Chapter 90.- Preparations
Their matriarch had…withheld some information during their debriefing.
Recklessly and loudly critiquing the silver-haired noble lady like Inuyasha tended to do was borderline suicidal, but Sango very much understood the urge right about now.
Higurashi Kagome wasn't someone who should be underestimated. No one who could outsmart the infamous Snake Sannin and hold her own when facing Taisho Kimi could be considered naive or ignorant. If anything, Miroku once wondered about how similar the younger kunoichi was to the devious Taisho matriarch during her early years, a rare praise and an ominous warning all at once. No matter how genuine her kindness was, Kagome-chan had all the tools she needed to survive in this world. There's no way she was innocent…but then again, no one in this place was.
Shinobis dealt with all sorts of missions, but there was a reason civilians thought of them mostly as killers for hire. And those who lived in the Taisho clan had earned their reputation for their ruthlessness. Sango's own had been stained with blood well before she met the Higurashi girl during the Chuunin Exams. Most of the people here were dangerous in one way or another, so while the weapon expert understood why Miroku warned her not to let her guard down during her interactions with the younger girl and not forget their mission. Sango couldn't help but feel a little guilty about reporting every word exchanged. Because at the end of the day, no matter how sly or crafty Kagome-chan was, the weapon expert couldn't forget the sight of the young Higurashi standing under the rain in front of Konoha's memorial stone. Just a girl unsure of who to trust, desperately trying to figure out how to keep the one she loved safe. As unforgiving of weakness as the Taisho clan could be at times, Sango knew she could rely on their leaders to have her back. What the families that followed the main clan got in return for their trust and loyalty was unwavering protection. Facing the types of enemies the Higurashi group had faced without any backing was something she couldn't imagine.
Perhaps it was risky, but Sango liked the girl.
So when Kimi-sama mentioned Kagome-chan should be in one of their labs working on that insidious poison, the weapon expert dragged Miroku with her to their medical facilities. She'd been anxious about letting the group go to an ambush without any backup, and none of them was all that tired. There was no point in fooling herself. She wouldn't really see the Higurashi girl as a threat, so the fake monk's presence for this reunion was the best compromise the older kunoichi could make. If she knew she was going to lower her guard anyway, might as well have him with her.
That's why Sango hadn't bothered to show any restraint and called out to the blue-eyed girl the moment she opened the door, only to freeze in the doorway.
What greeted her was almost normal. Kagome-chan was sitting on the edge of a table, hands lightly closed around its edge. It didn't look like she'd gotten injured; the only visible bandages were the ones that had always been wrapped around her legs and nothing in her stance looked different. The quiet, orange-haired nin who acted as her bodyguard was sitting at the back of the room was also the same as always. The young man standing in front of the young Higurashi matriarch, reading what was probably Kouga's medical records, however, was not Uchiha Sasuke. Kimi-sama didn't think to mention anything about the outcome or the new apparent guest to their clan…behind her, the fake monk almost crashed agains her.
"Oh, Sango-chan, Miroku-san." The girl's voice wasn't just unconcerned but cheerful. "So glad you're back already."
"Y-yeah, we just got back," she managed to get out after a heartbeat.
"Introductions are in order, I believe." Without standing up, Kagome-chan clasped her hand on the young man's arm. "This is Itachi, Sasuke's older brother." Turning her attention to the other Uchiha, the younger kunoichi pulled him closer to her. "Sango-chan and Miroku-san helped us immensely during the Chuunin Exams."
"You have my gratitude for the help you provided." His voice was low, calm, and certainly not what she'd expected the man to sound.
"Why, our assistance was barely necessary," Miroku replied, clearly noticing she wouldn't be able to respond. "It was our honor to be able to provide even such a small aid."
"Flattery should be a little more subtle, shouldn't it?" The Higurashi let out a soft laugh.
Miroku went along, and it was all Sango could do to smile as well, though the weapon expert was pretty sure her teammate's ego just suffered a blow. There's a reason the fake monk was usually in charge of directing their interactions with others. The boy was incredibly talented in anything regarding politics and diplomacy. His mind was what landed him in this team. It wouldn't be surprising for him to find a place among Sesshoumaru's future advisors, a first for someone from his clan. Usually, Miroku was able to keep up with the young Higurashi matriarch when it came to these types of word games. For Kagome-chan to point out his lack of subtlety was a testament to how poor the boy's recovery was. They'd probably have to cut this meeting short so they could go warn Inuyasha about this. If Sango and Miroku stumbled this badly, she didn't want to imagine how the red-clad nin would react if he joined the family dinner tonight without any forewarning about the extra member in the Higurashi group.
