Marked By Jutsu

Marked By Jutsu


Part XIX


Itachi


I turned nervously to face my guest, my song dying on my lips. Ruby eyes gleamed vividly behind stylish silver frames. The similarities between Sasuke and his brother were astounding, I had to admit. Their faces were feminine and perfectly sculpted with dark sexy eyes, full lips, and flawless milk-white skin. The few differences between them were small, yet mattered the most. Itachi had two scars along his cheeks right below his eyes, and his eyes were always striking crimson. If he didn't arouse my suspicion so much I would have thought him orgasmically hot. Kyuubi didn't seem to mind though. His libido always caused me to get hot and bothered around the Uchiha.


"There's no need to stop on account of my presence. I came down here to listen to you."


"But you can hear me anytime on disc or otherwise."


"I wanted to hear your voice alone, untainted by anything else....any foreign noises. I can only do that in the studio."


I sighed and turned away from him again. "You thrive on making me uncomfortable, don't you?" I could still feel his gaze burning into me. "What did you want me for anyways?"


"I have a little project for you concerning my foolish little brother."


"Hey! You can't break your promise!" I snapped while turning to face him. "You promised you wouldn't hurt him."


"Be still. This has to do with some of the stupid choices he's made." Itachi walked around me his shoes making soft clacks on the tile. "Sasuke, as you know is very stubborn, and his relationship with me is not of the best nature. Despite this, I am still trying to look out for him in my subtle ways, but even I cannot stand for his boorish idiocy any longer."


"What do you mean?" I asked suspiciously, while narrowing my eyes. "You don't seem like the type to help someone."


"I'm not, but I did not kill my family to protect Sasuke only to have him make the same mistake as the rest of them."


I started at that statement. So it was true what he had done. He had just so nonchalantly stated so. I looked up at him in a fearful revelation. His ruby eyes gleamed, almost mischievously at me. In that instant though, I knew that every bit that I'd heard, and what he said, it was all true. A small semblance of a smile crossed his lips as he gazed down at me.


"So then you really did mess him up, just as it happened a long time ago." I sighed sadly and looked away. "What kind of person can kill his own family, his own parents and then leave his younger brother mentally unstable?"


Itachi walked to me and raised my face to look him in the eyes. "What I did was for Sasuke's benefit. You shall be the only one to know why. That family was beyond saving, not even his innocence could have saved it." His piercing red eyes softened very slightly. "The dumb thing needs you, but his damnable pride keeps him from admitting it." He followed that statement with an indignant snort.


"What does this have to do with you needing me?"

"You've heard of the statement, 'You never know what you have until it's gone' yes?" I nodded. "Well, this maybe the only way for my foolish brother to understand that wealth and power are not everything."


"You already said you wouldn't take me away from my band."


"I won't. We're going to work with your band for this. Your drummer and bassist will know, as will your manager. What I need you personally for is to make you stand out. I'm going to showcase your voice and use you in my music videos too. What you have welling inside of you is what I want."


"Wait, how does this have anything to do with Sasuke?"


"Your drummer and bassist obviously know of your talent and they appreciate it. If I take you and show all of your ability, he will realize what he's giving up."

"Why are you doing this?"

"For my own personal gain." he chuckled, "Hell is a terrible place...." His eyes had that mischievous glint in them again. "I'll go talk to your manager about this. I'm sure he'll find it hard to disagree."

The way he stressed the word hard made me think that the poor glasses guy had a whole lot of problems coming his direction. I was sure Kabuto had plenty of problems to deal with just by dealing with me and he obviously didn't need any more. I wondered what the heck he meant by his statement about hell. It made absolutely no sense. I sighed and switched the equipment off in the studio, too bothered to sing anymore.


The little pad was empty when I got back. That meant Neji was at the gym, Sasuke was on some sexual expedition and Gaara was either in a meeting with Kabuto or his siblings. I sighed and plopped myself down on the couch. I knew that I was going to regret agreeing to what Itachi had set up. I thought it quite odd for Itachi to go against Orochimaru's wishes. I suppose it had to do with being from an elite clan. I bet Sasuke's behavior upset him in that manner, though it seemed to me that Itachi was a bit on the promiscuous side himself. Maybe that was just an act. It was hard to tell because he seemed to be an expert on social masks. I sighed tiredly and reached into one of the couch cushions looking for my copy of Icha Icha Paradise that Jii-san had given me. I frowned when I came up empty handed.


"Damn!" I shouted while flopping myself backwards on the couch and covering my face with a throw pillow. "Who took my book?!" I wanted so badly to immerse myself in something that wouldn't hurt my brain, but alas, no avail. "Damn, damn, damn, damn it!"


