At Last

At Last, Ch. 3



A/N: Sorry for the wait… I don’t really have a good excuse ^.^’



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Dinner was a mistake. Gaara was aware of this as soon as he was escorted to his end of the table, as far from Sasuke as possible. He nearly glared as the raven smirked at his discontent. -Shit; this means Orochimaru perceives me as somewhat of a threat… Did Sasuke tell him what happened?- “Have you made your decision yet? I’d like to get word to my council as soon as possible; Akatsuki grows stronger every day.” -More like I want to get Sasuke away from here as soon as possible… If he insists on dragging this out, I might have to take him by force.-



As if in response to his desperation, Orochimaru’s hand moved to the raven’s shoulder. -You think he doesn’t deserve this, hmm? You’re wrong. If only you knew all that I do about the naughty things he has done…- He grinned lecherously and slid his palm down the Uchiha’s chest and into his silk robe. “I’m afraid I have not had time to peruse your contract. My lovely Sasuke-kun requires so much attention, you know…” The same black snake from the throne room slithered in to join his master. -Good, Methos. Do you want to help play with our pretty raven pet?- A pleased hiss resounded from the creature as it moved to wrap around Sasuke’s arm and begin the ascent to his neck.



-There’s something utterly wrong with this place... Apparently he has an adverse affect even on the animals he harbors; his influence is more menacing that I originally predicted.- Gaara tore his gaze away from the Uchiha; his self control was slipping fast. “When will you come to a conclusion?” The redhead voiced his question through gritted teeth. -I know he’s trying to provoke me, but I’m not sure he realizes how far I’ll go if I decide to act.- He cringed as the snake reached its goal and began coiling tighter until Sasuke was gasping for breath. He expected the male to react at last, to perhaps grab the serpent and smash it against the wall, but he did nothing of the sort; his fingers hardly twitched.



Orochimaru leered at the Kazekage’s question and raked his nails up the pale chest. The Uchiha’s eyelids fluttered as he continued to force himself to relax as his air reserves gradually lessened. -We’ve come so far, my raven… It pleases me that you no longer struggle.- “I imagine I’ll be very busy tonight… And I have a few representatives dropping by tomorrow… Nevertheless, you can expect your answer within the week.” He grinned as Sasuke’s neck muscles pulsed desperately, trying to reclaim oxygen. -Now lessen gradually, Methos; it’s no fun if he passes out.- A shallow gasp grew as the Uchiha’s airway lost its restriction. Orochimaru shuddered pleasantly at the sound and reached over to graze the steadily forming marks on his pet’s neck. -Beautiful; he wears violence so well.-



“If I am to wait so long for an answer, surely you will allow me to summon my guards?” -With Yuura and Matsuri on the inside it would be far easier for me to take Sasuke. And I bet I could count on that medic’s help…- The snake master shrugged and stroked the heaven seal on Sasuke’s shoulder.



The raven attempted to suppress a rasped moan. -Fucking snake… But he has earned the right to possess me, I suppose; he’s taught me so much…- He recalled all of the dark, forbidden jutsu that he had gained an intimate knowledge of over the past few years. At first, the various acts and punishments had made his stomach churn with unease and disgust, but after a while they had woven their way into his thoughts and instincts. The young Uchiha had to constantly convince himself that it would be wrong to eliminate the weak villages nearby simply to test a new skill. -I let him get into my head… I don’t deserve to be anywhere else.-



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Several hours later, the sound of chirping birds radiated through the dungeons. -I can’t believe I still have the energy for this…- Another bolt of blue light ricocheted off the ceiling and caused a small cave-in near the entrance of the room. Coincidentally, this occurred right after Gaara walked in.