Uchiha Itachi's infamy had been notable enough that they knew about him even before they got their current assignment….still, if both their leaders thought it was okay to let him roam around freely, then Sango would trust their judgment.
Not that it wouldn't take some time to get used to the sight. After all, they'd been half-preparing to fight him if it came to that up until the moment Kagome-chan reached out to them a few months ago. That being said… brown eyes flickered towards the paper on the older shinobi's hands.
"Our little excursion ended with quite an unexpected boon. An untainted sample." A twist of her wrist showed a glass vial filled with a dark liquid. "I haven't had much progress yet, but the initial analysis does show obtaining it was worth the effort."
"An untainted sample….does that mean…" Miroku trailed off.
"Yes," the younger girl nodded. "The Shichinintai's poisoner was carrying it in both, liquid and gas form."
"Gas…then were they the ones who attacked Kouga?" Sango's words were sharp.
"I fear it's more likely this was a gift from their current employer." Letting out a sigh Kagome-chan's gaze went back to the vial. "It's a troubling development, but I'll consider getting this sample as a silver lining."
"Considering what our suspicions were, a pure sample is a good thing, but…"
But it meant whoever was after Kagome-chan's group was far more dangerous than they'd initially thought. Not just because of how far this mystery person was willing to go to, but because they'd been close enough to one of the Taisho compounds. The attack on Kouga's had happened outside of their barriers, and the barrier itself covered far more land than they needed precisely to help obscure their exact location. They were safe, but if the reason the attack happened in the first place was because that guy had managed to track Kagome-chan's ground, then…
Quickly letting her gaze flicker towards her teammate, Sango could see Miroku's expression falling into a familiar poker face as the fake monk digested the information. None of the conclusions she came to were all that great, and Miroku could probably think of even more. In the end, though, they'd inevitably agree on the most important thing. Whoever was targeting the younger girl took the lives of a member of their clan and badly harmed another. It didn't matter if Kouga's team had been an unintended casualty; their blood was spilled. To die while completing a mission was a sign of the deceased's weakness or poor judgment. That's just how things worked here. Failing a mission because someone got themselves killed wasn't something anyone would seek retribution for. But things were different if the death occurred outside of the context of a mission. Targeting one of their own was akin to declaring war, and the Taisho clan had no room for mercy.
Kimi-sama and Toga-sama likely heard the younger girl's story already, meaning a plan to deal with this mystery enemy had to be underway. Biting down on her tongue, the weapon expert swallowed down her frustration. Their team was strong, and they were well on their way to reaching an elite status, but they weren't there yet. Lineage and relationships didn't matter; they would only be given the missions the Heads thought they could handle, just like Sesshoumaru-sama would only take over his father once he could win against their current patriarch. Strength was everything. Neither her team nor Kouga was likely to be assigned to whatever hunt this info gave birth to unless they could prove themselves.
"We definitely needed the pure sample, but I'm not sure how much we'll be able to get out of it." The frustration in Kagome-chan's voice brought her back to the moment. "Figured I could use a fresh pair of eyes, so I dragged Itachi with me."
"Poison isn't my specialty. You surpass me in that area by a lot." The praise seemed to come naturally.
"Still, you're the one who taught me the basics. You're the reason I dedicated myself to it, really." That was…far more personal than anything the young matriarch had ever let slip so far. "Besides, Miroku-san isn't a poisoner either, but he was the one who gave us the hint about this potentially being a kekkei genkai."
"It was merely a lucky guess." At last, her teammate had found his rhythm.
"All of your attempts are for an antidote to be administered post-exposure," Uchiha Itachi noted. "What caused you to discard inoculation?"
"Lack of information and materials, really. We didn't know who we'd need to use it with. Though now that we have a pure sample, it might be worth a try." The girl still hadn't let go of the older shinobi's arm.
"You mentioned you needed reiki for the counter." There was a flow to the conversation that felt wrong to interrupt. "What are you using as an anchor?"
"My blood, it's easier to control the concentration with it…oh, how much do we have left?" This time, Kagome-chan turned towards her, the question almost an afterthought.
"I don't think there's enough to run a full trial…" Sango trailed off. "Let me check."
When the younger girl's group basically took all of their possessions with them, she hadn't been sure what to do with their research. Their actions made sense; the Taisho compounds were something of a safe haven for them, however, no official announcement about their status with the clan had been made yet. Still, whether as a sign of her intention to return, of trust, or simply because she didn't mind leaving the information behind, Kagome-chan had left behind the samples of her blood they'd been using to work on counters, and Sango had made sure to take them with her when the clan moved compounds. Carrying them with her at all times felt wrong, so she'd placed it behind a secure seal in…this room, actually. Of course, Kimi-sama knew about it and directed the Higurashi girl here. Holding back the urge to roll her eyes, Sango went to retrieve the series of half-empty beakers.
