddened bangs fell precariously over her glistening eyes, arms clamped around his, hugging him to her chest. She didn't know what was going on, but she could feel that it wasn't good. Her tone heightened, gaining a shrill edge. "Itachi, talk to me."

The Uchiha hesitated. "I'm…thinking about letting Sasuke kill me for revenge."

Shinsei's blood ran deathly cold and she shot off the bed, back slamming against the wall as her sapphire jewels flooded with tears, head shaking spastically.

"You can't do that," her voice started as a whisper, loudening into a hysterical, piercing scream. "I won't let you do that!"

Tears burst from her eyes, heart shattering. He did not just say that to her, he couldn't have, but his words echoed throughout her mind like a reverberating gong. "I'm…thinking about letting Sasuke kill me for revenge." His toneless voice, his expressionless face was all she could see and hear as she pinched her eyes shut, collapsing on her knees.

Helplessness bore down on her, knowing that she couldn't make him do what she wanted, but she would try to dissuade him from his suicidal decision. Her eyes blurred amid anger and agony, frustrated sobs catching hold in her throat and choking her as she spluttered, wobbling back onto her legs. No, she would dissuade him.

"I won't let you!" she repeated, hands quivering into clenched fists. "I won't!"

Moving swiftly from his bed, Itachi appeared in front of Shinsei, seizing her wrists and holding her firmly. "It's my decision, Shinsei. You don't need to be so upsetted by it; besides, I don't have much longer anyway." His eyes flashed sadly and he closed them, disallowing Shinsei entrance into his mind. Even so, she refused to hear of it.

"No!" Shinsei shook her wrists angrily, rivulets staining her flushed cheeks. "Hell no!"

Itachi coldly interrupted her, tenor lowering to a monotone. "It's my choice."

Thrashing her head from side to side, Shinsei threw her face into his shoulder, trembling and weeping. He stole a sharp intake of breath, grip on Shinsei's wrists loosening, liberating her from his crushing grasp, her hands flying to his chest to grab fistfuls of the fabric, eyes red and swollen from crying. She held tight to him, shaking. Itachi was rendered speechless.

From his chest, Itachi heard Shinsei manage a muffled sob, before choking out, "You can't die, Itachi. I love you; I love you too much…I can't…I can't lose you!" She twisted her head harder into him and it felt like a dagger was being wrenched around in his heart. Itachi's onyx orbs darkened, an arm closing around Shinsei's back, the other following, hugging her close.

He lowered his head slightly to whisper in her ear. "Fine. Just for you, I won't."

She tensed against him, body pushing closer. Her sobs stopped after another minute or so, and Itachi heard her voice, small and afraid. "I-Itachi? I'm scared. I don't want you to die; I don't want to lose you!" She clutched his cloak tighter, pulling at it. "I want you to be mine, I want to be yours…Itachi, I want your pain to be mine, and…and…I want my pain to be yours!"

Hearing that made Itachi go rigid and he buried his face in her fiery red hair, kissing the top of her head. "If that is what you really want, so be it. I will be yours if you shall be mine; your pain will be mine if my pain shall be yours." Shinsei silently absorbed his words, jerking her head up to look at him, her eyes alight with hope in the dark oblivion. She could see a gentle sliver of light catch in his ebony orbs as he murmured, "My pain is yours."

The way he spoke that one line was equal to saying, "I love you."

Eyes brimming, Shinsei threw her arms around Itachi's neck, lips plummeting onto his as she tackled him onto his back, into his bed, smothering him in kisses. He had no idea how badly she needed him, how much she dreamt of being his forever; her breath was hot and heavy on his face, chest heaving as he rolled her onto her back, kissing her nose delicately.

Not a single word was exchanged between the two of them.

Pressing his lips to hers again, Itachi allowed his hand to drift down to her shirt, unbuttoning each of the buttons that came undone easily without the slightest of tugs. Shinsei gasped into his lips as a spell of cold air swept up her front, making her chest swell amid a hitched breath. Itachi swept his hand farther south, unbuttoning the button on her shorts and pulling the zipper down. Whatever she was willing to lose was up to her.

