Seaswept

I don't own Naruto nor the characters thereof



Warning: racial slurs, violence, future incest, future threesome

 

Seaswept

Chapter Two

The world was moving all around him—fluid and changing. He could taste the faint hint of the salt in the heavy air. It added dimension and provided a distinct flavor he'd grown familiar of after having lived his entire life in a port town.

Shifting of the world around him lulled a sense of much needed gentle comfort. The waves drifted about him, creating a swaying motion that both enticed and relaxed. Calmness and clarity washed over him. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, he was at peace with himself. The troubles paining his mind and body seemed a distant memory blocked from his focus.

But like all things, the peace was an illusion and his dark reality washed over him in a heavy rush of near despair.

Gone was the clear sky and calm waves. What replaced them was dark dankness, and the stinging bite of the marks left by the rats while living amidst his own filth. Which was better—to die with honor in the wilds or to throw it away only to die amidst filth and rats with only a dream and his father's final wish to sustain him?

Sasuke gave a small whine, his slender body giving off copious amounts of heat—far more than was healthy. "Tachi."

Itachi jerked into complete awareness at his brother's raspy whine. "Sasuke?"

"Don't feel good." Sasuke curled into a tighter ball against Itachi, his slight body shivering despite the stuffy heat of the hold's storage area. "Thirsty."

Itachi's features dipped into a frown and he placed his hand against Sasuke's brow. Heat radiated from him, sending Itachi into a near panic. They'd been in the storage area for several days without drawing the notice of the sailors. Itachi was always cautious when he took water from the large barrels arranged near the door or bits of food from the various crates and barrels. No one ever attempted to venture deeper into the hold much to his relief. The smell alone would alert them to their presence.

Itachi moved from his brother towards the barrels of water and used a small cup he had procured from one of the crates filled with odds and ends to dip the liquid. He pressed the cup to Sasuke's lips only to have most of the liquid dribble down his chin. "Sasuke, you need to drink."

The fever had come during the previous night. Sasuke refused the pilfered food, choosing only to sleep pillowed against Itachi. Very little light made it through the cracks created by the sole door. He'd hoped the fever was simply a result of dehydration, but he had his suspicions about the cause and it chilled him to his core.

His own legs and feet ached from the several rat bites he was unable to prevent. He couldn't see them coming. The sound of their small feel scraping against slimy wood was the only indication of their approach. No amount of blind kicking and slapping would deter them for long.

Shuddering in the knowledge of what he would find, he blindly traced his hands down his brother's body until he found what he suspected. Heat radiated from the sores dotting Sasuke's thin legs. He could feel the raging infection pooling around the swollen areas. It was common knowledge that rats carried disease. One of the Christian monks had explained to him that many years prior, a disease carried by rats had nearly wiped out the western countries.

Fear pooled thickly in his stomach. Even without strong knowledge in the healing arts, the fever rushing through his brother was winning the battle. Without treatment, Sasuke would die here in his arms amidst the squalor of a dank hole inside a foreign ship.

Tears pricked his lids before spilling out to create dirty tracks down his face. "Sasuke…don't die."

Sasuke's eyes fluttered and he gave a small moan. "Niisan…I'm cold."

"I'll think of something." Itachi tugged Sasuke against him. "Just stay with me, Sasuke."

Itachi's arms pulled Sasuke against him. His hand pressed against the bony chest so to feel each warm beat of his brother's heart. A heart beat meant he was alive. It was the only thing sustaining him in the dark abyss surrounding them.

"Niisan is crying?" Sasuke lifted a hand to press his fingers against Itachi's tear streaked face.

Itachi used the sleeve of his dirty kimono to wipe away the tears. "It's dusty here. That's why my eyes were watering."

Tears welled in Sasuke's eyes. "Don't lie, niisan."