Brown eyes glanced back at the older Uchiha.
Once they realized how close the young Higurashi matriarch was to the Uchiha survivor, the first thing her team did after getting back was to learn everything there was about the person everyone assumed to be responsible for the Uchiha massacre. There wasn't much info about the young man available, but what little they got had painted quite a cold picture of someone insanely talented and distant from others. Looking at the way the black-haired shinobi not only made no movement to get away but seemed content to let Kagome-chan hold his arm, the weapon's expert couldn't help but wonder how accurate their information was. The Uchiha Itachi in the room didn't exactly fit the image of the cruel and heartless madman who didn't hesitate to cut his own family…then again, even though Sasuke-kun was undeniably cold, the younger Uchiha's soft spot for the girl was a sight to behold, maybe this was the same…
"Hmm, we're definitely gonna need more." Finally letting go of the rogue ninja, the younger girl took one of the emptier containers. "Might as well fill them back now."
The younger kunoichi gently placed the beaker on the desk, and a kunai was in her hand with a motion that had become increasingly familiar during the weeks that they'd worked together in the lab. Sango could almost feel herself falling back into the routine, already making a mental list of the ingredients they'd need when the crack of glass made her jump and turn back. A splash of crimson was a violent contrast against the white floor. Broken pieces of glass shining among the mess. But the weapon expert's eyes widened at the sight of the older Uchiha's expression as he hurried to grab and pull one of Kagome-chan's hands to him and away from the open flesh on her left wrist. A hurried glance exchanged with Miroku confirmed she wasn't the only one surprised at the sudden action, and she was fairly certain the shock on the young matriarch's face was fake either.
"…Itachi?"
"Do you always…" There was an undeniable strain in his voice as the Uchiha clearly tried to keep calm. "Do you always gather blood that way?"
"Well, it's faster this way." The Higurashi smiled, not pulling her arm away.
"Kagome…" Again, Itachi faltered. "Is this the only method you can use?"
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt that much, I swear." Along with the reassuring words, the girl moved closer.
"Are you planning to fill all of them today?" Clearly, the older shinobi's worry didn't lessen when he looked back to the remaining containers. "Isn't this too much?"
"Don't worry too much. All my blood levels will be back to normal by tomorrow, promise."
Yeah, this really didn't feel like a scene anyone else should witness. There was an odd sense of intimacy between the two of them, and Sango wasn't sure if she should be saying something or just dragging Miroku with her and get out of the room…and then, she saw Kagome-chan's smile apologetically before leaning forward, kissing the older nin without hesitation. Only her reflexes kept her from dropping the tray in her hands, and she wasn't sure she'd managed to keep herself from gaping right now. There's no way…surely this wasn't…
"Sorry," the kunoichi said as she pulled back. "I suppose there's no need to fill all of them today."
"You don't have to apologize." Truly, the older boy was the one who sounded sorry.
"Ahem, I do believe it's about time for us to take our leave." Miroku finally interjected once more; his hand came to grab Sango's elbow. "We've got to report to our families or they won't be happy about not seeing us the day of our return."
"R-right, we should get going." She really was stumbling a lot today.
"Of course." Compared to the two of them, Kagome-chan remained nonchalant. "I'll be here again tomorrow."
It took far too much effort not to break out into a sprint or straight up vanish with a burst of chakra, but she'd managed to remain somewhat calm as she followed her team's strategist out of the room.
Granted, Kagome-chan had never explained or labeled what her relationship with Sasuke-kun was, but it had been fairly obvious they were together. The boy made no attempt to hide his jealousy, and though the Higurashi had seemed content to not be overly public with her displays of affection, there was an obvious possessiveness in their actions. To imagine the girl was cheating on her partner was simply ridiculous. Sango may not be as observant as Miroku was, but she could see how close those two had been and still were, so the only reason Kagome-chan would be that intimidated to the Uchiha's brother…heat rushed to her face as she sped up.
Nope, she shouldn't be making assumptions.
"Well," Miroku said with a cough. "It looks like Kagome-sama may be far more adventurous than I might've assumed."
"Miroku!"
"Alright, alright." He was not sorry. "Though I must say, she used quite the aggressive language."
"Aggressive?" Sango almost stumbled at the unexpected word.
"For someone so careful with words, the way she spoke…" The fake monk shook his head. "Well, I suppose there's another possible explanation. Either one would be quite interesting."
