Chapter 6: Mess

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Sorry it took so long, I wanted to finish 2:44am first. It's done now!

Warning: Contains YAOI in this chapter

His mother had left him a mess, one that would need to be taken care of carefully. He didn't leave Sasuke's room until he was sure that the boy had finally fallen asleep. He had scratches all over his arms, and Itachi wiped them down with a warm cloth before closing the door behind him. Still, in armor, he walked back to Orochimaru's room. Opening the door, the fireplace continuously roared as the mess in the corner never changed. He sneered at the bloodied sheets before he walked over to them. Blood had seeped deeply into the carpet, but Itachi was thankful for the almost similar colors of the fibers. He kicked the bloodied sheets in anger, and a hand thudded by his foot, unmoving.

"Sick bastard, I told you your greed would be the end of you," He whispered to the corpse. It had been long in the past that Itachi had met with the man named Orochimaru. They fought against each other many years ago, the battle had lasted a week and in the end, it drove Orochimaru and his tribe into the mountains. Many of the tribe's people died of the cold weather, starvation and disease. Orochimaru's own son was among the casualties, and the snake man had sworn vengeance ever since. It was the snake's greed that made him guide his people to their deaths, but he was blind to anything else.

Shaking from his memories, Itachi looked between the fireplace and the body. He smirked and grabbed the edges of the blankets, starting to pull. Itachi wiped the sweat from his brow as he made his way back to Sasuke's room. He shut and locked Orochimaru's door, threw some logs on the fire and sealed the fireplace shut quickly. Even the prince couldn't help but grimace at the smell as he cleaned up his mess. The body would need several hours to burn, but the smell would be trapped behind the iron gate Itachi had thrown in front of the blazing hearth. His boots made sounds on the marble as he headed back toward Sasuke's would have plenty of explaining to do tomorrow to his mother, but for now, it was about his little brother, not quietly opened his brother's bedroom door, moving toward the bed. Sasuke was right where he left him, and now curled into a ball. Stripping off his armor, Itachi folded his clothes and left his boots by a chair. He lifted up the sheets and shamelessly crawled inside with his brother. He molded himself against Sasuke's back, warming him instantly. He wrapped his arms around his brother's waist, burying his face into the boy's neck and closing his eyes. Anything bad that had happened that night could wait until tomorrow, all he wanted to do was hold the one he loved tonight.

Queen Mikoto sat at her large desk in front of her favorite viewing window. It was early morning, and the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. She calmly sent to her drink, letting her long raven hair falling across her back. She was wearing a light dress, blue with her legs crossed on top of each other. The ornate tea set sat in front of her, beautiful and design and made of the finest bone China. She sipped again in her drink but stopped when she heard stomping. She lowered her cup and raised her eyebrow at her door. The stomping got louder and drew closer, resonating harshly off the hallway walls. Not a moment later she sat down her teacup; the doors burst open. She was not surprised in the least to see her oldest son glaring at her from the doorway. She calmly set her cup all the way down onto its platter. She leaned back in her chair casually as if nothing was wrong.

"Itachi, what a surprise. To what do I owe this early visit?" She inquired, with a tilt of the head. Unexpectedly, Itachi surged forward without so much as a greeting. He was wearing his armor was now gleaming in the early sunlight. She remained calm. However, even as her son approached her swiftly and menacingly. With a sweep of his arm, he covered the length of her desk sending papers, books, and her favorite tea set crashing to the floor. The noise was loud and aggravating, but she sat there calmly, staring at her son. Itachi's face was full of rage even as the last bits of tea leaked out onto her floor. He was breathing harshly, almost as if he ran all the way to her study. She raised her chin a bit as she stared at the mess he made.

"Dear me, such temper," She mentioned, tapping her lower lip with an index finger. Itachi, however, did not come for small talk.

"You're a sick bitch you know that?" Was the first thing he said. Mikoto closed her eyes and chuckled.

"I am? In what way?" She asked. Itachi slammed his hands on her desk and leaned forward. He was almost nose to nose as his breath washed over her face.

"Your own son, your personal flesh and blood. What gives us the right anymore to call you our mother? Our protector? His protector for God sake! You love Sasuke; you hold him closest to your heart more so than me, why do this to him?" Itachi hissed quietly. Her smile dropped as she regarded him.

