Sinners of the Seven Seas

BETA READ BY MOODYSAVAGE!

 

This is a collaboration with the amazing JaydenNara!! :)

 

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Naruto watched in amusement as Konohamaru raced past him to accomplish his current task for their captain. The young cabin boy reminded Naruto - and everyone that had known him - of himself. He was excitable, headstrong and always smiling no matter the circumstances or how small the task. Two weeks out at sea, and the boy still had the same amount of expendable energy he did when they first left.



Leaning back against the railing, Naruto enjoyed the sea air as the sun shone high in the sky, warming his tan face. There was a shadowy glint to the right, and his head jerked to the side in time to see Konohamaru tumbling in the rigging, before losing his balance and quickly plummeting to the deck below.



The boy had climbed up to the crows nest with an order from the captain, but gravity was giving him a helping hand on his way down.



Springing into immediate action, Naruto took hold of a nearby rope and jumped. Swinging toward the boy, they collided in midair with a painful grunt, and Naruto hugged the boy close as the young teen clung to him, eyes wide with terror. Sliding gracefully down the rope, and dropping to the deck below, landing firmly on his feet, Naruto glared a little at the boy. “You have to be more careful Konohamaru!” he scolded firmly. “You’d be cabin boy jelly right now if I had not caught you!”



Dark blinking eyes filled with hero worship, and Konohamaru nodded quickly. “Yes Boss!” he exclaimed, pumping a fist into the air before turning to deliver the crow’s nest’s message to their Captain.



Shaking his head, Naruto chuckled to himself as his adoptive brother scuttled off. They were close, and had been since Naruto had been taken into the Sarutobi household. Konohamaru had also lost his parents at a young age, and was primarily looked after by his grandfather. Growing up together, Konohamaru had always trailed after the older blond, copying whatever he did in hopes of one day being as cool as his ‘nii-san’.



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A whiskey bottle hit the door frame, shattering on impact. The two men just entering the godforsaken bar glared across the room at the man who had just let the bottle sail, and he shook in his boots. The entire bar went deathly silent at the presence of the other two men, watching them cross the beer soaked floor to the bar.



The Uchiha’s had entered the building. Their presence filled the entire bar, putting the seedy patrons at unease. Even though they were in the neutral city of Tanzaku - where all pirates had a truce and no blood would be spilled unless a grievance was committed - any man with a will to live avoided the Uchiha brothers, especially the elder.



The elder man, a tall raven with a long ponytail tied at the base of his neck and dark bangs framing his face, ordered rum, but before the flustered barkeep could pour a glass, the bottle was snatched from his hands. Cold eyes swept the room, and Itachi, the older brother, crossed the room again to settle at a table in the far corner.



Snorting softly at his brothers actions, the shorter of the two took an empty seat at the bar and ordered the finest ale. His soft raven hair, with a blue tint in certain lights, was short and spiked out at the back, though his bangs were longer, stopping just below his chin, framing his pale face. While both men were striking in their features, the younger, Sasuke, was beautiful, something that had often worried Itachi when they were younger.



Gradually the noise in the bar picked up again as the men and women realized the Uchiha’s were not there to cause trouble, not that they usually did. More often than not it was men with something to prove, who stupidly decided to take on one or both of the Uchihas. It wasn’t long before the activities of the room were back in full swing - card games, fights, and the man handling of the barmaids - and no one paid the Uchiha’s any mind.



Both brothers sat on opposite ends of the room sipping their chosen drinks, both acutely aware of the other. Sasuke could feel his brothers’ dark penetrating gaze following his every move, and it annoyed the younger to no end. Itachi was over protective to the point of injuring himself while trying to be in two places at once, giving the younger raven very little to do during battle, unless Sasuke escaped his brothers’ watch. While Sasuke loved his brother more than life itself, Itachi went too far.



Two squeals of joy sliced through the air, making most men cringe at the volume. Ino and Sakura, two of the more popular dancers and servers in the establishment, rushed to Sasuke’s side, latching on to the teen without regard for his annoyance.