The light sound of shogi tiles clanking against the wooden board blended nicely with the chirping of nearby birds. And it made the dissonance with his turbulent thoughts feel almost deafening.
He'd known agreeing to take on this highly confidential mission would be a drag.
Ever since they were children, getting involved with Uchiha Sasuke and Higurashi Kagome had been a surefire way to get dragged into something troublesome. Still, Shikamaru knew that even if he had the chance to back out he would've made the same choices. Just because he'd never been close to those two didn't mean he hadn't considered them allies. The sore spot that was his failure to get them back never fully faded, so when Tsunade-sama asked if he was willing to work on a mission related to them, the Nara hadn't thought much before accepting…he was starting to wonder if the smart choice would've been to walk away from this mess and let his father deal with it.
Because the more they looked into the truth behind the Uchiha massacre, the more likely it was that Konoha's leaders had orchestrated the tragedy, or at least, had a hand in it.
Picking up a tile without truly looking at it, Shikamaru made a move.
Choosing to follow in his father's footsteps and become a shinobi was a decision the strategist made based for the most part on convenience and laziness. Honor and price didn't ever cross his mind. And yet, he was willing to fight and die for the village. Everyone he cared about was here, that was all the reason he needed to put his life on the line if it came to it…after learning that the two notorious heirs had left of their own volition and figuring out why they'd felt betting on Orochimaru rather than trusting the village, however, annoying questions had been whirling around in his head. It was clear the Uchihas had been planning something that had been bad enough to convince their most talented prodigy that killing his entire family was a somewhat reasonable response…and yet… exterminating an entire clan was an action no clan would agree to. It set a horrible precedent. If Sandaime-sama could be pressed into taking such an extreme measure…what if there was more than just ambition behind Uchiha Fugaku's seemingly treasonous intentions? Could there be a legitimate trigger, even if their response was disproportional?
What would Shikamaru's own reaction have been if he were in Kagome's or Sasuke's place?
Ridiculous as the idea of the Nara clan ever being greedy or stupid enough to attempt to harm the village, but if he were to find out that the reason for his loved ones' deaths was an order coming from the Hokage himself…would he be able to keep serving his village like he was right now?
One more move, one more counter. He wasn't paying too much attention to the game. Dealing with his restless thoughts was complicated when all he was doing was analyzing and giving through various possibilities, so the last thing he needed was to lose that little distance he still had to do his best to fix this mess. But of course, that was what was going to happen, because somehow, Godaime-sama had managed to add his damn name to the team that'd go as envoys to negotiate with the Higurashi and her group.
Nosy bunch the Council were, they'd tried to get one of their own people into the entourage despite the fact that Tsunade-sama had been able to keep the true purpose of the meeting with the Taishos quiet. That's why Shikamaru thought he could relax and just take another random B or C-level mission, hell, even a bunch of D assignments would've been preferred. His record wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't impressive. As much as they might want to complain, Jiraiya-sama wasn't someone anyone could object to, and Kakashi-san's record along with the added benefit of the fact that the jounin had interacted with the Taishos before, made it hard to complain about him. Compared to them, the Nara stuck out like a sore thumb, still, the Godaime had managed to claim that his addition to the team was necessary since the next Nara Head needed to gain experience for the time the boy took over the unofficial position of an advisor. His attempt to get out of it by asking why the ANBU that had been looking over Naruto couldn't serve as the third member was shut down when he was reminded that Yamato-san just wasn't suited for the sort of psychological and political manipulation that was necessary to pull this off.
As soon as the letter from the Taishos arrived, he was off with the others to whatever location the nomadic clan thought was neutral enough.
"You know," Asuma-sensei's voice almost made him jump. "I feel like I might finally get my first win."
"I feel like I should be offended."
"Do you, now?" His teacher scoffed, making another move. "Where's your head at?"
"Nowhere." Anything related to this mess was classified. He took a piece.
"Oh, I see now." Despite the board's position, the older nin sounded confident. "It's the envoy's mission."
"It's just a drag." Shikamaru didn't bother to expand on the cover story.
"Great opportunity to learn from the elite, though." Really, Asuma-sensei had no clue what he was talking about. "Opportunities like that don't come often, just focus on what you can do."
Focus on what he could do, huh?
Easier said than done considering he wasn't even sure what his opponent's goal was.