"But . . . Isn't this what you wanted?" She asked instead of answering his question. Itachi narrowed his eyes at her and talked through his teeth.

"To see my younger brother nearly raped by an old enemy? You weren't there. You didn't see the anguish on his face! The humiliation, the torment of that man inside of him!" Itachi's voice rose with every word. Mikoto shook her head as she stood from her chair.

"This was what needed to be done. It was a moment of a double-edged sword; it has been resolved," She said. Itachi pulled backward only slightly as he watched her walk toward her window. He stood there is a tense mass as he watched her run her fingers down the class before looking up at him.

"Many people wanted Orochimaru dead, but it had to look authentic. I couldn't just simply execute the man; it would look suspicious. Innocent minds were needed; Sasuke needed this. He needed to realize what it means to be a Prince, Itachi. You are my dog of war, as the second born, Sasuke was meant for negotiation purposes. That is the way it has always been in this family. It was the same with me and my brother. I produced him an heir while our father sent him to fight wars. Sasuke needs to see that this world is full of tricks and deceit. Yes, I used my son but in exchange, you may very well gain a lover," She said. Itachi clenched his fists as he felt the extreme urge to run over there and force his mother out of that window.

"This was not the way to do this. I would've happily killed Orochimaru and made it look like an accident. Playing off my jealousy and Sasuke's innocence is the move of a coward," He growled. Mikoto laughed like she had heard a funny joke.

"Maybe so, but in the end Orochimaru his dead. Sasuke is scarred but alive; his eyes have been opened. You have returned a new and in your own way, had discovered how deep your love runs for Sasuke more so beyond lust but true love. This proved you would kill for him Itachi, does it feel different from before?" She asked him. Itachi hated to think she was right; he refused to believe it, but in some sick way it was as if it needed to be done.

"I would've found my own way; Sasuke would've been mine eventually," Itachi breathed out incompetence. Mikoto turned back to face him with a sly look on her face.

"Oh really? And how long would it have taken? How many more guards would Sasuke have slept with before he realized you were serious? I love him; I love you too. . . Nevertheless, this goes beyond family Itachi. I see the way he looks at you; he knows he loves you, but he feels the connection you have is wrong. I need him to open his eyes to the truth. I needed him to be under a man he hated and feared in order to realize who came fore front to his mind to save him. You came like some sirens call, and he flocked to you. What has been done cannot be undone," She finished. Itachi continued to glare at her, but she only walked toward her desk and sat down in her chair. There was more he wanted to say, but he knew Sasuke would awaken soon.

"Don't expect me to be friendly with you any longer," He hissed. Mikoto shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't bother her one bit.

"I expect that, but you will thank me eventually for such a turn of events. It's only a matter of time now. I expect my children to confront one another." Itachi shook his head as he turned his back to her.

"Do you have no shame?" He asked himself more than her. Mikoto chuckled lowly.

"I had my brother's child, what do you think Itachi?" She said. Itachi didn't want to stay any longer than he had to. Stomping out her door, he slammed behind him and didn't look back.

Itachi had woken up before Sasuke and gently climbed out of the bed in order to seek his mother. It was much more into the morning now and no doubt the boy would be up. Itachi tried to predict how the boy would act, sheepish? Embarrassed? Angry? Alternatively, if it was anything like last night, the boy would cling to him and not let go. Whatever Sasuke was feeling; Itachi was determined to never leave his brother alone for second that day.

Not bothering to knock, he opened the bedroom door softly and peered in. Sure-enough Sasuke was awake, standing by his basin and washing his face with a cloth. He was wearing a robe now, bare feet on the carpet, looking pale and shaken but stable enough to go about his business. He turned his head slightly when he heard the noise of his door being opened. Dark eyes looked tired behind black bangs as Sasuke set down the washcloth on the counter and retied his robe, hugging himself around the hips.

"Where did you go?" He asked tiredly, looking back at the basin. Those eyes were rimmed red, proof of last nights crying and anguish. Itachi carefully stepped in and closed the door softly behind him, setting his cape on the back of the chair by the door. He never took his eyes off Sasuke as the boy just stood there.

