The Weight of the Heart

Warning Yaoi(boy X boy relationships) Don’t read if you don’t like. Torture and gore in this chapter, you have been warned.



AN: Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I know you guys are about ready to break out the pitchforks. I just had a few gift fics to give people on Y! but that’s all taken care of now. One of them I did not post on AFF so if you want to read it you will have to go to my author page and click on my webpage and read it from there. I’ve grown tired of barely getting any reviews or comments on stories. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Betaed by Gaarasslave.



The Weight of the Heart



Chapter Twelve



“Pharaoh Itachi! Pharaoh Itachi! Please wake up.”



Itachi felt the fog of sleep pulling him deeper. The cries seemed to be coming though a haze as he fought against the pull of sleep. He’d never been this heavy of a sleeper and his eyes opened but failed to focus on the dark skinned boy that was shaking him. If he’d been in his right mind, he would have taken offence to the slave handling his person in such an inconsiderate way.



“My lord, please. Naruto…he still hasn’t returned. It’s nearly dawn.” Intef began shaking the pharaoh again. Panic was starting to set in and he was worried that something bad had happened to Naruto. He’d sat in the hallway where Naruto had left him and awaited his return. The minutes had become hours and still no sign of his master. When the first tinge of light broke across the horizon, Intef had made a decision. He would go to the pharaoh and beg for him to search for Naruto.



Itachi groaned as he was pulled from sleep once again. He made a decision to have the slave that was disturbing his rest imprisoned for the infraction. Flinging out an arm and sending the Intef to the ground, Itachi struggled to pull himself into a sitting position. Had he been drinking? No, he rarely drank.



The memories flooded back and Itachi almost reeled with what had happened. He’d never felt so helpless and yet so full of lust. The flair of desire in Naruto’s eyes had stilled any protest that might have come on his tongue. As soon as his body drew up and released its seed in the blonde’s mouth, Itachi had felt the draw of sleep. It was an unnatural sleep and before he could look for a way to stave it off, he was lost to it.



“Naruto….” whispered Itachi as he stared at the servant quaking on the floor.



“Y-yes, m-my pharaoh. He left as the sun set and darkness came. He has not returned. You must search for him!” Intef’s pleas seemed to push away the last visages of sleep and Itachi sent the boy a harsh look.



“Repeat what you just said.” snarled Itachi as he stood and loomed over the poor servant quaking at his feet.



“My lord, Naruto is gone.” Intef covered his head with his arms as he awaited the beating that was sure to come.



When no blows fell upon him, he lowered his arms and peered up at his pharaoh. The man’s pale skin seemed to go a shade whiter, Intef stared amazed at the pain and the fear in the great pharaoh’s eyes. The pharaoh was a god on earth; he should never feel fear or pain. His will was law and yet; Intef was stunned as black orbs darkened and eyes narrowed.



The darkness that crept into the pharaoh’s eyes forced Intef to scoot backward until his body rammed against the stone wall. He watched silently as Itachi walked determinedly towards the door and threw open the doors, startling the guards.



“Sasuke!” The yell echoed through the corridors and the guards jumped to attention as Itachi walked through the barely lit hallway yelling for his brother. “Sasuke!”



“Wha-?” Sasuke stumbled from his room in time to see Itachi walk up, anger and frustration visible in his gaze.



“Itachi? Has something happened?” Sasuke blinked bleary eyed at his brother as he shook off sleep. He’d heard Itachi coming from down the hall and had immediately awoken and rushed to see what had upset his brother so.



“Naruto is gone. My Naruto is gone! The foolish idiot has probably been captured by Madara or killed. I want him back Sasuke…now!” Itachi’s mind was already formulating attack plans in his mind and knew he would need Sasuke to calm him down. His mind was spinning too wildly to focus and Sasuke was his only hope of becoming rational enough to get Naruto back.