Kagome had never struck him as someone who enjoyed violence, yet she'd been the first one from their generation to take a life. Dismissing the possibility that she might want to take justice into her own hands would be foolish. Especially since there's no way the vengeance-obsessed Sasuke would be happy with the idea of leaving the Council alone. The girl might be willing to overlook what happened and convince the Uchiha to let it go, but the opposite was also probably more likely. Even meeting her in person may not be enough for him to get a good read on her. Only once had he seen that mask crack and he doubted Naruto's presence would be enough to unsettle her. Those damn Uchiha likely taught her how to lie before teaching her how to speak. All things considered, the kunoichi was a bad match for him. Proud, but self-aware enough to throw it all away whenever she deemed it necessary; cautious, but unafraid of risking her life to achieve her goals; fond of careful plans and strategies, yet more than capable of improvising and adapting to unexpected circumstances. Where Shikamaru was a strategist, Kagome was a manipulator. And while some of their skills overlapped, there were still some distinctive strengths to their individual talents. For the game that'd take place in that blasted meeting, she'd likely have the advantage.
And he couldn't afford to forget the fact that Kagome might be the last of his problems. She had to have gotten something out of her reunion with Uchiha Itachi and it might very well be his full cooperation. The prodigy among prodigies might've been mostly lauded for his talent with the sharingan, but the records of the infamous shinobi showed a massive talent with strategy and diplomacy. Having Itachi join them opened up the door for a million different possibilities. From him offering his full cooperation to the runaway heirs (be it by following Kagome's orders, taking over the leadership position, or sharing it), to the prodigy disagreeing with the other two and attempting to redirect their anger and manipulate them to protect the village. After so many years away from Konoha, no one had any idea how he might react, yet the Uchiha prodigy was the one person who could determine how the negotiation would go.
"Hey, sensei….what creates loyalty?" He finally ventured.
"Still thinking about the Taishos, huh?" The jounin chuckled. "Well, if I had to pick a single word I'd have to say trust."
"Trust?" Shikamaru put down his next piece.
"If we're ever in a situation where my only options are to guarantee my survival by abandoning you or risking my life to fight with you, I'd risk my life to get us both out because I trust you." Frowning, the man hesitated before picking up his tile. "I'd trust you wouldn't stab me in the back, trust you'd made the same choice I made."
"Would it be the same for the leader of a clan?" the Nara asked, taking advantage of the misunderstanding.
"Sure," Asuma huffed, unhappy with the position he was in. "Same principle, different scale."
"Not just blind faith…" he mumbled.
Would someone like Uchiha Itachi still trust the village after everything that's happened?
Would someone who'd treasured Konoha so much give his loyalty to those two even though they'd so clearly changed?
"I win."
"Huh? Hold on?" The cigarette almost fell from the man's lips. "How did you…?"
Gaara had kept his word.
Azure eyes scanned the kanjis describing the first batch of tests Kankuro and his team had done with the sample of poison she'd given the Kazekage. The results mostly confirmed her own smaller-scale observations. Compared to other poisons, this substance was slow-acting in small doses, but while it may take a handful of minutes, it was always fatal. Just like Kouga-san, the flesh of the test subjects became necrotic fairly quickly spreading from the point of contact. Though it took some effort, they were also able to confirm the damage to their chakra network. Experienced poisoners like the ones from Suna, Kagome wasn't surprised to find they'd managed to replicate her counter, and the team studying it had essentially chosen to split in two. One group would keep working with her reiki-infused blood to perfect an antidote, while the other tried to come up with a solution that didn't need her direct intervention.
Maybe it was because his siblings hadn't been too happy to learn the Kazekage had been in constant communication with a rogue kunoichi, but the puppeteer seemed determined to find an antidote that wouldn't require reiki. Granted, Gaara hadn't written a lot, but the Higurashi could read between the scarce lines. Pushing down a laugh, Kagome made some mental calculations as she went through the measurements detailed in the reports. Depending on how fast they went through the reserves she gave them, she might have to send more blood when she sent her shikigami to gather Suna's report on the Shichinintai's movements a few days from now…which might need a workaround.
Originally, Kagome had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon in the lab.
Preparations for the incoming meeting with the Konoha envoys were as complete as they could be. Since they were pretending to be neutral, there wasn't a good enough justification for her to ask for a dossier on the potential envoys, and they'd gotten as much information as they could get on their own. They had what they needed to deal an initial blow to Jiraiya-sama; her and Sasuke's presence would be enough to unsettle Kakashi as long as she was careful with her word choices, and as for whoever was chosen as the potential third person…as long as the girl played her cards right in regards to Itachi,, she should be able to remain ahead. They'd given the Taishos their reply letter today, and all that was left for them to do was wait for a week or two so the nomadic clan could pretend they'd had to search for them. Finishing decoding her ancestors' scrolls and creating an antidote were now her priorities…but the only way to stick with her original schedule was by going against Itachi.