"I don't lie. It was simply dirt." Fresh tears began to track down his face against his will, some splattering against Sasuke's cheeks. He was the older brother. It was his job to protect Sasuke. His father had entrusted Sasuke to Itachi and now both were probably going to die from infected rat bites.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke." Itachi buried his face in Sasuke's neck and fought to keep his cries bottled inside. "I’m sorry."

"Alright…son of bitch." The shout was the only warning given. Its gruff sound grated on Itachi's already frayed emotions. He hated this language. It was harsh and thick in his ears and on his tongue when spoken.

Itachi went into action and tugged Sasuke even tighter against him. Every time the door opened to spill bright lantern light into the small supply hold, fear ran thickly through his veins. He could hear their voices through the wall each night as they laughed at the foul comments they sent towards each other. To Itachi, who had never truly been exposed to such people, they were a coarse and violent lot with little to redeem them. From what he gleaned by their comments, he knew for certain they would toss both brothers overboard without even a side thought.

Sasuke gave a low moan. Itachi jolted in fear and placed his hand across his brother's dry, cracked lips. "Shh,otouto."

His heart pounded rapidly in his chest. The hard staccato was so loud, he was certain it could be heard by the entire ship. His eyes clenched tightly and he bit his lower lip until it bled warm crimson.

"Fuckin' arse. If he wants apples…the arse should come git them hisself." The voice grew closer as he lifted the lantern and riffled several of the crates. "Where 're the fuckin' apples?"

He stepped deeper into the room, far more so than any of the previous men. "Ah!"

He shoved his hand into the barrel containing apples and transferred a few into the pockets of his long jacket. The light swung back and forth as he maneuvered to take a few extra fruit.

Perhaps it was the addition of the light swinging back and forth or the rush of fresh air from the open door. Sasuke's fever wild eyes fluttered open and he released a small moan. It was barely audible over the creaking of the ship, but loud enough to bring the notice of the sailor.

He paused and raised his lantern towards the darkened corner. "Someone there?"

Itachi's palm slapped across Sasuke's lips and he closed his eyes. Every prayer he knew was uttered in silence. It couldn't end here. He and Sasuke were so close to freedom. Or, perhaps it was better to die with what little honor remained to them rather than rotting away in the hold of a ship.

Boots clumped on the wooden floor and the swinging light of the lantern grew brighter. Each slow step forward sounded one hundred times more loudly. There would be no hiding from the light as it crept across the slimy floor towards the dirty, huddled brothers.

"…the fuck?" Dark eyes stared down to the cringing boys. "Who 'er ye?"

After a week huddled in darkness, the soft light of the lantern burned Itachi's eyes like the sun. He felt nearly blind under the shine and hid his face in Sasuke's neck. "I'm sorry, Sasuke."

The sailor blinked several times before turning and racing from the room. His boots thudded loudly on the stairs leading topside. "There's a woman and a boy below deck."

Shouts of indignation sounded loudly throughout the crew. There were vocal yells for their prompt disposal. Arguments broke out that Itachi could hear from his place still huddled below. He would accept his fate. In his heart, he apologized to his father and mother for not protecting Sasuke. Perhaps his next life would allow him the chance to make amends for his mistakes in this one.

"Let's throw 'em overboard."

Cheers rolled across the ship, followed by the clomp of booted feet down the steep stairs to the hold. He was nearly blind to the light as Sasuke was wrenched from his arms and he was tugged upward with such force the bones in his shoulder popped loudly.

Ribald laughter and loud jibs were exchanged in the course of the two boys being tugged to the top deck. "She's pretty ugly fer a wench. Still don't have any titties."

"The boy's half dead. Let's toss him overboard and be done with it. We can still have fun with the girl afore she's dead."

"It's bad luck fer a gil to be on ship!" shouted a man from the back of a cloud. "Git rid of hers."

A pale haired, tattoo covered man stepped forward and fisted his hand in Itachi's hair. "We'll get rid of her…after our fun."

Cheers followed unfamiliar hands tugging at his clothes. Itachi was too in shock to do anything until he saw one of the men carrying Sasuke towards the railing. Something inside him broke and he slammed an elbow into one sailor's solar plexus and kicked another in his groin.