“Was he with you last night? Perhaps he’s just in the garden or the baths?” Sasuke tried to sooth his upset brother. He wanted to protect the servants from Itachi in this state. It was luck that he had not run into servants while calling for Sasuke. There was no telling what Itachi would do in such a state. To the observer, Itachi only looked a bit miffed but if one looked at his eyes or was used to his moods as Sasuke was, they would see the slight madness that drifted in and out of obsidian orbs.



“I…He left me after I went to sleep.” stated Itachi, leaving out the part of Naruto having given him one of the best orgasms of his life before forcing him to sleep.



“I’ve never known you to sleep that hard, Itachi.” commented Sasuke, seeing the evasive look in Itachi’s eye and earning a glare from his brother for it.



“He’s not here. His servant woke me. The slave was frantic and I believe him when he says that Naruto promised to return before dawn.” Itachi took a few calming breaths as Sasuke sorted out the information in his mind. Sasuke was probably one of the quickest minds of this age. He was better suited for scholarly work rather than for war or battle. That he wanted to fight at his side only made the offer all that much more touching.



“Sasuke, I need him.” The words were whispered but Sasuke nodded and called for a servant.



“Yes, my lord?” the old man bowed to Itachi, then to Sasuke.



“Send for the generals and quickly. We don’t have much time.” Sasuke barked as he and Itachi walked towards the war room. If Madara had Naruto, this would take more than a few guards.



“Are you in control, Itachi?” asked Sasuke, cautiously.



“I am.” Itachi’s dark swirling eyes seemed to darken even more; Sasuke stared at him several moments before nodding.



“If Naruto is still alive, we may need to make some decisions. I don’t want to say this, but he’s not worth the welfare of our citizens and soldiers if rescuing him is a futile attempt.” Sasuke said with an air of trepidation.



“I know that, but I need him. Sasuke, I need him or I’m afraid I might do something that will destroy me.” Sasuke stared for a long time at his brother, watching emotions that he hadn’t known existed in Itachi flash through his eyes. Though his face remained neutral, he couldn’t deny, he was surprised at the depths that were represented in Itachi’s eyes.



Sasuke sighed and rubbed his eyes. All this was that idiot’s fault. God born he might be but he was still an idiot as was evident by this stunt. “Let’s see what the generals suggest and go from there.”



Itachi nodded in agreement, though he was already planning his own raid should the discussions not go according to his way of thinking. He also knew that Sasuke realized this and was planning accordingly. Smirking a little, he reflected on Sasuke. His younger brother had grown much in the last years and was an appropriate advisor for one in Itachi’s position.



Itachi took his seat and watched quietly as the generals were ushered into the room. The younger generals looked slightly peeved and Itachi took pleasure in noting that they were a bit rumpled in their clothing, obviously having been dragged from their comfortable beds.



Setau was just the opposite, and it was obvious that he’d been up for at least an hour. Unlike the rest of the generals, he’d battled his way to the top with sword and wit. He would be a formidable adversary to even the most battle seasoned warrior. The chief military advisor was dressed in perfectly creased kilt and military ornamentation. His cleanly shaven head gleamed in the lamp light. Years as an infantry soldier had been ingrained into his very being.



“I suppose you wish to be informed as to why you have been gathered here earlier than expected.” Sasuke began, his eyes scanned the generals, earning slight nods from all but Setau, who stood at attention, his full attention on Sasuke and his pharaoh.



“Last night, something precious to the pharaoh disappeared. We believe that his precious thing could be in the hands of Madara. The pharaoh wants it back so we are gathered to discuss options for retrieving it.” Sasuke saw confusion spread across faces.



“The little slave?” asked Setau as he looked carefully upon his pharaoh. He took the darkening of eyes and the flash of annoyance at having been read so easily.



“Yes. Naruto is gone. I want him back.” Itachi stated in a matter-of-fact tone. His voice brokered no refusal and Setau fought back the chuckle.