“Sasuke,” the pink haired woman cooed seductively. “You’ve been gone so long. We were worried something had happened to you.” She ran a manicured hand down his arm, fluttering her eyelashes.



“Yes Sasuke,” the blonde added in an equally sickly sweet voice. “We missed you. You should tell your brother you wish to visit us more. How can you stand to be away for so long?”



“Hn.” The young raven signalled the bartender for another drink, this time a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one go. He had little patience for simpering idiotic women who couldn’t take a hint. As long as they stopped over in this port, Ino and Sakura would stick to him like glue no matter his feeling on the matter or how he treated them, which was never kind. The only reason he allowed them this freedom tonight was for the benefit of the man across the room whose furious glare was burning holes in his back.



Itachi glared at the two women draped over his baby brother, and while he knew Sasuke took no pleasure in their company, he couldn’t help but be jealous of their contact. If he wasn’t so annoyed at the present situation, he may have found humour in the way his brother ignored them, or the annoyed look on the younger mans’ pale features.



There was a loud uproar, and a body went sailing through the air, landing on the table Itachi sat at. He stood, his expression darkening instantly from the look of indifference he had worn before, and the room fell silent for the second time that night. Even Ino and Sakura halted in their futile attempts to coerce the youngest Uchiha into their beds.



Amused, Sasuke turned to watch from his place at the bar as his brother shoved the man from his table. Kicking him aside, the feared Uchiha strode to the door, exiting to the inn above. Knowing this was his cue to exit, Sasuke finished one last glass before roughly brushing the leeches from his person, and following after his brother. The look on his brother’s face said he may have pushed too far this time.



The room was dark when Sasuke entered. He could see his brother silhouetted against the window, the moonlight pouring in around him. Silently crossing the distance between them, the younger man slid his arms around the trim waist of the older Uchiha, hugging him from behind. “I’m sorry, Itachi,” he murmured, resting his head between the taller mans’ shoulder blades.



“I know,” Itachi conceded, turning in his brothers arms, and wrapping his own around the smaller form. He hugged the boy to his chest, one arm wound tightly around the others’ waist, the other running long fingers through the soft raven locks of his baby brother. “But you are mine to love and protect,” he whispered into the dark hair. “Always.” He continued to pet his brother, an action he took great comfort in, and though he knew Sasuke didn’t always enjoy the habit from their childhood, the younger put up with it for his sake.



They stood together for a long while, enjoying each others’ company as the sounds of the nightly ruckus below floated up to them. The brief thought of whether any of their own crew had joined in yet wandered through their minds, but soon their thoughts were brought back to each other.



“The same goes for you as well, aniki,” Sasuke said quietly, breaking into their reverie. “You cannot be everywhere at once. You must trust me to defend myself. You know I am more than capable.” He tilted his head back to look into his brothers’ dark eyes, careful not to dislodge the comforting hand. “Training me yourself should be your first hint. I will not back down.”



Smiling at the determination swirling in his brothers expressive onyx orbs, Itachi nodded. “I know, otouto,” he said kindly, before leaning forward and pressing a tender kiss to the pale forehead. “I just can’t lose you.”



Sasuke sighed heavily. “And how do you think I would feel if I were to lose you, all because you were too stubborn to allow me to protect myself,” he said, trying to prove his point. “Or you,” he added. “You are just as much my responsibility as I am yours.”



“I will try to give you the freedom you desire,” Itachi agreed somewhat reluctantly. “Please do not be angry with me for my actions.”



Sasuke gave a small smile. “I am never angry with you,” he admitted, “just annoyed or frustrated.” He pressed his face into the crook of Itachi’s neck and inhaled. “Some pirates we are,” he mumbled just loud enough for the other to hear. The body holding him shook with the low chuckle reverberating through his brothers’ chest. “We’re so sappy and soft,” he continued, ignoring the smirk he could feel pressed to his temple. “Whispering sweet nothings to each other nightly. It’s a wonder someone has not discovered us yet.”



Releasing his brother, Itachi stepped back and brought a finger up to poke Sasuke in the forehead as he had since they were children. “Foolish otouto,” he said, chuckling again at his brothers’ all too true observation. “Let us go to bed. I want to sail by midday tomorrow.”