Following Orochimaru's preferred methods of material gathering wasn't something Sasuke was fond of. Putting an emphasis on effectiveness meant she could be quite careless with herself; honestly, the girl thought it was a fair trade, she'd been willing to climb on the dissection table for the chance to understand her own kekkei genkai since it'd give her more power to keep Sasuke safe. She'd known letting Itachi see her thoughtlessly slice herself up would upset him in a similar way. It'd also help reignite the older Uchiha's guilt, reminding him of what they'd gone through thanks to Konoha's lackluster protection. She wasn't shocked that his reaction wouldn't be the most agreeable but that he'd be that adamant about her resting early, and she wouldn't be able to ignore his request. Nodding and letting him guide her back to their borrowed room felt natural, just as it had when she'd been a child, following after him. She'd had to convince him to let her go through the new reports even after agreeing to lie down. He wouldn't like the idea of her cutting herself open once more. Perhaps she could get Sasuke to get his brother away from the room for a while.
Thankfully, she was lucky that the love the Itachi had for them was so pure and his guilt was so heavy, or she'd struggle to make sure he wouldn't sway him.
She could feel his gaze as she reached out for the next letter.
Keeping her smile hidden, the girl glanced back to find dark eyes filled with worry and something she recognized from Sasuke's gaze.
Now that she thought about it, there was one more thing she'd like to get done before meeting with Konoha. There was no hesitation left in the older Uchiha whenever he returned her affection. As careful as he was with her, checking up with her to ensure he wasn't pushing her too much and that she was enjoying herself, there was no mistaking the hunger behind his strained control. He reacted to her every touch, willingly indulging in every part of her she offered. She'd succeeded in conflating the idea of rejecting her sexual advances with pushing them away, and that had grown into the same last she and Sasuke felt. But he'd yet to reach out to her, content with waiting until she or his brother made the first move. It wasn't enough.
Cruel didn't really describe what she was doing to him by constantly reopening the wound and carving even deeper, but this was the only way Kagome could twist his love into the obsession they needed from him. To have his agreement turn into the kind of rage and hatred eating through her and Sasuke, his thoughts had to be consumed by them to the point that reason and logic didn't matter anymore. In a way, Kagome supposed it was only fair. Regardless of his intentions or motivations, Itachi was the one who broke them. Plunging them into their own personalized hells by weaponizing their fears and insecurities, so the two of them had no way to return to the way they were before. She wouldn't fool herself into pretending they hadn't cracked a long time ago. Itachi's actions turned them into this, so it was their turn to break him.
"I'm really fine, I promise. We could run tests, and I wouldn't be even slightly anemic." Pushing the letters to the side, Kagome sat up before looking away. "Or is it that I look weird?"
"You're more beautiful than I could've imagined." He didn't falter, not even for a heartbeat.
"Were you always this quick on with compliments?" She didn't have to force the heat to rush to her cheeks. "There's no need for platitudes."
"Sasuke hadn't grown any more open, I see…" Itachi trailed off.
"Even miracles have a limit in what they can do." With a soft laugh, she let her eyes find his before looking down. "But there's really no need to force yourself."
"Force?" The confusion lacing his voice was real.
"It's just…well.." Her hesitation wasn't. "You never…reach out for me first…I know we were the ones who insisted on this, but if you don't want to…want me, then…"
Unlike his brother, Itachi's motions remained gentle as he took her chin and tilted her head, softly pressing his lips against hers. She sighed into the kiss, letting her arms wrap around his shoulders. This time, the older Uchiha didn't wait for her to deepen the kiss, his tongue pleading for entrance, his hunger evident as he pulled her closer to him. Temptation to push him down and take over the reins was difficult to ignore. The more she tasted him, the more she craved him. Itachi had to be the one to take the lead. So she contented herself with leaning into him when one of his hands found her waist.
Parting for breath, she could only smile at the Uchiha's flushed expression.
"I want you far more than I should," Itachi whispered, letting his forehead rest on hers.
"Should?" Willing herself to stand as she was, the girl kept going. "Who determines what should happen or not? I'm sure you've noticed it already, but it's not like Sasuke minds. I'm fairly sure he enjoys the view."
"After what you've been through because of me…" There it was, the reason he was still holding back.
"I've…become quite a good liar, haven't I?" Her words caused him to flinch. It was clear he remembered how much she'd struggled with her lessons as a kid. But if guilt was keeping him away, it could bring him to her as well. "I told one lie after another until they came easy to me… I've done so many horrendous things, and I'll keep doing so as long as doing so can help me keep us safe while pretending I'm the same person I used to be. Sometimes, I'm not even sure who I am behind all those masks."