“Are you serious, my pharaoh? You called us from our beds to go looking for a runaway slave that was probably an agent for Madara anyway?” Seph blurted out the question and two black gazes were immediately focused on him.



“I…mean…that is to say, we have more important issues than to play search and rescue for a lost slave. We must focus on the task at hand.” Seph continued to back step as Itachi’s malicious gaze continued to be focused on him.



“My lord, if I may? I was notified by my men that the raiding party was a failure but not in the sense that one would think. My men approached the remains of the savage’s camp and were greeted with nothing. It appeared as if they left in a hurry. Now it could be that Madara reneged on a promise but I have my doubts. The way they left…it looked as if they left in a fearful hurry. I suspect something frightened them away.” Setau mused.



“Perhaps Madara sought to take him from you in retaliation for his savages abandoning him? It is well known that you value that slave over any other.” offered Tupsis, a minor general.



Sasuke leaned close and whispered, only loud enough for Itachi to hear. “If Naruto was still weak from the poisoning, that may very well be what happened. He’s going to keep Naruto close to his side as a jab at you.”



Itachi’s face became thunderous and several of the generals stepped back, Tupsis being the most fearful as he was the last that spoke.



“You!” Itachi barked, pointing to Tupsis. “I want you and Setau to devise a plan to get Naruto back.”



“My pharaoh!” gasped Tupsis before sending a plea filled look towards Setau.



“Don’t disappoint me. You have an hour to prepare.” growled Itachi before striding from the room, followed by Sasuke.



“Madara will destroy him if he knows he is mine.” snarled Itachi as he ducked inside an empty room and grabbing a vase, hurled it across to smash into hundreds of pieces against the wall.



“Perhaps not. Madara will know that harming Naruto would rile you but he also knows that dangling him before you would send you into an even deeper madness. We mustn’t forget that despite his youthful appearance, Naruto is a god.” Sasuke spoke soothingly but kept his distance as if uncertain of what Itachi would do.



“I was foolish to fall for his trick. I never thought he would disobey me.” Itachi slumped in a chair and stared at the broken shards of pottery.



“He seems the noble sort and if he thought it might help you, I think he would. He’s an idiot like that.” Sasuke spoke quietly.



The minutes ticked by and Itachi remained silent. Sasuke guarded the door, preventing any from entering as both brothers awaited news from their generals. Neither were the type to have unoccupied minds and were developing their own plans should the generals fail them.



A knock sounded on the door and Tupsis stepped inside. Bowing low, the general began to speak. “Pharaoh, I believe we have a plan…”



IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI



Several miles from the palace in the outskirts of the city, a large ornate tent shook from the strong desert winds. Inside, a crimson eyed man gazed on his captive with interest. His servants had long since been dismissed and there he sat, gazing at the golden haired young man.



Madara’s fingers tapped gently on his leg as he looked over the naked youth. He searched for what was so special about the boy that he could be so prized by his nephew. His looks were striking but Itachi was the sort to grow bored by looks alone. His skin was virgin soft and the color of finely tanned hide but still, it was nothing so amazing that it would make him indispensable.



“What is it about you?” Madara stood and walked around the center pole, where Naruto was secured tightly.



Eyes narrowed as he looked on the unconscious blonde. It was an hour past dawn and the boy still slept. Even tied in such a way to the center pole of his tent, he seemed dead to the world. Madara picked up the collar that was lying on his table. It was made with exquisite craftsmanship. The gems were nearly perfect and the engraving artfully done. Otherwise, it was just a collar. The gem that dangled from the brown thong was another thing entirely. Its beauty rivaled every jewel or crystal that he’d ever seen. It sparkled with an inner light that never seemed to diminish.



A low moan from the center of the room drew Madara’s attention and he tossed the jewel on the table beside the collar. Watching with interest, Madara attention was completely on the boy before him. What secrets would be revealed about Itachi and his weakness. Once this child was broken, Itachi would be as good as his.