The men were too shocked to retaliate and Itachi was charging the man who dared attempt to kill his brother. His slight frame tackled the man and he and Sasuke went crashing to the deck. He screamed and pummeled the sailor's chest with every bit of his flagging strength.

Several of the men laughed at the sight. Their shouts and jeers egged on the fallen sailor into reaction. His return to his wits had him plowing a fist into Itachi's jaw with a sickening crack.

Itachi flailed to the sea spray slick deck. For a moment his mind was shattered and his vision blurred. His eyes rolled back and for a moment, all went black.

"Fuck me…this ain't no woman."

Before Itachi could react, he was dragged to his feet and what remained of his kimono was ripped from him to showcase his slender, yet distinctly masculine frame just beginning to fill out with adult muscles. Shame washed through him at the eyes devouring every inch of him. This was his punishment for tossing aside his honor.

"Damn…he's scrawny."

Laughter erupted through the crowd as comments were thrown out. His body and the size of his manhood were all brought into question. Each loud, sneering comment only brought more shame to him. He closed his eyes and prayed for a quick death, though some part of him knew it would not come.

 

oOo

Kisame Hoshigaki, first mate on the Crimson Cloud, sat with his captain at his table plotting out their next destination. They'd been forced to leave port quickly and were only partially stocked for a journey. The stores of water and food would only last so far, but in no way would it see them to their final intended port.

"Captain…I think we should set moor in one of these smaller ports. I'm familiar with this area and we can stock enough to get us through the Cape."

A man known only as Pein, his birth name long having been discarded, lifted a hand to stroke across his jaw while studying the maps. "The large ports are out of the question. The Red Cloud has a bad enough reputation with the Dutch East India Company. I'd rather not get into any scuffles until we can restock our armory. "

"Whatever you say," grinned Kisame. He was known for being the first into battle and the last to leave. His skills with fighting was one of the reasons he was first mate…that and his absolute loyalty to his captain.

Loyalty was a rare thing in men of their profession. Though they did participate in trade ventures, the majority of their spoils came from ransacking ships sailing heavy with trade goods from China and India. Captain Pein kept the men in line with the knowledge he could best any and all of them easily.

Kisame was plotting out the coordinates for a nearby port when muffled shouts from the deck had him frowning. "A new crew is in order. These complain too much."

Pein chuckled faintly and waved a hand to Kisame. "It's your job to keep them in line. Go have fun, I'll finish plotting and then we'll set course."

"Aye, Captain." Kisame grinned widely and exited the captain's cabin.

Just as quickly as the grin spread across his face, it faded at the sight of painfully gaunt and pale boy being pinned down while the crew jeered. It was a disgusting sight. Kisame love the thrill of a fight, but not with those who lacked the ability to defend themselves. His eyes shifted to where a smaller boy was sprawled near the railing, obviously unconscious.

"What's going on, here?"

Kisame's booming voice froze every voice and every action. Eyes wide with respect and more than a little fear, stared on as the broad shouldered first mate trotted down the stairs leading to the Captain's quarters with surprising grace for such a large man. "I asked a question."

"Stowaways, Kisame."

Kisame's hard, pale blue eyes slid between the two boys. "And this was not reported to me why?"

"We can handle a few stowaways." Hidan jerked the older to his feet by a hand fisted in his lank and dirty hair and raised a hand in preparation for a slap. "Worthless slant-eyed bastards."

Kisame moved quickly, his hand wrapping painfully around the pale wrist before the hand could begin its downward motion. "It's not for you to pass judgment on this ship. Until otherwise indicated, these two are property of the ship…and its captain."

"You just want him fer yurself," spat Hidan viciously. "Want to stick yur big hard cock in this tight ass since not even the saltiest wench would want you anywhere near her cunt."

Kisame's chest rumbled in a low growl. "Mind your words, Mr. Hidan…or I will mind them for you."