"I went to go speak with mother," Itachi said, waiting for the boy's reaction. Sasuke gave a low chuckle as he let the washcloth fall back into the basin with a splash. He leaned with his arms on the dresser as, he tilted his head to the side, looking out the window.

"Oh? What did she . . . Never mind, I don't care anymore; I could hardly call her my mother any longer," The raven whispered bitterly. Itachi didn't move as he heard Sasuke's breathing become deeper. He casually strode forward but was on guard in case Sasuke made to move. He wasn't sure why he felt he needed to be on guard.

"Orochimaru is dead," Itachi said, coming to stand up behind Sasuke. The boy made no implication above a sound of confirmation.

"I figured that, I doubt anyone could survive a beheading," He said in a tired voice. He moved away from Itachi slightly to stand in front of his bed, crossing his arms and holding his elbows.

"What you must think of me. . . How embarrassing. It seems I too got caught in mothers' games. My reputation of being a whore seems now to suit me proper," Sasuke said in a tired voice. Itachi strode forward as his eyes narrowed on the other's back.

"You are no whore and mother should be the one to be punished. You have nothing to be ashamed of," Itachi hissed. Sasuke spun around, tears threatening to fall.

"Oh be quiet! You must be enjoying this; I must've looked so pathetic last night! I'm an utter idiot, letting her crawl under my skin and settle there. Letting that man . . . Letting that man start something . . . I must've sniffled like a baby! And then here you come . . . Barging in and . . . And . . . !" The raven shouted. Itachi took a bold step forward and grabbed Sasuke's chin; the boy of course tried to pull away. He backed Sasuke into one of the posts of his bed and held him there with an arm around his waist. He could feel it; he could feel the way Sasuke trembled in his grasp from either suppressed rage or terror.

"It's not your fault Sasuke," Itachi said sternly. His gaze was intense on the boy as he saw the first few tears roll down flushed cheeks. Sasuke's face scrunched up and he bit his lower lip. It was the first time in years that he had seen such a look of pain on the other's face. Not being able to help himself, Itachi ran his thumb under Sasuke's eye and smoothed away the tear. The boy took a deep shaky breath as the arm around him tightened.

"Why did you come back?" Sasuke said in a mournful voice. He closed his eyes as Itachi leaned forward and kissed his cheek, licking away the remaining tears. The sun had finally started rising, and it made the room glow in a soft orange light.

"Because I love you, little brother," Itachi breathed in all honesty. Sasuke shook his head but didn't move from Itachi's grasp as his brother wrapped both his arms around his waist.

"Why?" Sasuke asked again although much more softly, as if in defeat. Itachi pulled back and smiled into Sasuke's face.

"Because looking at you, I wouldn't know what to do if I lost you to someone else. Even if you had wanted what happened between you and Orochimaru . . . I would have killed him either way. You're mine Sasuke . . . Only mine, since the day I laid my eyes on you . . . I knew you were the one my soul called for. Even after every scowl, after every snide remark, I still couldn't hold back what I wanted. What I wanted for you . . . " The older said. Sasuke's eyes were wide and Itachi had never seen the boy's cheeks turn so red in his pale skin. Not being able to help himself, Itachi leaned forward and kissed the middle of Sasuke's forehead. The boy made a sound of confusion but did not turn his face away.

"I fell in love with your mind and your soul. I became a slave to what I felt for you." His breath ran across his little brother's forehead. Turning his face, he rained kisses down Sasuke's temple and eventually to his lips.

"Do you love me?" Itachi had to ask. Sasuke stood there in his brother's grasp, seemingly lost now in thought. He gently preened into his brother's touch but seemed to hesitate. This was too much . . . Too soon.

"I-I don't know . . . The way you've been toward me, and then saving me . . . I'm so confused," Sasuke breathed helplessly.

And that was the truth; Sasuke really didn't know. His older brother was his savior as much as he was sometimes a threat or a tease.

Itachi continued to kiss down Sasuke's face until he reached the neck of the robe. He narrowed his eyes at the way the younger looked right now. The blush was irresistible, but the vulnerable look in the boy's eyes was hard to miss. The boy in all honesty looked lost and scared, and it tore at the usually stoic man. Pulling his brother to his chest, Itachi spoke.