It would be a delicious treat to break something that seemed so pure and untainted. His blood began to heat at the thought of seeing blood trickling from cuts in that pure skin. It was a pity he was a boy. Madara always liked a good fuck after his fun but preferred women. He would likely have to call for one of his slaves to service him.



“I know you are awake, pretty boy. Open your eyes and look at me when I talk to you.” Madara settled in the chair as a servant brought in a case and laid it on a small table. “I suppose you are wondering who I am?”



“You’re Madara, Itachi’s uncle.” Naruto said defiantly.



“Hmm, you know of me. You know, I find it interesting that a mere pleasure slave can call the pharaoh, god on earth, by his given name. Such an interesting little boy you are. You and I will have a lot of fun.” Madara stood, poured a goblet of wine and sipped it as his gaze took in the determined blue eyes that rivaled the sky in beauty. No, this one would not break easy. He fought back the urge cackle like a madman. He really did hate when they broke easily. This boy would be so much fun.



Naruto shuffled a bit, testing the strength of the chains which held him pressed against the large pole that occupied the center of the tent. His eyes followed the movement of the dark haired main that paced the tent. Frowning with frustration, Naruto slumped against the wood. He was still too weak. That poison had really taken its toll on him. His body really should have divested itself of the poison but it seems that the concoction slowed down his natural healing. Last night had used up his small bit of reserve energy and he was left weak and at this man’s mercy.



“Did you know that my brother was the great Pharaoh Uchiha? On my mother’s death bed, she made me promise that I would never hurt my brother and so I waited and plotted. When my first failed attempt on Itachi was discovered, Uchiha set me from the realm. That was a mistake. He should have known to keep his friends close and his enemies closer.” Madara smiled almost deviously as a set of rather large Nubians lifted Naruto and bound his arms around the pole so that his back was to Madara.



“I was free to do as I wished and now that he is dead I can take what should have been MINE.” Madara snarled out as he grabbed the offered whip and slashed it across Naruto’s back.



Naruto jerked in surprise as a cry was ripped from his throat. He had not been expecting the attack and as such was caught by surprise. Naruto was no stranger to pain but the sting of a whip in the hand of a knowledgeable user was a harsh thing to experience. It was obvious that Madara knew how to wield the weapon with deadly precision.



“Ah, you are surprised, little slave? Don’t worry, I promise to start you off slowly.” Madara flicked the whip across Naruto’s back with only enough force to bring up a welt. He didn’t want to bloody him up too fast.



Naruto’s nails dug into his hands and he bit his lip to keep from giving the man what he wanted. He wanted to hear screams. It was so obvious. He wanted to break Naruto into nothing and show Itachi what a worthless pet he was. Naruto would not allow it. He would bear any torture if it kept Itachi safe.



Madara frowned. He could tell the young man was in pain. Hell, anyone having the whip brought to their backs would be in pain. Red welts criss-crossed the tan flesh. A few even welled with blood. What Madara couldn’t understand was why did Naruto fight so hard to hold in his cries? Was it pride?



“I suppose that is enough of a warm up. Time for the fun to start.” Madara had barely finished stating the words when he sliced the whip viciously across the skin of Naruto’s back, tearing through flesh and causing blood to dribble slowly down his back.



Madara closed his eyes at the choked cry that was released. That was the sounds he wanted to hear. Granted, before he was finished, they would be so loud that the boy’s voice would break. Rolling his arm back, Madara laid another strip across the back and a gasp escaped Naruto’s lips before he latched on with his teeth to stifle the cries.



Naruto closed his eyes as tears leaked from them. He knew they were red. There would be no hiding it. Pain brought out the monster. It was all he could do to force the monster in him into submission. He’d hoped that something would distract Madara from his course but his entire focus seemed to be on breaking him. Another strike fell across his back and he was unable to hold back the cry. If he released the monster, he wasn’t certain he could force him back again. It longed for blood and would not be so easily sated.