"Make me…not you or this pussy captain—"

Tanned hands were wrapped around Hidan's throat before he completed the sentence. "That's mutiny talk. I'd hold my tongue if I was you, or Captain Pein will cut it out."

"That's enough."

Kisame's gaze jumped from the gasping Hidan to where Pein began making his way down the stairs. His hard lavender gaze scanned the scene from where Kisame pinned Hidan to where both stowaways lay crumpled on the deck. Crew members gaped and shifted as the hard gaze passed over each and every one.

"What's this talk of mutiny?"

Kisame snarled at Hidan before releasing his punishing grip. The man collapsed in a gasping heap at his feet as he stood to answer for his actions. "Nothing I can't handle."

"So I see." Pein's lips quirked faintly before his gaze turned to where the taller boy was staggering to where his brother lay unmoving. "And those?"

Kisame shrugged. "Children. I wouldn't guess they are much older than ten or eleven."

"Bring them to me." Pein turned and made his way up the stairs without even a backward glance. He didn't pause in the fluid motion until he reached the latch to his cabin. "If I hear even a single whisper of mutiny from anyone else…I will kill you all and sail this ship to port myself. That isn't a boast, it is a promise."

The words were barely spoken above a whisper, but heard by each and every member of the crew. There was no shortage of shivering frames and horrified expressions spreading throughout the men. Pein's barely tempered anger was felt in every heart, no matter how black.

"Fuck me, Hidan." Deidara extended a hand to the man still slumped on the deck. "You're on a short fucking leash now."

"Shut the fuck up, ya scur." Hidan shoved away the offered hand. "What ya scurvy mutts standing about fer? Get back to yur duties."

Kisame scoffed at Hidan's big talk. "I'll be watching you."

Hidan's lips turned down in a deep frown and his hands made obscene gestures at Kisame's back. "Bastard whelp of a whore."

There wasn't even a moment for him to react before a large fist was plowed directly into his nose. Blood spurted outward, down his chin to drip thickly on his heavily tattooed chest. "Fuck!"

Kisame didn't stop there. A hand latched into Hidan's hair and wrenched his head back violently. His unoccupied hand squeezed Hidan's broke nose and twisted so the faint sound of cartilage rubbing could be heard by those nearby. A loud scream rushed over the deck. Despite Kisame's obvious torture, not a single hand came to their shipmate's assistance. "Now every time you look in the mirror, you'll think of me and my whore of a mother."

Kisame dropped Hidan to sprawl on the deck in his own blood and vomit and turned his gaze to the two stowaways. He watched with hard eyes as the older boy cradled the younger in his arms and whispered gently to him. His voice was a surprisingly rich baritone even if the words were foreign.

"Get up." He moved to stand over the two, creating a massive shadow to block out the sun. "The captain wants to see you."

Impossibly dark eyes flickered upward to stare at Kisame. The tear tracks streaking down the filthy face would have moved him if not for the years he had spent hardening his heart. Though it was a pity, if the captain ordered them thrown overboard, he would do so without the slightest care to how long it would take them to die. Death was something he was all too familiar with on this ship.

"Do you understand me?" He watched as the boy's head nodded slowly. "Get up."

"Sasuke…help…" Slender hands gestured to the boy. "Help."

Kisame grunted under his breath and plucked the unconscious boy from his sprawled position on the deck. He did not miss the heat radiating from the small frame cradled in his arms, nor the black oozing from the various rat bites marring the slender legs. He noticed similar marks on the older boy's legs, though none as bad as those scattered across the slender frame cradled in his arms.

The boy was as good as dead. Infections were difficult to treat with the limited supplies kept on the ship, especially those as bad as this one. The only thing keeping him from speaking his thoughts was the panicked and desperate look on the dirt covered face of the older boy.

"We…die?" From the tone of the boy's voice, he was fully prepared to meet his maker. The accepted despair in his voice sparked the tiniest of twinges in Kisame. It was an unusual reaction considering his normally harden mentality.