"Then I guess I'll just have to make you fall in love with me," He breathed against the skin. In one swift move, Itachi grabbed the neck of the robe and pulled it downward along with the belt. Sasuke gasped and startled as he suddenly found himself very naked in front of Itachi, his thin robe pooling at his feet. He shuddered at both the intense gaze roaming his body and the chill of the morning air on his skin. Caught in surprise, Sasuke remained stunned.

"Itachi . . . " Sasuke gasped as the other pushed him against his bed post. Itachi said nothing as he came forward and licked a trail up Sasuke's neck. The younger was lost in a moan as he felt hands touch his waist and sit him down on the cold sheets of the bed. Itachi's eyes were intense as he pushed Sasuke back and crawled over him. Sasuke made a small noise of discomfort as Itachi kissed down his chest, hands delicately running over pale thighs. Seeing Sasuke's discomfort, Itachi lightly kissed the boy's chin soothingly.

"Don't worry, I won't enter you today . . . Not until you're ready. I just want to taste you . . . Make you forget everything," He breathed out. Sasuke relaxed only slightly as Itachi kissed down his chest to his belly button. Dipping his tongue into the indent, Sasuke gasped as hands touched his thighs and squeezed them possessively.

"I-Itachi," Sasuke sighed as his brother licked his abdomen. His stomach jumped as that hot tongue delved back into his belly button. His body started responding, and Itachi smirked as he felt Sasuke harden against his chest. Sitting up from atop the boy, Itachi undid the latches on his armor and let the chest piece fall to the floor with a clatter. Sasuke watched with lidded eyes as his brother removed his armor bit by bit until a gleaming chest riddled with scars was revealed. The younger couldn't help but swallow at how many there were on his brother's body. Years of battle were mapped out to him like a time line. Sitting up a bit, Sasuke couldn't help but reach out and up to feel up a scar just above Itachi's right nipple.

"There are so many," Sasuke said to himself. He brought up his other hand and ran it down Itachi's stomach and traced the muscle. Ripples upon ripples of strength soared under his fingertips, making his stomach tremble at the hardness. He swallowed again when his brother's arousal brushed against his hand. Looking up into his brother's eyes, they were a bright with desire and flame. Taking a breath, Sasuke grabbed Itachi's forearms and dragged his brother back over him, opening his legs. Itachi's hair surrounded him like a curtain as he pulled his brother's face closer. Their breaths intermingled as Sasuke took the next step and sealed his lips with his brothers. They tasted sweet, much sweeter than he would have thought that his brother was.

Fuck it . . .

Itachi responded immediately by lowering his hard body against his brother's.

I can't deny it any more . . .

Sasuke gasped and threw his head back as Itachi reached down and grabbed his erection.

Maybe I do love him . . .

Spreading his legs, Sasuke ran the heel of his foot down Itachi's thigh as his brother made their kiss stronger. Reaching up, he wrapped his arms around Itachi's neck, opening his mouth. A tongue went in immediately and stroked every crevice, running over gums and teeth. Moaning, Sasuke blushed harder as Itachi began running his fingers up and down his cock.

"You're blushing," Itachi said, pulling back. Sasuke looked away as a hand traveled up his stomach to trace a nipple.

"Then should we stop?" Sasuke said offhandedly. Itachi chuckled as Sasuke felt a hand go around his stomach to run down his back to the top of his ass.

"No, I won't allow it; you're mine today," Itachi purred. Sasuke looked back at him as he raised a hand and ran it through his brother's long hair. His brother's eyes darkened with lust into a color much a kin to fresh blood.

"Then, give me your hips," Sasuke said. Itachi sat up a bit and raised his eyebrow but complied.

"We can both do it," Sasuke told him. Itachi smirked but did as told.

"And here I thought I would be the one doing all the work," He said.

"Then go find yourself a whore," Sasuke retaliated. Itachi tsked at him before effectively swinging his body so that his hips hovered at over-the-top part of Sasuke's body.

"A whore can't stroke my fires like you," Itachi said. He bent down and ran a hot breath over the head of Sasuke's cock from his position. Sasuke gasped and struggled not to keen his hips into the warm heat.

"That isn't the only thing I can stroke," He whispered back. Reaching up, Sasuke grasped his brother's hips and brought them down. He ran his tongue on the underside of Itachi's cock and felt it grow bigger under the wet muscle. Itachi groaned down by his own erection, hands tightening on his pale hips.