"Looking for something Naruto?" I turned to the voice and uncovered my pillow-hidden frown. "You shouldn't leave things like this laying around for people to get ideas." Ino grinned and tossed the book to me. "Ya perv."


"Hey! You know I'm not like that. I like guys." I smiled widely and flipped the book open. "I like to read these because they are actually pretty well-written. They take my mind off the more stressful aspects of the band." I raised myself up and motioned her over.


She hesitantly indulged me. I flipped the book to the beginning and started over again with her. After a few pages she was actually reading on her own will. I smiled softly and continued, content to be there with her. I supposed that this feeling was what it was like to have an older sister. Eventually she got up, but she put her hair ribbon in the book as a place marker for later. After a while I moved from the couch and to my own little space to go to sleep.

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I was in the house of my ancestor. He looked to be in his early twenties as he sat in the center of the space room staring at a small frame. I walked behind him to see what it was of. No surprise that in it was a picture of his team; Sasuke and the pink haired girl.


"It's funny... my most important people.... the ones I fought so hard to protect are all dead."


I looked around to see if he was talking to anyone, but it was to me so I responded. "How did they die?"


He turned and looked at me. I wondered if once I was finished growing, I'd resemble his beauty. His eyes were a deep blue with hints of red just around slightly elongated pupils; shaggy sun-gold hair that fell every which way; sharp crisp, facial structure; and slightly bronzed shimmering skin. He was a beautiful man and I hoped that my body would soon become like his.


"By my hands....."


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When I awoke my face was dry with tears. I scratched at the streaks idly while moving from the bed. From what I could tell it was still early. There were no sounds of movement from the others and no smell of breakfast. I sighed and moved from my room to wash the dryness away. Upon exiting the bathroom I saw Sasuke curled up asleep on the couch. That was quite an odd site in itself. I quietly approached him noticing fading bruises on his milky white neck. I sighed and thought over what Itachi had said.


"This is going to hurt, but anything........anything for you to be happy."

Still in my pajama pants I left the small lounge and headed toward the studio that I knew Itachi would be waiting at. His studio was simple yet beautiful all at the same time, housing many different instruments. When I walked in I noticed him sitting at a keyboard, clad only in black and red pinstripe pants and his silver frames. He didn't even glance up from his music as he motioned me over.


Red eyes peered up at me as I stopped at the corner of the piano. "Are you ready to work with me on this?" His gaze was tired and deathly serious. "This matter is much bigger than you know and if I don't have your full cooperation.....I won't hesitate to eliminate the problem." In one fluid motion he was standing with his glasses held lightly in one hand the earpiece resting just against his lip.


I nodded and looked at the ground evaluating my bare feet. I started as I heard feet shuffling behind me. From the corner of my eye I could see a tall man of an almost bluish pallor walking toward Itachi. I chanced a look and noticed sharp black eyes and filed teeth. His hair was deep cerulean though, and a pretty shade at that. He was an over all exotic man. His appearance did not surprise me though, it was his actions. He sidled up next to the Uchiha and yanked his head back shoving his tongue between the slightly parted lips. Itachi did nothing against the action. In fact, he encouraged it by reaching out and digging his nails into the shoulder of the other man leaving deep welts in the pale flesh. The two separated and I caught a glimpse of a tongue stud sliding back between blue-painted lips.


"Nee Itachi, who is this little cutie who seems to have wandered in here?" His voice was low and held a hint of malicious humor to it. I watched warily as he circled me much like a shark does its prey. "Is this the one? The kid you mentioned?"


Itachi merely nodded his head once and refocused his eyes on me. I watched as he gracefully slid the frames back up to rest lightly on his nose. It made me briefly wonder what Sasuke would look like with glasses. Itachi grabbed my chin between two perfectly manicured nails and forced me to look at his face. He seemed to be evaluating me with that unhinging stare. A soft smirk crossed his lips.


"No backing out now. You keep up your end of it and I'll do the rest." His hand dropped back to his side. "By the way, your companions already know, but if any of this gets out to Sasuke.....you'll have a big problem on your hands. So I'd encourage you not to tell him what's going on. Let the media do it for you."


All morning I sat in the foreign studio, listening to Itachi play his amazing music. It was no wonder that Sasuke was so jealous. Itachi was well versed in several instruments and had an excellent voice to boot. The words he wrote in the songs were so seductive. They seemed to just drip with sensuality. By about the third song my blood was boiling with dangerous desires. Itachi was just sitting there though, just singing softly while strumming away. I watched his fingers glide over the strings intently. The movements were precise, yet so entirely fluid. It made me imagine what things he could do to manipulate a person with his fingers. I looked up abruptly when he stopped singing and was met with an eyeful.