"Come on. The captain will tell you your fate."

The two walked up the spray slicked steps and entered the dark captain's quarters. Pein looked up from the map and leaned lazily against the large desk encompassing a third of the room. His face revealed nothing as he looked first towards the older and then to the smaller frame cradled in Kisame's arms.

"What's wrong with him?"

Kisame shrugged. "Infected rat bites. They probably snuck aboard at our previous port. Apparently they’ve been hiding out in the hold, living amid the rats and their own filth."

Pein folded his arms across his chest thoughtfully. "Neither one looks worth their weight."

"Should I toss them over?" Kisame's eyes settled on the young boy as he spoke, curious to the response. Though a look of fear flashed across the dirt caked face, he was surprised to see determination as well. This boy had more mettle than one would think on initial meeting.

Pein drummed his fingers against his arm. "What are your thoughts, Kisame?"

"They could be useful…the older for certain." Kisame shrugged his massive shoulders. "I doubt this one will last out the night."

"I see." Lavender hued eyes settled on the boy. "Your name."

"Uchiha Itachi." Itachi's eyes flashed darkly in the dim light trickling in from the dirty windows. "No…wait…my name…Itachi."

Pein hummed under his breath. "And him?"

"My brother…Sasuke." Itachi sent a desperate look towards his brother before steeling his features. "Help him…please."

"Here is my offer to you." The captain pushed away from his desk and strolled calmly across the length of the cabin. "You will serve on my ship. You will do what you are told and obey the laws of the sea. If for one instance you falter or cause trouble, I'll throw you overboard myself."

Itachi's jaw clenched. "Sasuke?"

Pein's eyes drifted to the boy. "Take him to the surgeon, he probably won't last out the night…and clean up that boy…Itachi. If he's going to be my new cabin boy, he's not going to smell like a piss pot."

"Cabin…boy?" Itachi's accent was thick as he wrapped his tongue around the words. "What is…cabin boy?"

"Time for that later. Take care of them, Kisame."

Kisame kept his face neutral. It was a little known fact that Pein began his life at sea as a stowaway. It was Captain Jiraiya who took him on as a cabin boy and taught him how to be a sailor. He must have seen the same thing in the boy that Kisame witnessed. The boy, Itachi, knew how to control his emotions. It was a handy trait for a sailor on this ship, and especially so for a captain.

"Come on, boy." Kisame turned from to leave. "Let's get you both cleaned up."

"Kisame." Pein's face contained nothing as he spoke. "Let the boy stay with him tonight."

"Aye, Captain."

Kisame gestured for Itachi to follow him. Several of the crew stopped their duties to stare. Many would likely be unhappy concerning the outcome. Itachi's inexperience would work against him with the current motley crew.

"I've a patient for you."

A pale haired man turned from where he was gently prodding Hidan's nose. His lips quirked lightly before nodding to his patient. "Try not to do anything to jar your nose."

Hidan's gaze turned frigid upon seeing the two boys and Kisame. "Fucker."

He would have charged him if not for an insistent hand on his arm. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Fuck off, Dan." Hidan stood and stomped past Kisame. "I would sleep wit one eye open."

Kisame's lips parted in a menacing grin. "Is that so?"

Hidan snarled and shoved Itachi from his path. "Out of my way, slant eyes."

Itachi stumbled to the side, falling against Kisame. "Sorry—"

"Don't worry about it, boy." Kisame moved forward with Sasuke in his arms. "Infected rat bites."

Dan rinsed his hands in the fresh sea water and examined Sasuke. "He has a high fever."

"Help him…please." Itachi cupped Sasuke's hand in his own, his eyes welling up with tears. "Please."

Dan scooped a fresh bucket of water from the barrel and nodded. "Let's see how he looks after he's cleaned off."

Itachi moved forward to help. It startled him when Kisame's hand wrapped around his bicep and tugged him from the ship medic. He struggled futilely against the grip.