-That was a little close…- The redhead smiled to himself as Sasuke noticed his presence and immediately ceased his training. “I see that your jutsu have not suffered… Even Hatake Kakashi could not adapt the Chidori as you have.” As he neared the panting male, the Kazekage eyed the sweat-gleaned muscles appreciatively. –He has become even more beautiful; I didn’t think it was possible.- The first time he had lain eyes on the Uchiha, he could hardly believe that the gorgeous creature wasn’t a figment of his greatest fantasies. –I still can’t grasp his reasons for coming here, of all places; didn’t he have a lover to convince him to stay?-



The raven flinched when he heard his former sensei’s name. –Kakashi… Even now I cannot deny how much I miss you.- He instantly became bitter, as he always did when he thought of his previous life. –Would you be proud, now? Would you appreciate all that I’ve been taught?- He grimaced internally as he couldn’t help but think that the perverted man would enjoy at least a few of his mastered skills. Sasuke recalled their strange encounter on the day that he had left Konoha. –He said that he’d already lost everyone he cared about…-



FLASHBACK



“Revenge is not the right path, Sasuke; it can only bring you pain.” The gray-haired nin moved a bit closer to his captive, kneeling down so that their eyes had no choice but to meet.



“How the hell would you know? You’ve never lost anyone… Your clan wasn’t slaughtered by the person you loved the most, the only one you trusted…” He looked away and struggled against the firm wire surrounding him, knowing full-well that it was useless.



Kakashi looked thoughtful for a moment and gave a falsely bright smile. “You’re right, Sasuke-kun. I have already lost everyone I cared about.” The boy’s gaze snapped back to his, the dark orbs laced with surprise. “Well, almost everyone…”



Suddenly the copy nin was directly in front of him, a hand pressed up against the tree behind the Uchiha to keep his balance. The raven froze, completely confused as his sensei’s other hand grazed his cheek and he leaned in to touch their lips together.



When Sasuke gave no resistance, he deepened the kiss and forced his tongue past soft lips. He moaned at the taste of the Uchiha’s mouth and explored further, delighted as he felt the smaller tongue lap tentatively back at his own. They continued until both of them ran out of breath, then parted reluctantly. “Sasuke, you have to let go of the past; forget about what happened to your clan and move on… Stay with the ones that love you.”



The raven became instantly indignant as he was released and Kakashi disappeared. He could never forget about the massacre, the bodies of everyone he had known and loved lying broken and bloodied at Itachi’s feet, his crimson eyes cold and dead.



END FLASHBACK



-Yet, now I have forgotten them… I no longer care if Itachi lives or dies.- The first emotion he had felt in ages rose in his throat and died. –I thought Kakashi cared about me then, but he never bothered to come after me. He was just toying with my emotions that day…- Shifting back to the present, he found Gaara standing in front of him, now a mere arms length away.



“Someday I would like to test your skills firsthand…” –Our fight feels like it was so long ago… He was so different then.- A dark, fleeting expression crossed over the young Uchiha’s features, then vanished. –I guess even then the darkness of the serpent was already inside him, trying to take control.-



“Why not now?” Sasuke spat the challenge, mildly angry at the other for forcing him to remember events of the past. –I’m curious about his abilities as well… Now that much of the one-tail’s influence is gone, I might be able to beat him without using some demented form of torture.- He leapt away with a glare; he had felt a thread of sand slide across his foot. “I’ll play fair as long as you do the same.” –Sneaky bastard… That damn sand is far too convenient a weapon. Normally I wouldn’t have felt it, but that sensitivity potion hasn’t worn off yet.- The raven shuddered as he recalled the after-dinner activities; ‘dessert’ had been a surprise potion developed by his master for the sole purpose of making him writhe and scream at every touch.



Gaara’s gaze dropped a bit; he didn’t want to fight. –If only my ploy had actually worked, we could have avoided this and he would have no choice but to comply with my wishes.- He studied the Uchiha, catching every shiver and near-expression that crossed his countenance. –I can’t even analyze him; everything he does conflicts with some other behavior.- “Sasuke, I can only imagine what’s happened to you in the past few hours, and on top of that you’ve been training for a while now… Needless to say, you’re in no condition to fight.” –How did he feel the sand, anyway? It should be completely imperceptible, especially at his energy level.- The redhead took a step toward the other, relieved when the pale beauty didn’t back up.