Delicate fingers reached out, softly taking the hand on her waist as she pulled it up. Making sure to keep the contact innocent, the girl let his hand rest on her chest, letting him feel her heartbeat.
"But this…this is the only thing I'm sure it's real." Her hold on his hand tightened. "What happened before doesn't matter; all we want is for you to stay with us; don't let us go."
"I won't…you can use me however you want." Gently, Itachi brought her closer in a warm embrace without moving his hand away.
"You shouldn't say things like that," she said, even as the words made her feel ecstatic. "I won't let you take it back."
"Do as you like."
He leaned down again, taking her lips. Careful, he pushed her down, keeping his hand right where she'd placed it. He had to feel her heartbeat as it accelerated. Her last words were true. Soon, she'd tell him she loved him, lying to him again, but at least this much wasn't a lie. Besides, this obsession and addictive craving was as close as she could get to loving him. Pure love wasn't something she or Sasuke could feel anymore, so this would be the best they could offer to him. She'd be gentle while breaking him until Itachi was the same.
Moaning, Kagome let herself fall on the futon, and his hands left to find the various ribbons and silks keeping her dress on. He'd clearly been paying attention to how to untie the knots tying her clothes together and where her hidden weapons were. There was no ripping or rough pulling on the expensive fabrics, though there was an undeniable hurry as he took one layer after another from her body. She helped the silk slide off her body, lifting herself off to push the discarded robes away from them. With every bit of skin exposed, his hand ventured a caress. A low hum turned into a moan as he dragged his lips down her throat right as he reached the last layer. Not the first time he chose to let the last layer hang off her arms and moved instead to take off her underwear. Something to keep in mind for later. For now, though, she took the time to catch her breath as she drank the sight of the older Uchiha taking off his haori.
Lean muscle disrupted with a few silver scars greeted her. Reaching out to him, the girl raised her hand. And without a second of hesitation, he obeyed, relinquishing any semblance of control as he leaned into her touch, lowering himself to allow her to brush a deceptively chaste kiss on his lips while she slid her hand behind his head. With a single move, she took the hair and pulled it to the side, letting Itachi's fair fall forward. Lightly sighing his name, she pushed him back to admire the sight. The messy way it framed his face clung with his flushed sling and ragged breath completely shattered his cool and calm image, and heat rushed to her center. It didn't take much to destroy his self-control.
"Kagome…" Her name on his lips was a sound she'd never tired of.
"Do as you like," she said, echoing his words. "I'll let you know if there's something I don't like. There's no need to worry about what's right or wrong, don't you agree?"
"Yes…just say the word." Again, he claimed her lips, gentle but firm.
Soon, he resumed trailing kisses down her neck. He stopped as he reached her breast, warm tongue darting out as his right hand continued its trek down to the place between her legs. It didn't take long for him to find her wetness, long fingers drawing circles on her. Not quite taking over, she allowed herself to follow his movements, her hips moving in a plea for more stimulation as she forced her hands to remain where they were, cradling the Uchiha's face to her chest. Each of his actions was rewarded by her loud approval. Gods, she wanted more, more force, more speed, more control. But Itachi was gentle, carefully drawing out her pleasure as he finally let his fingers sink into her heat. His strokes deliberate while gradually adding more digits. He'd give her whatever she wanted; she wouldn't have to beg or fight for dominance. All of this was for him to take the lead. Biting back her pleas with a groan, she let him move down her body, strong fingers carefully pushing her legs apart so he could settle, the gentle licks almost causing her to jump when his fingers re-entered her and picked up the pace.
Tangling her finger among straight black hair, she pushed his face closer.
"That's good…ngh." Her hips buckled as he sucked on her flesh. "It's so good, Itachi."
With a twist of his wrist, she shattered, his name leaving her lips.
Gasping, Kagome could feel his movements slow down, letting her body relax, tension began to leave her with every faint lap and flex of his fingers before he stopped entirely. Itachi had been quick to learn the nuances of her body. Then again, Sasuke had been quite open to sharing that particular information. And the results weren't something she was about to complain about. Especially when this led to the infamous prodigy among prodigies kneeling back, his composure nowhere to be seen as he struggled to keep himself still, the bulge between his legs clearly begging for attention.
Jealousy over soulless encounters that happened during a mission was an absurd thing to feel, but…while she and Sasuke had been far too young for this kind of desire to even make sense, the same couldn't be said for him. Forgotten marriage contracts didn't mean there hadn't been another person he'd shown his vulnerability to.
"Kagome…can you…" Always so considerate.
"You know the answer already." Pushing herself slightly, she took his hand on hers and brought it to her lips. She could taste herself on his skin. "I can take as much as you want to give me."