When they reached the side of the ship, he was shoved against the wall. "You're getting a bath before you do anything. You smell like shit and piss."

Kisame dropped a bucket into the rushing water passing by as the ship cut through the waves. His muscles bulged under the drag as he tugged the bucket back to the deck. He repeated the action until there were three buckets of cold sea water.

"Take the third bucket." Without another word, he prowled towards the stairs leading to the hold.

Itachi struggled to carry the single bucket while Kisame trotted easily with two. "Wait…please."

Pale eyes turned to Itachi's struggling frame. "You need to strengthen up. Your life belongs to the captain and it is by his whim that you live."

At the base of the stairs were four rooms. He chose the one closest to the stairs and gestured for Itachi to walk in. "This is my cabin. As first mate, I'm allowed a private room. It's a privilege."

Itachi's eyes scanned the tiny room while Kisame pulled a small tub from the corner. "Strip and stand in it."

Itachi's eyes went wide. "I bath myself."

Kisame barked a laugh. "The faster you stand in the fucking tub, the faster you can go to your brother."

Itachi started. "I—"

Kisame grew tired of the prude attitude. His hands shoved Itachi's arms to his side and released the obi holding the kimono closed. It parted easily and fell to the floor in a dirty heap. As his eyes darted over the body, he was surprised to find well defined muscles disguised by the petite form.

"How old are you?"

Itachi stiffened visibly under the scrutiny. "Sixteen."

"Hmph…thought you were younger." Kisame released a grunt and gave Itachi a little shove to the hipbath. "Stand in it."

Without even a warning, he dumped the freezing water over Itachi's body. A shout echoed in the cabin followed by an intense glare of hatred. He recognized the look and it brought a smile to his lips. This boy had spirit. That was good because life on a ship would certainly put that spirit to the test…especially when he was forced to kill his first man. One never forgot his first kill.

Kisame tossed a hard lump of lye soap. "Scrub yourself good. You're filthy."

He watched as the boy began to scrub the course soap over his arms and chest. He didn’t miss the look of pleasure despite the chilled water previously dumped over his head. His hands moved in slow, deliberate strokes over his arms and chest to reveal pristine skin that would cause the most beautiful courtesan to stare in jealousy.

When the slender hands reached his waist, Itachi turned from Kisame's view to wash his privates without being under the scrutiny of the intense gaze. It was amusing and brought a small chuckle to his lips. As Itachi scrubbed his hair with the soap, Kisame plucked the second bucket and approached.

"Brace yourself." He took more care pouring the chilled water over Itachi. Chill bumps broke out across the curve of shoulders and down the length of his spine. "Finish up and I'll pour the last bucket."

Itachi finished up his bath and stepped to the hardwood floor. "Thank you."

Kisame scoffed and tossed a thick cloth to him. "Get dried. I'll be back with clothes…and don't touch anything."

Without another word, Kisame exited the room and walked towards where most of the men had their hammocks tied. "Deidara is small enough."

Deidara was one of the younger crew members. His build was more lanky than brawn and would be the best to use for clothing the boy. The clothes would probably still engulf him, but tied in the appropriate places, it would do until he filled out more.

When he returned to his cabin the sight he saw shocked him. Bath damp hair clung to a smooth white neck and spread over tense shoulders. Large dark eyes were framed by startling beautiful, thick lashes. Now that he looked less like a drowned waif, his slender build seemed less gaunt and more lean.

Shaking his head to dispel the direction of his thoughts. Regardless of his looks, he was still a boy. He had no business taking an interest in him.

"Get dressed and I'll take you back to your brother." Kisame respectfully turned his back to Itachi. He was too long without a partner. The women in the previous port were too dainty for a big man such as him. He needed a real woman or in rare instances, a man who could take his girth. At there next port of call, he would be certain to procure the services of a bar wench. The last thing he needed was to become aroused by a half starved boy half his age.

Itachi padded across the room fully dressed and bowed deeply. "Thank you."

"Let's go. You can thank me later by working your arse off."