"Careful," Itachi breathed. Sasuke smirked at getting such a reaction from his normally composed brother.

"Shut up," Sasuke hissed. Without warning, Sasuke lifted his head, and he brought down Itachi's hips. He swallowed his brother whole and began to suck. Itachi growled as he felt Sasuke's mouth work him. The image alone of those pale lips wrapped around him made him want to devour the boy whole. Leaning down as he was blown, he swallowed Sasuke and chuckled around it as the boy gasped and struggled not to thrust. Together, both worked on one another, getting reactions never thought possible from each other. Itachi's long hair tickled Sasuke's stomach as the boy fought to make his brother come first. Sasuke felt his peak rising as he did nothing to hold his hips still. Itachi moved with him and on one particular suck left Sasuke gasping and releasing the erection in his mouth.

"Itachi!" He gasped with wide eyes. Itachi though only continued to move, up down, up down, up down. Feeling his stomach jump, Sasuke did all he could to concentrate on his own task. His body trembled as Itachi grabbed his thighs and spread him wider. Quickly swallowing Itachi again, Sasuke felt his own release start to surface.

"Hmm . . . Sasuke," Itachi breathed against his cock. At the husky tone and the hot breath, not to mention how long it had been since he had been sexually active, all combined and Sasuke cried out as he tilted his hips upward into Itachi's mouth. He moaned as he released and a very glorious mouth caught all of it. Remembering what he was doing, Sasuke swallowed Itachi until he felt the other tense and the grip on his thighs increased.

"Erk."

Sasuke closed his eyes tight as his brother's essence coated the inside of his mouth. He groaned around his brother's softening cock and swallowed. Releasing it, Sasuke panted for breath and stared upwards with hazy eyes. He felt the death grip on his thighs let go, and he knew he would have more bruises to accompany the ones he already had. Itachi purred above him like a tiger as he swiveled backward around to be in person with Sasuke. The boy looked back up at him with a look that could only be described as calm. Leaning down, Itachi kissed him softly and brought his hands up to run down Sasuke's arms.

"Sasuke," He called the other's name softly. The kiss was gentle and Sasuke felt himself tilting into it. Moving them both more up on the bed, Itachi covered them with the sheets as he grasped Sasuke to his chest and laid them on the pillows. After minutes, which felt like hours, both of their breathing slowed as the combination of their body heats relaxed them. Sasuke lay content for the first time in a lover's arms since Kakashi. He shifted only slightly and lowered his eyes to his brother's chest. Itachi softly ran his fingers through his little brother's hair, rubbing the scalp and petting his bangs. Sasuke raised his own fingers and ran them over a scar on his brother's chest.

"So how did you really know I was in trouble?" Sasuke asked. Itachi frowned and opened his eyes from his relaxed position. The hand in Sasuke's hair gently grasped and made Sasuke look up into his eyes.

"I have my ways," Was all he said. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him.

"You made Deidara play spy didn't you?" Sasuke said a matter of fact. Itachi's eyes remained narrowed.

"I'm not stupid Itachi; I know all of your tricks. I saw him sneaking around the whole day I was with Orochimaru. Do you normally have people follow me? Want to make sure I'm not fucking around on you? I know that's how you found out about Kakashi and me," Sasuke said, but it wasn't in anger. Itachi remained silent as he sat up a bit to be over Sasuke. His hair pooled down around them as Sasuke was forced to look into his brother's red demon like eyes.

"When another man challenges what is mine, I want to know what I'm up against. And no, I confronted Kakashi personally; I don't have spies around watching your every move."

Sasuke sighed as he reached up to run fingers through his brothers bangs.

"What the hell am I going to do with you? I hate you as much as I love you at the same time," He breathed out. Itachi's eyes grew soft, and it was the first time in years that Sasuke had seen them that way. He hadn't recognized those eyes since he was just a toddler, a time before his brother went to all his wars and battles.

"I love you Sasuke," Itachi said. Sasuke's body relaxed, not noticing that he had been on guard. Their legs rubbed together, and the warmth did something to Sasuke.

"Marry me," Itachi suddenly said.

Sasuke's eyes went wide.

"What!"

TBC

R&R