“Well then,” Sasuke murmured seductively, backing away and pulling his brother in the direction of the bed. “Shall we retire for the night?” Dropping the equally pale hand from his own, the young raven began to systematically strip himself of his clothing. He smirked at the hungry look on his brothers’ face when he finally stood naked before the only man he had ever loved.



Itachi bit back a moan as his devious baby brother scooted back on the bed, sprawling in all his naked glory for Itachi’s eyes. “Otouto,” he murmured as he hastily removed his own clothing.



“Come cuddle with me aniki,” the young Uchiha pleaded, playing the innocent, and turning wide onyx eyes to his older brother. “Please.” He slid under the covers, holding up a corner to display his pale body, inviting his brother to join him. “I’m cold ‘Tachi,” he pouted, his bottom lip jutting out to ridiculous proportions.



If anyone was to ever see Sasuke like this, Itachi would kill them on the spot. This side of his precious baby brother was for him and him alone. When they were alone, they were themselves again, not the hardened bloodthirsty criminals they portrayed to the world around them for their own defence. Whoever had slaughtered their clan ten years ago was still out there, and by no means ignorant of who they were. Their name was known across the globe and hopefully their act was enough to keep them at bay.



“Otouto,” he purred, crawling in after his brother. “If you’re not careful, you may push me too far, and I know all you really want tonight it to have me hold you close while we sleep.” It was obvious to the older man that the younger wasn’t interested in more by the lack of arousal between his legs, but even as he spoke his hands wandered over the soft supple flesh of the small raven haired teen.



“Mmm... Itachi,” Sasuke moaned, curling into his brothers’ side. “I love you,” he sighed in contentment, settling his head on the broad shoulder. He smiled to himself as strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer.



“And I, you,” Itachi whispered back, holding his own flesh and blood tightly to him. “Goodnight otouto,” he said, kissing the boys’ forehead. “Sleep well.” But the young teen was already fast asleep, a small smile barely visible through the dark bangs covering his face.



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“Aniki?”



“Hai, otouto,” Itachi said, turning to regard his lover lounging on the bed.



Sasuke gave him a sexy smirk. “Do you mind if I head out?” he asked, pushing himself up onto his elbows. “I wanted to stop at the blacksmith.”



“For what?” Itachi’s brow raised in question. He watched the boy rise from the bed and steal across the room, the thin body pressing against him.



“Can’t tell you,” teased the teen, nipping at his brothers’ ear. The younger boy smiled, trying for innocent but coming out much naughtier than should have been allowed. He pulled back, shooing Itachi’s hands away and skillfully buttoning the dark shirt up, hands lingering and brushing against the toned chest.



“Brat,” Itachi muttered under his breath. Leaning in, he stole a kiss from his younger brother. “Don’t be too long, otouto. I’ll meet you on board.” He watched Sasuke cross to the door, smirking as he gave a saucy wink and disappeared from sight. Shaking his head at the antics of his little brother, Itachi pulled on his coat before exiting the privacy of their room, and set out toward his ship, the Tsukuyomi.



Exiting the Inn, Sasuke set out, taking a left. He had promised his brother that he would meet him back at the vessel, both knowing the trip would take twenty minutes. It should have been more than enough time to complete his transaction and make it back to his brother’s side to set sail.  He was very happy with the gift he had secretly commissioned for his brother, a set of hand crafted kunai with their family crest engraved on the handles.  Finding a tradesman able to construct the weapons from their homeland was difficult and knowing this, the blacksmith had decided to try and haggle for more once they were done.



Sasuke was now running late, and he knew Itachi well enough to know that if he was more then a few minutes late the elder Uchiha would come looking for him. Not wanting to deal with the foul mood his brother would be in for a good portion of the day if he didn’t show soon, Sasuke took a short cut through an ally and found himself surrounded on all sides.



“What do you want?” he scowled, his hand moving to rest on the handle of his beloved katana, one of the few heirlooms recovered from their family home.