"You know not to disturb me..." he whispered to the taller man while looking entirely more dangerous than he sounded.


It was quite obvious that the other had no particular regard to my presence as he leaned down to whisper, "I want to fuck you like an animal..."


Itachi frowned lightly but said nothing for the longest time. His position was suddenly swapped with the taller man's, his hands holding a guitar string dangerously close to the other's throat. "I told you not to disturb me when I was practicing."

It sounded quite deadly and I wanted to leave the room before seeing blood spilled with a guitar string. The sharkish guy though, he didn't seem the least bit scared or fazed by the unspoken threat. In fact, he was grinning.

"Taking charge today, are we?"


Itachi snorted softly and turned around ignoring the other man. His eyes were back on me again. I stood up quickly pushing the chair back as he circled me. His hand slid lazily across my hip as he evaluated me for what seemed like the millionth time this morning. It was cool to the touch and sent shivers down my spine. Then he began to whisper.... he was so close to me that I could smell the green tea hair products he used.


"You let me violate you... you let me desecrate you....
you let me penetrate you, you let me complicate you...." His voice moved to the other ear as a hand wrapped around me. "Help me I broke apart my insides, help me I've got no soul to sell. Help me the only thing that works for me, help me get away from myself."(1) Oh god I hoped he wouldn't go to the next line of the song.

Luckily he didn't. He moved away silently. "Kabuto-san.... how are you feeling today?"


"You're giving me extra stress by keeping my singer here. He's already late for practice. Whatever shall I tell his bandmates?" He sounded overly sarcastic, but I could hear a grin in his words. "Come on Naruto. You can play with Itachi and Kisame some other time. There are more important things to worry about."


Quickly I followed him out only bowing my head as I left their studio. God I was lucky Kabs interrupted when he did. But even so I was burning up. I looked at him to question, but as I gazed up and noticed a whole new line of bruises continuing beneath the hem of his shirt. It was killing me inside with curiosity. I wanted so badly just to ask him what made him sit there and take that abuse. I sighed and looked back at the floor doubting he'd say anything against his boss anyway. His loyalty was admirable, but sometimes I wondered if there was something else there.


"This is a dangerous game you're playing Naruto. Orochimaru-sama is not stupid. He will find out and crush your dreams, so whatever you plan on doing you better get done fast and with as little incident as possible."


I smiled to myself knowing that Kabuto would not tell what was going on. Sometimes it was nice to have a sneaky boss. Kabuto himself loved his own share of good intrigues so I knew my secrets were safe; besides, I knew a lot of the skeletons in his closet too.


When I walked into the practice studio late all of their eyes shifted to me. Ino looked up at me with relief on her face but also curiosity as to what would cause me to be late. I saw a hint of a smirk in Neji's eyes as he looked me over. I blushed realizing that I was still in my pajama pants. Sasuke was frowning as usual while the pink headed girl, who seemed to follow him everywhere, sat swooning on the chair across from him. She scowled when his eyes moved to notice me. His coal colored eyes seemed to be drawn to the tattoo on my stomach. I could feel Kyuubi stir beneath it. Rather than let him question me about it I walked over and picked up a microphone.


"Let's just get started so we don't have too much work to do later."


Practice felt long. For some reason I felt oddly sexy. Like for some reason, and I'm guessing it was because I had visited Itachi's studio before, I was pouring much more sex appeal into the way I was singing. I felt confident. It was different, but I felt good. Everybody, even Kabuto seemed surprised with my new, more mature style to the music. The feeling was like my voice was making love to the music that my band was playing. I had to admit that it was very sexy and I wanted to do it more. The expressions they were giving me just encouraged my behavior. Had merely sitting there listening and watching him influenced me that much? I didn't really know, but I was addicted to my new seductiveness. I started to sway into the music letting it roll over me as I sang. My libido was racing and all I did was push it more into the music.


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I noticed after that heated practice session that my music and lyrics just didn't have the sex appeal for how I wanted to sing now. Nor did they have the emotions that I wanted to put into them. I went back down to the studio alone later so that I could try to work on that. Itachi was an emotionless man outside of the music, it was amazing how he seemed so empathetic when he sang. I supposed I would have plenty of time to ask him that since I was going to be around him a lot more. Perhaps upping my sexuality was a big part of his plan. I had seen the look Sasuke gave me while I was being suggestive, and that was just in pajamas. I could just imagine with one of Ino's costumes the effect it would have. I sighed and plopped onto my thinking stool trying to piece together sensual lyrics.


After racking my brain, I still could only come up with the angsty emotional things. I was quite pleased though with a few lines I wrote. There was something so me about them.