"Itachi?" she whispered his name shakily, body aching with eagerness.

He silenced her with a kiss, her arms locking tightly around his neck. Itachi kissed Shinsei passionately with unrivaled vigor, his lips moving around her face, drawing wet kisses to her ear where he nibbled on her earlobe. She gasped at the tingling sensation, hands reaching behind Itachi to run her fingers through his long, silky black hair. He groaned into her ear as her fingers stroked his neck, his length hardening as she moved her body against his.

Laying Shinsei gently on her back, Itachi kissed down her neck, nipping and suckling, his tongue exploring the sweet-tasting hollow of her throat. He heard her breaths coming in raspy pants, unaware of his own perspiring state. He kissed lower, Shinsei's stomach knotting with anticipation as he brushed the collar of her shirt aside with his nose.

She was breathtaking.

Her perfectly rounded, ample breasts swelled within the confinements of her bra as Itachi's wet lips dipped lower, unafraid to explore. Her hands climbed farther up into his hair, tangling themselves in his mellifluous locks, removing the ponytail holding them in check so that they fluttered down his back. She stroked his hair fervently a small moan escaping her lips, almost a whimper, as he reached around her back to unhitch her bra.

A sweat broke, sliding down her cheek when he was successful.

Working his lips down upon where her beating heart lay pounding against it's imprisonment, Itachi kissed her cleavage line, getting her as worked up as he possibly could; her body felt so warm beneath his, and he felt her spasm as he prolonged the moment; she was just as wanting, just as lustful as he was. He heard her whimper and stopped.

"Please," she begged, voice thin, "please."

Hearing her plead made him content and he did as she desired, removing the troublesome bra without another hint of hesitation, peeling it off and making Shinsei's stomach do flips inside of her, threatening to make her puke, although she did not; rather, she lurched forward as soon as her skin came in contact with the cool air, nipples hardening. Her arms flew around Itachi's neck, pulling the upper half of her body against his, pushing her breasts into his chest.

It was at this moment that she realized he wasn't wearing a shirt either.

Her face flushed even redder, blood rushing to it as Itachi gently pushed her back down.

One of his hands came down upon her breast, kneading it gently as he lowered his lips to her ear to whisper, "Don't be so shy; I promise not to do anything that you won't like." He kissed her parted lips, continuing to fondle her breast, opposite hand seeking the other as he stroked her firm, round tip, finger pressing into her nipple so that she caught her breath.

"Itachi…!" Her eyes snapped open even wider as his finger was replaced by his tongue.

Sensations seduced Shinsei into a hopeless oblivion of dizziness as Itachi began to suckle, sucking hard on her nipple. His warm mouth drew it in and out, moving it around with his tongue in a circular pattern, causing her to cry out his name amid the tingles stirred up from the center of her body, pulsating out to every limb, to every organ, to shake and mesmerize her. She begged Itachi to continue, bucking her hips against his.

He continued sucking, her breath becoming shallower, as both of his hands strayed to her rear, cupping it and feeling it, then lifting her thighs up against his stomach, her ankles clasping around his waist. He suckled harder, tongue pushing her tight nipple around faster, driving mercilessly into her breast. A moan burst from her throat, sensations building up within her coiling stomach as his hands reached back up to continue playing with her heaving breasts. Oh God, she couldn't deny how badly she had wanted to be with him like this.

When Itachi switched breasts, she doubted she could handle much more.

But it felt so good; how could she deny him? His lips trapped her other nipple, while the opposite stiffened even more so as a whisper of cold air brushed over it, causing her entire body to go rigid from the inside out; he quickly covered up her breast with his hand though, returning to fondling it. She relaxed again, though was quickly alerted as the composed Uchiha chose his new target. Itachi smiled, opening his mouth slightly, tongue teasing her nipple, lips nipping at it. Shinsei wiggled beneath him, ankles hooking tighter together.