“Hello Uchiha,” the man directly behind the teen said in a low gravelly voice. The cornered teen glanced over his shoulder at the man, sizing up the threat. He wasn’t impressed. “You’re going to fetch a good price,” the apparent leader of the small group continued. “The bounty on your head and that pretty mouth of yours will be worth quite a bit.”



One of the dirtier looking men chuckled, drawing his sword and approaching menacingly. His cohorts chuckled, a dangerous gleam in their eyes. Their intentions were obvious, their gazes wandering over his body.



Itachi had many enemies as the Captain of the Tsukuyomi. The bounty for him dead or alive was hitting phenomenal heights with each passing year, but Sasuke was another story.  



The youngest Uchiha was a very beautiful man, more so than his brother. Itachi knew this and did everything in his power to protect him, and while he tried hard to keep his brother from the spotlight, it wasn’t always possible. The price on Sasuke’s head was three times the amount for his brother, and only if the boy was alive. The man who could own and befoul such beauty would control Uchiha Itachi, and be envied across the globe.



It was no secret that Itachi was vicious when it came to his precious baby brother, his one weakness. The cruelty exuded by the eldest Uchiha in the name of this beloved brother was unsurpassed. Men trembled at the Uchiha name across the world. Even in his own right, Sasuke was to be feared. His skills with weapons were only matched by a few and he was often seen to be colder than his brother, but he was still more desired.



While this was enough to deter most from approaching the teen, there were always those stupid enough to try and brave Itachi’s wrath. It seemed now was one of those times.



A cruel smirk split over the young pirates face, anticipating the impending fight. With Itachi constantly at his side, it wasn’t often Sasuke got to have a good battle. “Bring it on,” he challenged confidently, drawing his katana.



All three men circling the youngest Uchiha charged.



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As second in command, Naruto tried hard to be fair with each crew member and to not lose his temper or choose favorites. But like with everyone, there were a few things that pushed his buttons, and some of the new men seemed to have a bet on who could make him snap first.



There were a few of the new crew hired for this voyage that had earned the taste of a whip or ration cuts, usually for something completely inane. At this moment, Naruto was seeing red, his temple throbbing and he was growling in unrestrained anger. Those around him swore his eyes were almost red with the glint of the sun.



“HE IS A CHILD!” Naruto roared, a man held tightly by a tan hand around his throat. The rest of the crew had stilled to watch Naruto rage. His temper was feared on the ship by any crew member with half a brain.



Behind the enraged blond stood Konohamaru, trembling and keeping close with red puffy eyes. Arms were crossed over his chest as he hugged himself where his shirt was torn and hanging from his shoulders.



It only took one look at the cabin boy, and with that one look Naruto realized what had happened. “You sick fucking FREAK!” he yelled, getting right up into the man’s face. “He is here to work, to learn, not to be your plaything! We stop in port in a week’s time. You had to attack a child. You couldn’t wait, you pervert. What you were about to do is a sin, you would have been hanged for it.”



Shaking the man, Naruto tightened his fist, squeezing the sputtering mans throat. The blond sported a growing fat lip and a darkening bruise on his chin, minor injuries from the fight that originally saved his little brother from the nightmare the monster was about to inflict on the unsuspecting child. Naruto’s arms shook with the effort it took to lift the other seaman up, dangling him over the rail of the ship.



Screaming and pleading to the senior crew member not to follow through, the man was ignored by Naruto, his pleas falling on deaf ears as he was dropped into the dark, murky waters below.



Turning, Naruto hugged Konohamaru close to his side, glaring into the eyes of any crew member stupid enough to be caught looking.  “Do I need to make it any clearer that the boy is off limits?” he snarled.



The crew scattered, making themselves busy.



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Itachi was half way back to the Tsukuyomi when he considered his beautiful little brother, and the devious smirk he’d worn not even ten minutes ago. Wanting to surprise him with a special treat, he turned toward a fruit stand they had passed last night after docking. Sasuke needed fresh tomatoes. They were his favorite and Itachi knew the tart fruit would bring a happy light to the youngest Uchiha’s coal black eyes. He picked a few, ensuring some were not quite ripe yet so they would survive into the start of the trip, though he doubted they would last that long in the presence of his little brother.