“Why are you still holding back?” snarled Madara as he began to savage Naruto’s back with a vicious anger. His eyes flashed red and sweat began to drip down his temples and chest as his wielded the whip. Yelling out in frustration, he flung the whip across the tent and walked up to Naruto, yanking back the head pressed weakly against the pole.



Madara frowned as Naruto’s eyes were clenched shut and clenched his hand tighter. “Open your eyes. Show me your soul” he commanded.



Naruto took a deep breath, opened defiant blue eyes and spat blood tinged spittle at the man. Madara brought out a knife and held it over the pulsing vein of Naruto’s neck. Blood trickled from the tiny nick and Madara watched as the eyes never wavered. Releasing the blonde, he stepped back and took a calming breath.



“Clean up this mess.” Madara snarled to a cowering servant and exited the tent to discuss tactics with his generals. Without the savages, things would have to be adjusted.



Naruto slumped against the pole and wavered in and out of consciousness. A tiny voice broke his mental solitude. “If you just give him what he wants, it’s not so bad.”



Pain filled eyes opened and a dark skinned woman, about twenty or so stared at him. Down one side of her face were several horrible burns and he imagined that if she stood naked before him, they would continue on her body as well. One eye was white, obviously dead, while the other gazed at him with pity and understanding.



“I would shame my father if I gave into such.” gasped out Naruto as he felt the touch of a cloth on his back.



“I suppose I should be grateful for my scars. They keep the men away and I am not required to serve Lord Madara.” whispered the woman as she began to clean the wounds. “These will scar. Some are very deep. I will clean them and get you something for pain.”



Naruto nodded but no sooner had the words been uttered did he collapse into oblivion. For the longest time, he swirled on tides of pain and agony. He wondered if Madara had returned to torture him more when a gentle shaking brought him back into awareness.



The scarred servant was before him once more, offering a heated brew to his lips. His dry and cracked lips longed for moisture and Naruto figured death by poison couldn’t be any worse than the pain he was already in. Sipping the bitter brew, Naruto coughed and turned his head but a gentle hand held him in place and forced the liquid down his throat.



Exhausted, Naruto slumped against the pole and miraculously, the pain began to subside, if only a bit. Any ease at this moment was a gift. It allowed Naruto more control over his inner demon. He’d almost lost the battle earlier. It had been a close call. It was so tempting to give in. Without his necklace, the binding of the darkest part of his soul was tenuous at best.



“I heard rumors of you. You are prized most by the pharaoh but you should prepare yourself for he may not want you after he sees you. Men such as him treasure beauty over all else.” She spoke as if from experience and Naruto, despite the pain in his body, felt great pity for her.



“Lord Madara will do so much worse to you before it is over. Give him what he wants, bend to his wishes.” Though the words held a plea, Naruto shook his head negative.



“I can not. It is not my way to bow to another, other than my lord father and the great gods who rule over me.” Naruto rested his head on the pole. His arms ached from holding him aloft and his legs felt weak from the pain he’d endured. Closing his eyes, he searched for inner equilibrium as the girl finished cleaning the blood from his back. Some still oozed from some of the deeper wounds and there was nothing to be done about it.



“The sun is nearly at its zenith. I will pray for you. He will return soon.” she smiled sadly and exited the tent.



Naruto watched her go and contemplated her words. He knew his body would heal to perfection once it recovered from the poison, but until then, his wounds would scab and ooze. It was uncomfortable. Every time he shifted, he felt the wounds reopen and begin oozing blood once more.



Since receiving the draught of herbal medicine, his pain had become bearable. He wondered if his attempt to assist Itachi had been worth it. Would Itachi do something foolish in an attempt to retrieve him? Closing his eyes, he felt tears trickle down his face and drip silently into the sand below, mixing with the blood that had fallen earlier.