"You're…so unfair…!" she groaned, tossing her head back. "Stop…teasing me…!"

Licking at her nipple again, Itachi sighed, his breath causing it to go completely rigid, Shinsei spasming. Her hips collided roughly with his and he chuckled, mouth closing over her tight peak as he took her nipple in his mouth, suckling hungrily. Her eyelids fluttered; the sensations were overwhelming, absolutely mind-numbing…she couldn't take it.

"Itachi," she managed, eyelids heavy with fatigue, "c-can we stop now?"

She could tell, even in the darkness, that he was giving her an incredulous look with his raised eyebrows. Her voice dipped to a hoarse whisper and she compulsorily croaked out, "I-I don't know if I can…if I can keep going…I need to…stop." Itachi listened carefully to her words, understanding that she was young; her hormones were just starting to kick in.

Though his member ached with unachieved satisfaction, he drew himself up from her slightly trembling frame and stood, waiting at the door for her to join him. She was confused, wondering why he didn't remain in the bed with her; a couple possibilities passed through her mind, but none that she was willing to accept.

So, she came out and asked him. "W-why are you over there?"

The Uchiha chuckled darkly, yet good-humoredly. "If I were to stay, you wouldn't be a virgin."

Both flattered and restless by his comment, Shinsei didn't speak a word.


"Keep up you two!" Kakuzu ordered hoarsely to Hidan and Aiko, following him.

Panting out another breath, Aiko extended her long legs and took a lunge forward, joining Kakuzu in front, mind throbbing. They were in pursuit of the Two-Tailed Cat demon's Jinchuriki; agonizingly close to capturing her. Kakuzu swung his heavy briefcase back and forth as he ran and Aiko hopped away from him a little to give him a wider berth to avoid getting her hip pummeled by it. Hidan struggled to keep up with them.

"Kakuzu you bastard!" Hidan growled. "Slow down!"

Ignoring Hidan as always, Kakuzu only went faster, irking the Jashinist to no end. Aiko couldn't deny the smile embellishing her lips as Hidan yelled about what an asshole Kakuzu was, and a filthy money-whore to boot. She was amused by the fact that Kakuzu couldn't turn around and retort; one, because they had to keep following the Jinchuriki, and two, because the poor man was running low on oxygen himself.

"Just shut up," Kakuzu wheezed, eyes glinting. "Or I'll kill you."

"Look," Aiko interrupted, pointing ahead of them. "We're coming to a dead end."

Kakuzu simpered beneath his mask. "Thank God…"

"You mean 'thank Jashin-sama', bastard," Hidan sneered, enthused by the fact that soon they would get to stop running. He reached behind himself for the hilt of his scythe, drawing it out and hurling it into the opening they were entering.

The trio stopped upon coming to the dead end Aiko had anticipated.

Their objective dithered in front of them, trapped with nowhere to escape.

Chasing each of her ragged breaths, the Two-Tailed Jinchuriki Ni'i Yugito struggled to keep oxygen pumping through her body, cat-like eyes narrowing at the crimson-clouded cloak-bearers standing fearlessly before her. Her obsidian jewels flashed warningly, pupils dilating in the absence of the light; just like a cats. A low hiss slipped past her grimacing lips.

"So you are from the Akatsuki, eh?" Yugito growled, readying herself in a fighting stance.

Hidan grinned. "Why don't you just give up, eh?" He pulled out his rosary.

Watching Yugito fixedly, Aiko was slightly intimidated by the female's unforgiving glower, but didn't give in; rather, it fueled her adrenalin, giving birth to quick bursts of chakra that flooded her veins, inciting excitement for the impending battle. She stiffened beside Hidan.

"You know," the Jashinist muttered, "this whole not-killing thing really doesn't fit with my religion."

Kakuzu rolled his jaded eyes. "I've heard that one time and time again."

Giving his shoulders a shrug, Hidan stated, "I know I may not seem like it, but I'm a pretty pious man!" He smirked, lavender eyes dancing. "Total slaughter is the motto of the Church of Jashin; I can't just leave you alive otherwise I'll be breaking a commandment." His smirk widened into a cruel leer. "You're going to die anyway, so just give up, would you?"

