Control

Control

Chapter 2: Adjusting

Itachi winced, his wrist hurt horribly. Deidara kept glancing up at him as he wrapped the bandages around his wrist, making sure the splints stayed in place. The blonde’s hands worked gently and swiftly, but that didn’t make the pain lessen.

“You won’t be able to use this arm much for six to eight weeks, yea…”

“Whatever.” Deidara glared at Itachi, but continued his work, not being as gentle as before, cause the brunet to bite back a yelp of pain. “What the hell!?” Itachi glared darkly at the blonde who returned it by tightening the bandage too much. When a cold shiver ran up his spine he looked over Deidara’s shoulder to see Kisame in the doorway, arms crossed in an angry manner; he turned back to Deidara with his head bowed. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

“Just hold still, yea.” Itachi nodded obediently and tried to ignore the hard glare from Kisame.

Kisame smirked and walked off. Deidara finished and then used some non-explosive clay to make it hard, so it couldn’t break easily. Itachi pulled back carefully and looked at it. Deidara had done a surprisingly good job for someone who was not a trained medic.

“So, Kisame-san did that you? Yea…” Itachi glanced up at Deidara to look him in the eye, but the blonde was clearing his supplies and cleaning off the extra clay. He just stared at him; then the blonde turned back. “Well?” the brunet shrugged and looked back at his wrist, afraid of what Kisame may do if he tells him.

“He did, yea…” Itachi stiffened. “Kisame-san has a quick temper if you didn’t notice, he doesn’t like people giving him an attitude or disrespecting him; he is very friendly usually and isn’t a jerk off like you are, yea.” Deidara’s words settled in his mind, making him wish he’d know this before.

“You may have only been here six months, but we are all sick of you already; none of us are used to a thirteen year old brat acting like he’s our superior. Sasori-Danna is ready to kill you. But it looks like you’ve been knocked down a peg or two, yea.” Itachi fought the urge to snort. He had no idea just how many pegs…

“So you better watch your mouth and start showing some respect and you’ll get it. Maybe make a friend or two here, yea.”

Itachi looked back to the blonde nervously and nodded. He would heed his advice if it would save his life. Then Deidara gently took hold of his wrist, holding a red marker in the other. ‘Be more careful – Dei-kun.’ Itachi raised an eyebrow at the blonde and the neat, curvy handwriting on his cast, receiving a bright smile and a wave in response as the blood stood and exited

“Itachi,” Kisame called out from the doorway, causing the brunet to look up sharply, fear pooling in his gut. Now he always felt terrified around the older male, great…once feared now fearful.

“Y-yes Master?” Itachi stared at the blue-skinned man, who just stared right back.

“Leader-san has a mission for us; we’re going to a village in Rain Country to retrieve a man with valued information. Let’s go.” Kisame turned on his heel walking away. Itachi stood, following him several feet behind.

-

For several hours, the pair had been walking to their destination. The journey would take maybe two or three days, going at the moderate pace they started at, including re-energizing and mealtime. This time (and the silence with it) allowed the shock of the days earlier events to wear off, allowing Itachi to regain his normal confidence.

For whatever reason, Itachi felt much safer in the outdoors with Kisame, then again, he always felt like he had more of a chance with an opponent outdoors.

Side-by-side they walked, completely silent. Itachi liked that -- it gave him time to think.

‘Ok, so maybe I have been a bit demanding… I’ll never admit that to anyone.’ The brunet glanced up at Kisame quickly. ‘Especially him… But I am Uchiha Itachi! Possessor of the Mangekyou Sharigan. I do not deserve to be treated like some…some ANIMAL! I will not submit to this bastard, he can break every bone in my body before I am his damn slave!’ Itachi glared up at Kisame as they walked, the blue-skinned man noticing after a moment.

“What the hell is your problem?” Kisame asked idly. Itachi once more attempted to activate his Mangekyou Sharingan, yet again resulting in rigorous pain. He looked away and switched back to his emotionless mask.

‘Damn it...’ he thought dejectedly to himself.

“Nothing...Master.” ‘I need to stop saying that…’

Kisame looked forward again, not caring too much about his young partner’s problems as long as he remembered to keep his words and actions respectful. He enjoyed the fact that he now had control over the boy; he had grown so irritated by his belief that he could order him around. Even though the boy had been an ANBU Captain before becoming a missing nin, that didn’t allow him to take charge when he was among the lowest ranks in a new organization. You do not start at the top when you enter something like this as a new person. He better remember that or he’ll kill him, doesn’t matter how valuable he is to the Leader.

Itachi lowered his eyes as the angle of the sun hit him in the face, the warm yellow glow sinking below the horizon. Within minutes it became dark, the sky sparkling with many stars; the crescent moon offering a bit of light. The young Uchiha breathed deep, smelling the fresh summer night air. The night - his element, where he could use his devious skills to their highest potential, where he was undefeatable.

“We’ll be stopping for the night.” Kisame commanded and veered off the trail, heading into the forest. Itachi watched his back momentarily; fighting the urge to roll his eyes, and then followed him slowly to a clearing.

Itachi gathered wood for the fire while Kisame went to hunt or possibly fish. After finding enough to last the night, he went back to the clearing scanning the area with his normal Sharigan to make sure it was safe. He entered and began building the fire, starting it with a simple fire jutsu. He sat before the fire, poking it, making sure the burning wood stayed lit.

The brunet stared at his wrist blankly; it itched. At first he simply ignored it, continuing to focus on the fire that was causing him to grow overly warm. Then it started to get worse, he realized it itched because of his perspiration, so he moved away from the fire into a cooler place under a tree. Then Kisame entered the clearing and began cleaning the fish he caught, putting them on sticks over the fire.

Itachi stared at the back of Kisame’s head. He felt anger pool in his stomach, but kept his face expressionless. Suddenly dinner was served and the two ninja ate quietly. The blue-skinned man didn’t look at Itachi, just looked at the fire and ate his fill. The brunet however, kept glancing at Kisame.

“Staring is disrespectful. I’m sure I’ve made it clear about what would happen if you were disrespectful.” Kisame voiced gruffly, he tossed the remains of his meal into the fire. Itachi glared at him.

“I’m not some toy you can just throw around when I don’t please you. You’re acting like a self absorbed monster.” Itachi caught Kisame’s arm with his right hand as it came toward him, but was unable to prevent the large hand from grabbing his neck, as his wrist would not provide sufficient protection. He choked, as he was slammed against the ground, unable to bring air into his lungs.

“I’ve told you that I’d punish you for things like this! So keep quiet!” Kisame squeezed tighter, effectively bruising his partner’s neck. Itachi’s vision began to haze and then Kisame let go, standing up afterward. The brunet tried to regain his breath without appearing too frantic, but the blue-skinned man didn’t even look at him.

“You get the first watch, wake me in three hours.”

With that, he went and lay under a tree away from Itachi, promptly forcing himself asleep. Itachi massaged his throat tenderly as he seethed with anger. He was definitely too weak physically to fight this man, but in time, he should be able to. For now, he would play his little game, but when the time came, he would put Kisame back in his place.

-TBC-

A/N: Uh…no comment…review please!