Madara stormed into his tent and glared at the blonde hanging limply. A message had arrived via arrow and been brought to Madara immediately. The contents of the missive demanded that Naruto be returned and then for Madara to leave the land or he would forfeit his life. The gall and arrogance of the man to make such requests of him, Madara, king of the south. Even without his savage warriors, Madara’s army out numbered Itachi’s by at least two to one.



“Your pharaoh has demanded you back.” growled Madara.



Naruto lifted tired eyes to the angry man. Actually, it wasn’t anger, so much as annoyance. He dislikes being ordered to do anything, thought Naruto. Naruto refused to respond to the taunt. He understood Madara now. He used fear to control people, fear and promises that he would never keep.



“How about let’s give them a show. Your beloved pharaoh is watching from the walls of the city. Lets show him what a good little pet you have been.” snarled Madara before turning to the large guards. “Cut him down and bring him to me.”



Madara left the tent and strode determinedly to city walls, his army behind him. He sneered at the arrogant way that Itachi looked down one him, as if he was a bug to be crushed. Madara was destined to be king long before Itachi and he would fulfill his destiny.



“You have something of mine. I want it back.” shouted Itachi from his perch, his generals and archers positioned and ready.



“Ha! You lost your little toy and now he’s mine. I don’t like to share.” taunted Madara.



“Don’t make me destroy you. My father would not want his only brother killed for something as petty as the throne.” Itachi shot a glance to Sasuke, who nodded and left the wall. Madara’s attention would be fully focused on Itachi and it would be the opportune moment to snag Naruto. Sasuke was a master at appearing invisible in even the most open area. If anyone was fit to grab Naruto, it was him.



“I’m afraid I may have broken your toy. So sorry.” smirked Madara as two guards dragged a stumbling Naruto and tossed him to the ground before Madara’s feet.



Naruto attempted to stand but his legs would not hold him. Falling to the sand once more, he closed his eyes in happiness at the sound of Itachi’s voice. The silkiness of it poured over him and soothed away the darkness that crept along his eyesight.



“Give him back.” Itachi’s voice turned as cold as his eyes and Madara felt the smallest trickle of fear work down his spine before he pushed it aside. Reaching down, he grasped Naruto by the hair and pulled him to his feet. Naruto swayed fell against a nearby guard, his back on full display for Itachi.



Angry didn’t even begin to describe the feelings that were coursing through Itachi at this moment. The man had hurt Naruto. The only thing Itachi cared about was wringing every bit of life from Madara’s body. His eyes flared and took a step forward. “Give him to me and leave.”



“Very well.” Madara drew his sword and turned to Naruto with an evil gleam in his eye. “But he didn’t say how I had to return you.”



Naruto turned from the guard he clung to just in time to feel the iron blade pierce his abdomen. Time seemed to stand still for everyone. Sasuke, who was only several feet away, froze and watched as the blade entered Naruto. Itachi’s vision went black he drew his weapon, giving the order to attack. For Naruto, however, it seemed as if it was happening to someone else.



He felt his body falling to the ground as Madara rushed for cover from the volley of arrows and spears that were launched. The sand was so warm that if felt like heated coals, or perhaps it was that his body was suddenly very cold. Choking a little on blood that rose into this throat, Naruto turned to spit and saw Sasuke at his side. Not the prince that he longed for but a friendly face, none the less.



“Sasuke…my horn….” Naruto’s voice was barely a whisper and Sasuke struggled to understand him.



“Naruto…don’t talk. I’m going to pull you from the battleground. Just hang on.” Sasuke whispered frantically at pain stricken face of someone he had come to care deeply for in the short time he had known him.



“Ah…Sasuke…I need…my horn…Intef knows.” Naruto grunted as he was dragged to the shadows of the wall.



“Horn?” Sasuke was confused.



“Intef has…horn. You…must bring…it to me.” Naruto’s eyes drifted shut and Sasuke frantically shook him, fear of the highest order trembled through his body as he cried out.



“Naruto….don’t die…NARUTO!”



To be continued