Yugito's eyes flamed. "Just give up?" Her pitch sharpened. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Aiko smiled, shaking her head. "You've got quite a way with words, Hidan."

The Jashinist chuckled at this, not that Kakuzu was finding it the least bit amusing. Both of them suddenly snapped to attention, however, as Yugito handed her body over to her spirit, chakra flames exploding around her in an azure frenzy. Hidan grimaced. "Great, she's handing her body over to the tailed beast so soon…aw, damn it!"

Narrowing her hazel eyes, Aiko squinted as a burst of light enveloped Yugito, drowning out all that was left of her presence as she herself became the two tailed cat, eyes glowing ferociously. Aiko bit back on her lip, preparing to dodge as one of the two tails went swinging, coming dangerously close to striking her.

She leapt out of harm's way without a moment to spare.

However, she had distanced herself from her comrades.

Hidan glanced around for Aiko, eyebrows knitted together. "Aiko!" He tossed his gaze over to where she stood; she nodded to him as if to say that she was fine. Aiko's eyes then flickered back to the Biju, which was preparing to slam its tail upon Hidan. Her heart tripped over itself.

Aiko shouted his name as loudly as she could. "Hidan!"

Seeing the incoming attack, the silver-haired man leapt out of the way, darting to Aiko's side instantly, Kakuzu on the other side of them, ready to attack. Aiko and Hidan readied themselves, the kunoichi blinking back her surprise as the Nibi summoned a ball of swirling chakra that it launched from its mouth; it was aimed directly at Aiko and Hidan.

Before Aiko could respond, Hidan grabbed her waist and pulled her behind a rock with him to keep them from becoming obliterated by the formidable jutsu. Aiko hid her face in his chest as the smoke lingering from the attack billowed around them. She lifted her head when he chuckled, the sound a deep rumble in the hollow of his throat. "And I thought cat tongues couldn't tolerate heat, eh? I guess that makes us trapped mice then." His eyes flashed, smirk undaunted by the Jinchuriki's terrible potency. "What a joke…"


"It's been thirty minutes; are you done yet, Hidan?"

"I'm showing Aiko how to do the prayers, so shut up Kakuzu!"

Exhausted, Aiko absorbed all the information she could about Jashinists that she was going to need as Hidan displayed the proper way to end a successful battle, which culminated in stabbing oneself repeatedly within the circle of Jashin while repeating the prayers for half an hour. Aiko watched, attention rapt, although her gaze wandered over to the twitching Yugito.

Miraculously, they had managed to subdue her.

"So," Kakuzu asked snidely, "why does Aiko need to know how to do this?"

Hidan rolled his eyes from his spot on the ground. "None of your business!"

"Whatever, you two stay here; I'll be right back," Kakuzu lethargically announced.

Stare locked on Hidan, Aiko remembered the first time he performed his ritual and how she mistook that he was dying and needed assistance. She managed a small smile as Hidan sat up after explaining in a matter-of-factly manner how to perform the ritual once more. "All right, I think I've got it down; now let me heal those wounds of yours, okay?"

Hidan grinned as Aiko crouched beside him, activating her Mystical Palms Healing Technique. A blue glow emitted around her hands as she concentrated, removing the weapon impaled in his chest painlessly. Hidan watched her with fascination, lifting a finger to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek, allowing his hand to drop down to her neck; his touch tickled and she lost control of the jutsu due to the inconsolable distraction.

"Hidan!" she scolded, flushing. "I can't heal you if you're distracting me."

He chuckled, leaning his face closer to hers. "Am I really that much of a distraction?"

She slapped him a reproachful look and he sighed, backing away and cracking his neck from side to side. Aiko then became aware of her fluttering heartbeat, which made her blush all the more. It was so hard to concentrate with Hidan around; his mere presence was intoxicating. The brunette sighed listlessly. She would have to learn to concentrate around him somehow.