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel (2)

I smiled as I read over the sloppily written words. The rest of the song could come later. This would do for now. The words had just come from deep inside of me like they had been borne from my ancestor's thoughts or something. I could feel Kyuubi purring curiously within me wondering about the change in my mood. The mental block between his mind and mine was lifted so he could see the words. (He normally put it up when I was doing lyrics so he didn't bother me with his incessant hormones.) Warmth bubbled up inside from his approval of the words, letting me know that they were worthy of my past self.


Even short sessions in the studio left me feeling alive. I wanted to do something, anything to get my energy out. Gaara was the only one in the lounge though. I sighed wondering if I could get him to maybe go to a club with me. I didn't really want to go by myself. Normally Ino or Neji would go with me. Surprisingly enough, when I asked Gaara to go with me he just shrugged as if it was ok. I grinned and pulled him into the bathroom with me. Gaara watched me silently from his seat on the bath ledge. I grinned at him again and then turned to mess with my make-up. Ino had made me so accustomed to wearing it that I always wore it when I went out at night. Gaara was already beautiful and deadly looking as it was so I wouldn’t risk trying to dress him up. I doubted I had to worry about either of us being approached. I moved on to brushing my hair and trying to tame it in some manner. His hand stopped me though.

"Leave it....." he was quiet and sounded almost embarrassed, "I like it that way..."


"Well alright then. Let me change and we can be off."


I took Gaara to one of my favorite haunts. Kinjutsu was a nice club with an excellent variety of music. The club was large enough to service a number of people comfortably and was clean as far as clubs go. Everything was decked out in shades of green and the walls were lined with stained glass. The club had two floors to it and several different rooms. A balcony circled the entirety of it with several staircases leading to the lower floors and some dance platforms. There was also a bar and dance floor on the roof. Most people just went up there to makeout though. The view from the top of the club was kinda nice though.


I took Gaara's hand and led him inside. He had never been to a club as part of the venue goers. He had only been as one of the acts so everything was very different to him. His eyes drank in the scenery and I felt his hand squeeze mine a little tighter. I smiled and pulled him along after me. I figured the best way to ease his nerves was to dance. I looked back at him and saw a blush staining his cheeks as a result of what some of the other dancers were doing.


"It's not that bad Gaara," I smiled again and turned him around and wrapped my arms around him. "Let the music take control." I didn't need to see his face to know that he was blushing. "Besides, no one is watching us."


He was stiff at first, perhaps nervous about being that close to me, but slowly he started to relax. His body melded to mine as we danced, and we seemed to move like one being twisting and thrusting as the music commanded us. I'm not sure how long we were like that but suddenly I started to feel really hot so I stopped him. I knew that the heat was from Kyuubi, not to say that how we were dancing didn't affect me, but the body temperature and dizziness was from my body's tenant.


"Come on, let's go up to the roof for some fresh air."

It was beautiful outside. A clear night and from this particular club one could get a perfect view of Konoha's Hokage mountain. I looked upon the stone face of my ancestor and breathed deeply. Gaara setttled himself next to me on the railing and just stared off with me. I watched him as he leaned forward onto his arms and lowered his head. Something changed in me right then as I watched Gaara. He looked beautiful under the mix of synthetic lights and moon glow and at this moment, I wished that I had fallen in love with him instead of Sasuke.


"Nee Gaara-san....."

When he turned and looked at me I leaned forward and kissed him. His cheeks stained bright red and his eyes widened. His lips were soft and because of his minty lip balm, my own tingled at the contact. I grinned at him as we separated. His eyes seemed to be searching me. With my left hand I reached out and skimmed my fingers along his cheek. A soft sigh crossed his lips and then I kissed him again. This time more fervently. He turned his body to wrap his arms around me slowly and almost shyly. We parted again for a brief moment only to engage once again with lips and tongue. Gaara made a soft moaning noise as I teased his tongue lightly by sucking on the tip. Just through our kisses I could feel his body temperature rising. His mouth was so inviting and I couldn't help but plunder it for all I was worth. It was like I wanted to kiss him so senseless that he'd forget everything. I felt one of his hands shyly running his fingers through the hair at the base of my neck while his other curled around the sleeve of my shirt.


"Let's go..... We don't need this place..." I whispered against his lips.

A/N: DAMN I am sooooooo sorry!! I have had like no internet access! I'm sorry guys, but I'm not going to respond to reviews anymore. One of the sites is being bitchy about that so to be fair I'm not go to do it for any of the sites. I really hope you guys forgive the lateness and continue to read. I promise I'll make it worth your while. Thanks for reading and reviewing. AND as always HOOOOOOJ thanks to my Beta Amai. She fixes my mess-ups. ^_^


1- Closer by NIN

2-Scars by Papa roach (the chorus actually comes from a line that Hannibal says in red dragon)