He made his way back to port and boarded the ship heading straight to their cabin expecting to find Sasuke waiting for him, as it was well past the allotted time is should have taken Sasuke to return.  



Instinctively Itachi knew something had gone wrong when he found their quarters to be empty. Sasuke had more than enough time to make it back, and according to his first mate, Shikamaru, Sasuke had yet to be seen. The captain gave instructions to find him if Sasuke returned without him, then set out to find his brother.



It didn’t take the Tsukuyomi Captain long to find an alley not far from their dock with quite the commotion going on. He heard a man cursing and promising he wouldn’t leave the youngest Uchiha to only the captain of the Esperianza. First he would enjoy the boy’s body before his Captain and the crew took their turns.



Itachi ducked into the side street to find two men dead, or close to it, bleeding out on the cobblestone street. Sasuke was against a wall, clutching his wounded arm and obviously in pain. Fury rushed through Itachi as the man’s words registered and he took in what had obviously happened.



Sasuke’s dark eyes widened slightly as his brother stealthily moved up behind the man. His attacker still hadn’t noticed the elder Uchiha drawing his own katana, killing intent radiating from every pore. The blade of the katana came around at blinding speed, settling against the neck of the assailant, and Sasuke could see the man’s Adams apple quivering nervously above the sharp edge pressed to tender skin.



“Drop your sword.” Itachi’s voice was deep and thick with malice as he spoke slowly. “You will take me to your captain, now!” he barked, loving the way the man trembled with fear at the voice that promised pain and suffering.



The sword clattered to the ground, and Sasuke pushed away from the wall. Relief flooded through him as he stumbled forward to his brothers’ side.



“Go back to the ship now, Sasuke,” Itachi commanded, but the teen shook his head. “That’s an order!” he growled.



“I’m not your crew Itachi,” the younger raven snapped. “You can’t order me to do anything.”



Itachi snarled at the younger man, but the teen held his ground, staring his brother down. Growling his displeasure at the current situation and Sasuke’s blatant disobedience, the katana tip was pressed into the trembling mans’ back. “Move,” the Tsukuyomi Captain ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.



The docks were bustling with life full of working girls, pirates and fishermen, but as the Uchiha moved across the planks, their aura was menacing. The parting crowd looked on with pity at the trembling captive man, giving them a wide berth, unwilling to throw their lot in with the affairs of the Uchiha’s.



Looking up at a beautifully crafted vessel, the seaman swallowed nervously.  The bow was adorned with long haired woman with her eyes closed, the craftsmanship of the figurehead so intricate in design, her bosom appeared to be heaving. Itachi rolled his eyes at the lewd image. “Call for permission to board this ship.” He ordered, sword poking the lesser man in the back viciously.”



“Ca... Captain,” the man stuttered, “permission to come aboard, Tiber reporting.” Once he’d announced his presence, the pirate walked onto the ship and swallowed, looking for his captain.



Walking over with a fierce scowl on his face, the man who captained the pirate ship Esperianza glared at Itachi. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. While he had no desire to draw the attention or wrath of the Uchiha, he also had to make it clear he wouldn’t stand for disrespect on his own ship.



“This man,” Itachi hissed, forcing his captive to his knees. “And two other of your crew dared to attack my brother within the walls of the neutral city.” He shoved the man in the back with his foot, sending him sprawling on the deck of the ship at the feet of his captain. “The others are dead,” he added almost offhandedly. “Killed in self defense.”



The captains’ eyes briefly flickered lustily over the younger Uchiha standing just behind his brother in his blood soaked and torn shirt. The large expanse of pale skin sent shivers up his spine, but a warning growl from the extremely pissed off elder Uchiha sent his gaze down to the quivering man at his feet. “Is this true?” he asked, but the man only mumbled inaudibly. “Answer me,” he demanded, kicking the pathetic excuse for a seaman.



“Yes.”