That only became more of a problem when he shoved his bloodied spear in her face.

She looked up, eyebrow cocked inquisitively.

"And what do you want me to do with this?" Aiko asked, taking it from him.

He crouched beside her, trapping her back between his knees and placing the dripping spear in front of her chest, murmuring with the slightest hint of sadistic delight creeping into his voice, "You have to lick it; in order to become a Jashinist you have to consume a Jashinist's blood." He noticed her incredulous expression and added, "Seriously."

Hesitating, Aiko opened her mouth then closed it uncertainly. Was Hidan just kidding around? She couldn't really tell; her mind became more clouded, however, as he pressed into her, breath growing heavier on her neck. Her senses prickled and Aiko swallowed hard, mouth dry. She reluctantly stuck out her tongue, taking the spear in her hands and licking the bloodied tip, the warm liquid searing into her tongue.

"Very good," Hidan smirked.

The bitter taste made Aiko shudder at first, but then she grew accustomed to it.

She enjoyed it.

Licking her lips, Aiko felt the after-taste settle; it was salty, bitter, but oddly satisfying. Perhaps it was because Jashinist's, especially Hidan, tended to lose a lot of blood during battle. She ran her tongue over the spear again, lapping up the blood so that her tongue was stained crimson with Hidan's blood. The Jashinist raised his eyebrows.

"Yeesh, you don't have to consume it all," Hidan kissed her cheek, arms wrapping around her waist as he nuzzled his nose against her skin, inhaling her sweet scent. "Really, you don't."

Aiko's breath hitched as Hidan breathed steadily against her neck, hands playing across her stomach. Little butterflies danced within her and she swallowed hard as his lips pressed against the back of her neck, provoking lust to stir within her core. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek, eyelids wavering hesitantly. Hidan smirked against her skin.

Just as Hidan's hands were beginning to explore further, however, Kakuzu returned.

"What in the name of hell are the two of you doing?"

Startled, Aiko flinched, spinning around only to fall on top of Hidan, who couldn't have been more pleased with the situation. Aiko rapidly jumped to her feet, getting off him without a second thought, her cheeks burning. Kakuzu's face contorted to display his repugnance.

"Sick, that's what you are," Kakuzu muttered, eyes trailing accusingly to Hidan.

The Jashinist faked innocence. "Hey, she's the one who was trying to straddle me."

Aiko's jaw squared into a grimace. "What?"

Not in the mood to permit their arguing, Kakuzu hastily interrupted, "Well that's enough of that," he cleared his throat as Aiko frowned at Hidan, "moving on; I spoke with Zetsu. He's coming to take the Jinchuriki's body to Leader-sama for safe-keeping until it will be necessary to use it during the sealing; as for us, we are moving on to our next target."

"What?" Hidan griped. "Already?" Fu-uck you Kakuzu…I wanted time with Aiko, damn it!

"Yes," Kakuzu continued stiffly. "We're moving on to Konoha to hunt down Chiriku."

Aiko sighed inwardly; they were being hammered with assignments. Being in the Akatsuki was harder than she had anticipated, but she wasn't complaining; she would have plenty of time for Hidan later. As she gathered herself up, however, she noticed Hidan gazing at her with a smirk as if to say, Even Kakuzu won't be able to stop us when we finally get to a hotel.

The kunoichi quivered with excitement and returned his smirk with one of her own.

Damn right.


Author's Note: Yay! I am quite satisfied with this chapter…I liked it much better than my last one! :P Darn, I've written thirty-one pages of stories today…that's a lot for one little me…twenty-four pages for A Detonating Dance (which is coming to an end, sadly TT-TT) and then seven pages for My Pain is Yours.

Is it just me, or are my hands falling off? XD!

Thank you so much for reading and I want to send out thanks to my absolutely wonderful reviewers, cheeky half-demon, yoyshaia-chan, and I'll Save Myself. Again, I send out thank you's and hugs to you, my reviewers, who help me write these stories and give me the vigor to continue writing them.

-Aiko of the Akatsuki