"Don't push yourself for me." Even as he said that he helped her off the bed and on top of his lap.
"I want you in me." Hugging his neck, she hesitated for a second before asking. "Do you love us, Itachi?"
"More than anything." He was the one who took her hand this time, pulling it on top of his chest.
"Only us?" She continued from the crook of his neck; she could feel his heartbeat racing as realization dawned on him. "Even before they tried to tear us apart?"
"No one's ever been as important." Dark eyes were earnest. He hadn't loved anyone before the massacre, and she wouldn't let him love anyone else.
Sweet and kind, he pressed a kiss on her lips. The reassuring gesture only served to reignite the heat within her. The flames licking at her insides only grew hungrier when his hands guided her down. A ragged moan joined his groan at the slow stretch. On the back of her mind, she could feel Sasuke getting closer. Anticipation made a shiver run down her spine as she began lavishing the older Uchiha's neck with attention, long nails making their way down his chest. He'd done wonderfully taking the lead. She could be more proactive now, besides…
The sliding door to their room opened.
Azure eyes glanced back as she leaned back, changing the angle of her hips without stopping her movements. Black eyes widened in surprise as Sasuke took in the scene for a second before darkening with an all too familiar list. The sound of the door closing was loud enough this time for Itachi to look up and find his brother. She clenched as his motions fastened. His love was twisting already. He clearly enjoyed having his brother's gaze on him as much as Sasuke loved to see him buried within her. So close to a taboo.
"Here I thought you were going to stay at the lab all afternoon." Without looking away, Sasuke threw his sword to the side.
"Change of…ah!…change of plans." The weight of his gaze on them was making her tighter, too. She was just as gone, too. "You don't mind…oh…do you?"
"Just keep going." Hunger was thick in his voice as he walked closer to them.
"So he says," Panting, she leaned back into Itachi's hold. "Let's give him a nice show now, shall we?"
"Kagome, you're…!" Her nails dragged down his back.
Drinking the moan from his lips, she tightened around him. One of his hands moved to pull her hair to her front, exposing the skin of her back to his brother's eyes. Soon enough, he was pulling the last layer of silk off her form. Right, it'd be rude not to let Sasuke get a full view. White teeth found her lover's ears, biting down as Itachi sped up once more. The intensity of Sasuke's gaze pushed her further to the edge. Long fingers found the bundle of nerves near her center. He fell apart first, spilling himself inside her, letting her turn to look at Sasuke as she followed him. She could feel their combined essence dripping down, one of Itachi's hands burying in her hair. The sound of Sasuke's labored breathing joined theirs. The younger Uchiha was on her in an instant, lips claiming hers, frantic and demanding. Whoever he'd met in the training ground with Suigetsu worked him up.
Either Taisho son would've done the trick…maybe Kouga.
"Turn her towards me." Sasuke's voice was rough as he parted from her. "Don't let go of her."
She felt Itachi nod before helping her move to what was quickly becoming Sasuke's favorite position. Her in his brother's hold while he fucked into her. There was barely any time for her to feel empty, rough fingers plunging into her heat, forcing a moan out of her throat. He was worked up, definitely. His patience was gone well before he entered the room, and what better way for him to let it out than to have her. She opened her legs wider as he took his fingers out and thrust into her. Digging her nails down his back, breaking the skin, and taking a hiss out of him. The grip on her hips tightened before leaving to grab her chest. A second set of hands gently caressing the areas Sasuke left, soothing the abused skin and triggering an even bigger reaction out of her.
"You're mine…ours." One of his hands found her throat, not applying any real pressure but clearly enjoying the sight of it. "Anyone who even thinks…"
"Love you, always." Kagome panted against his skin.
The older Uchiha nursed a bite on his neck before following her tug on his hair, giving himself to her kiss. It was too much. Almost painful. It wasn't enough. And she craved it so much, this contrast between Itachi's soft touches and Sasuke's rough desperation. Barely contained violence that blended so well with delicate sweetness.
If she wasn't careful, Sasuke would try to drive her libido as high as he could, fogging her mind with pleasure to the point she'd agree to skip tonight's dinner. The family dinners with the Taishos weren't something they could afford to miss when they'd need to use the clan a week or so from now. Slender fingers found the younger Uchiha's hair and tugged. This had been unexpected, but she'd gotten what she'd wanted. No need to hold herself back anymore.
A/N: Did I overindulge a bit more in that last scene? A little, but in my defense it's still technically plot relevant, plus things are going to get busy in the next few chapters so….
Anyway, thanks for reading and any and all reviews/comments/criticism are greatly appreciated.