Turning his focus back to the man standing on his ship wielding a katana, he scoffed. “And what do you expect me to do about it?” he asked with a sneer.



The killing intent rolling off the elder Uchiha as he stepped forward made every crewman watching the spectacle tremble where they stood. Uchiha’s were not to be trifled with, a lesson learned by many a sailor, and this man was well on his way to an early grave.



“I demand reparation,” Itachi snarled, getting right up in the man’s face. He could see the pupils in the green eyes dilating. “Unless of course it was on your orders that my brother was targeted.” A pale fist snagged the front of the captain’s jacket, pulling him forward so Itachi could stare down at him with cold onyx eyes.



Realizing his life was in jeopardy, the Esperianza captain wised up to the current danger. “N-no,” stuttered the captain. “Of course not. This is the neutral city, and standards must be upheld. Take what you want as payment.” He could sense his crew shifting around him, muttering amongst themselves.



The pirate still on the deck of the ship panicked, his eyes going wide with betrayal. It had been on his captains orders that him and the other two men had gone after the youngest Uchiha.



“Hn,” grunted Itachi, amused at the man’s sudden cowardice. “We have an accord then?” he asked, smirking when the man only nodded mutely in response.



The katana blade flashed in the sunlight as Itachi spun on the spot, neatly separating the man’s head from his body as he struggled to his feet in a futile attempt to escape his fate. Neither brother even batted an eyelash, Itachi already walking away before the head even fell.  Sasuke turned and trailed after his brother as the body crumpled to the deck of the ship, blood spilling over the already stained wood, leaving the shocked captain watching their retreating backs.



Once again, the tale of the Uchiha’s cruelty would spread, further securing their safety on the high seas.



Itachi led his younger brother down to the docks and back to their ship. Once more the crowd parted, avoiding any and all eye contact with the furious gaze of the famed pirates. When they finally made it to the safety of their own vessel and up to her perfectly cleaned deck, Itachi snarled as he was forced to catch his precious otouto when the teen fainted.



Growling, Itachi turned to Shikamaru, his second. “Get the rest of our men back on this ship and ready to set sail immediately,” he snapped irritably. “We won’t be spending one moment longer here then we need to. Anyone not back in ten minutes gets left the fuck behind.”



Once behind the closed doors of their cabin, Sasuke began to stir, dark eyes fluttering open to regard the concern on his brothers’ face.



Laying the teen on their bed, Itachi ripped the torn shirt from the pale body, hissing at the ugly ten inch gash running at an angle from the left shoulder the center of Sasuke’s ribcage, marring the beautifully sculpted body. He quickly retrieved a clean cloth from the cabinet by the bedside. Putting pressure on the wound, Itachi felt the urge to kill rising in him again. He could have lost Sasuke. Had he been one minute later Sasuke would have been violated and stolen away from him. The mere idea made him sick to his stomach, and had he been a lesser man he likely would have succumbed to the urge to empty its contents right then and there.



There was a knock on the door, startling Itachi from his dark thoughts. Standing, he gracefully crossed the room and wrenched the door open to find the ships gunner, Kiba, holding a basin of what he assumed was hot water. Assuming it to be the work of Shikamaru, he took the water with a small grunt of thanks and shut the door. He placed the bowl on the bedside table before turning to take in the small form on the bed, Sasuke’s skin far too pale against the white sheets.



“Stay here,” ordered the elder raven. “I’m getting us out of the fucking port.” When Sasuke started to argue Itachi practically growled. “Don’t even,” he barked. “You’re hurt, you’re bleeding, and you will not argue with me on this Sasuke or so help me I will beat you.”  



Sasuke’s mouth snapped shut. There were times to push and times a strategic retreat was in order when dealing with his brother. This would be one of the times he should just shut the hell up. He watched Itachi turn and exit the room, the door slamming loudly behind him, leaving the younger to himself.



Sighing, the short haired raven stood from the bed and dipped a clean rag in the freshly brought water. He applied more pressure to the wound, trying and stop the bleeding. He felt the ship jerk as she moved out to sea and silently fumed. He hated not being above deck when they set sail, and Itachi knew this.



The door opened and slammed shut again as Itachi re-entered, removing his jacket and vest. Down to his shirt, breeches and boots Itachi sighed at seeing Sasuke topless and sitting in their bed. He was safe. Itachi had to constantly remind himself of that as they made their way back to open waters.  Itachi got a fresh rag from the cabinet and gathered a bottle of whiskey along with some bandages and healing salve before making his way to sit at the edge of the bed next to Sasuke.



He pulled away the bloodied cloth and sighed. The blood had slowed but the sword had gone deeper than Itachi had hoped. “If we don’t do something, you’re going to have a scar,” he whispered sadly.  



Sasuke had a body that had always seemed to be carved from marble, completely flawless as if sculpted by the hands of ancient artists.  The idea that someone may have scarred that beauty gave the elder raven a sort of sadness that drove home the reality of just how fragile his brother truly was. Sasuke was just a mortal, like he was.  



Pushing Sasuke to lay back on the bed, Itachi used the water to clean away the blood, giving him a better look at the wound. “This is going to sting Sasuke,” he informed the boy. Grabbing the fresh cloth, he poured the alcohol over the wound to clean it out, his chest constricting painfully at the howl of pain that escaped from his beloveds’ lips, and the slender fingers clutching desperately at the sheet below him. The last thing he wanted was Sasuke to get infection, but hurting the younger man always cut him deep. Setting aside the bottle, Itachi leaned in. He might need to clean the ugly cut once more, but for now he didn’t care.



Panting heavily, Sasuke watched with half lidded eyes as Itachi leaned in, arching into the wet tongue that licked over the no longer bleeding mark left behind by another man. He moaned, pressing up into Itachi’s mouth. “An... Aniki?” His eyes held questions, but lust shot through his veins in a way it only could for the last remaining member of his family.



“Hush, let me see to your wounds foolish little brother,” Itachi whispered, the warmth of his breath dancing across Sasuke’s skin, creating goose flesh in its wake.  Itachi smiled at the reactions he got out of Sasuke, able to play his brother’s body like an instrument, and the music he brought from between the pink bow of his mouth stirred all of Itachi’s passions.



Gently, Itachi placed small kisses around the pink edges of the ugly mark. Occasionally his tongue would dip in, making Sasuke gasp and jerk slightly. Once he was satisfied, his mouth moved up laving the peak of Sasuke’s nipple before soft tongue kisses made their way up Sasuke’s neck. Itachi’s mouth fell over Sasuke, stealing the younger man’s breath away in a deep demanding kiss. He needed reassurance. He needed clarification that Sasuke was alive and well, still there at his side. He needed to be sure his most precious person was not a dream.



“Don’t do that again Sasuke,” Itachi begged in a hoarse whisper, clutching his brother tightly. “Promise me. If I lost you, I’d go mad. You are what is most important to me.” It wasn’t often that Itachi let his emotions flow freely, and he only ever spoke this way to Sasuke, knowing his brother was only vulnerable with him as well. “I nearly lost you today in more ways than one. That man would have sold you to the highest bidder after taking advantage of you. I don’t know what I would do if anything were to happen to you otouto.” Pressing their foreheads together, Itachi let out a shaky breath. “Promise me.”



“I can’t aniki,” Sasuke murmured, running a free hand through his brothers’ long raven locks. “The life we lead is dangerous at best and there are so many people out there who want us dead. Even if we left this life behind we would still be hunted.”



Itachi closed his eyes and pressed his face into the soft skin of Sasuke’s neck. “Otouto...”



“I will practice more,” the younger raven promised, hoping to ease his brothers’ tortured and guilty mind. “I will get better at protecting myself, but I won’t take a guard and I won’t hide on the ship. That is the best offer you will get from me, Itachi.”



It wasn’t that Sasuke didn’t understand his brother’s feelings, but he knew he couldn’t make a promise that he would never be able to keep. He couldn’t lie to Itachi - he wouldn’t lie to Itachi. The trust and love they shared was one of the most important aspects of their unique relationship that they both fought hard to maintain.

 

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