“I can still hold my ground.” –I’ll combat his attacks until I pass out if I have to… He’s right; my chakra levels are too low to be victorious.- In a normal battle, Sasuke would never be so careless, but he was confident that Gaara wouldn’t hurt him. –Even challenging him to a fight I know I can’t win doesn’t feel stupid... If only to feel his touch-- He instantly halted his thoughts, mentally gagging at how emotional he had allowed himself to become in just a day with an old acquaintance. –I’m just romanticizing the past because I don’t want to face the present; it wouldn’t matter who had shown up.-



The Kazekage frowned slightly before getting an idea; the ceiling of the room was fairly low… -If I can execute a death coffin and trap us both inside, there’s nothing he can do to escape me.- He smirked at the thought of being so close to his greatest obsession and only love. “Fine, have it your way.” The sand that had been slowly winding its way around the room flew at Sasuke from all directions before consuming him completely.



The raven saw the move coming, but knew he had nowhere to go; several feet of solid stone surrounded the top and bottom of the dungeon. –Fuck… That’s the problem with training here; there’s no chance of escape to an external location.- Of course, this reason was exactly why his request to train there had been approved. He shot a glare in the redhead’s direction and went limp as the waves of sediment overtook him, wisps winding around his body and securing him in a cocoon. When he was sure the movement had ceased, Sasuke inhaled slowly, surprised to find an abundant air supply in his enclosure. –Well at least he doesn’t plan to suffocate me slowly until I pass out or die… I dare say I’ve had enough of that today.-



Smirking at the glare he was given, Gaara promptly allowed light and air to filter into the sandy prison he had created. –He can’t avoid me this way…- With ease he inserted himself into the chamber next to the Sound nin, reveling in their proximity. The other male noticed his presence instantly, and, to his further chagrin, didn’t seem to be the least bit surprised. –I think he finally knows where my desires lie.- “I’m sorry that it’s come to this, but I know how difficult you can be when it comes to simple conversation.” The male before him shuddered as he reached up to cup the pale cheek and bring the soft lips to his own in a chaste kiss.



The raven didn’t pull away when he was enclosed in strong arms, his head resting comfortably against Gaara’s chest. “What can we possibly have to discuss? I belong here…” The redhead stiffened at his words, clearly disagreeing. Sasuke pulled back slightly to look into the other’s eyes. “If you were to try and take me away, you’d either die or start a war between Sand and Sound.” –That wouldn’t accomplish anything… The last thing this world needs is more violence.-



“As long as I get you out of here, I don’t care what happens.” The Kazekage’s words were accompanied with a deep growl as he continued, “I’ll kill the goddamn snake and every one of his followers if I have to.”



The Uchiha’s eyes widened at the voicing of such a rash action. –I think he still underestimates Orochimaru and the rest of the Sound nin. They won’t go down easily, especially if the snake makes a few promises…- He shuddered slightly at the thought of such previous occasions. –I can’t let Gaara do this for me; I can’t let him sacrifice everything... For both his sake and my own.- His next words were pained as they left his lips; the bliss he felt in the other’s arms could not last. “No, you can’t do that… Not for me. You don’t know what I’ve done…” The raven sighed and paused, bringing a finger to the redhead’s lips to shush him when he tried to speak. “I’ve killed people, Gaara. I know more forbidden jutsu than not. I’ve embraced my bloodlust and let Orochimaru get into my head. He really does own me, body and soul.”



-What… No. He can’t… He doesn’t.- Gaara felt as if his mind was imploding upon itself as he looked into dark eyes. The pain that he saw there, the pure agony that was consuming the raven, only served to anger him. –I know the cause of his pain, and I will stop it. The fucking snake has brainwashed him into thinking he’s evil and deserves everything he gets.- “Don’t ever say that he owns you, don’t even think it.”



Suddenly, Gaara’s pale green eyes had taken on a darker shade and he was speaking slowly through gritted teeth with a deep, threatening tone. The Uchiha was more than a bit confused. –Why the fuck can’t I dissuade him?! If he doesn’t back off he’ll… Die.- Understanding hit him like a ton of bricks and he mentally smacked himself for being so blind. Gaara was in love with him. He was deeply, passionately, truly in love with him. It was the only rational explanation for the other’s actions. –I didn’t believe him when he told me… I’ve heard it so many times from Orochimaru that I was certain those words would never be sincere.- Sasuke shivered at the possessive quality of the redhead’s voice as he continued to detail the great lengths that he would go to in order to keep him safe. It was then that the ebony haired shinobi realized something else, something that he should have known all along: he was just as thoroughly, completely, hopelessly in love with the sand nin as he was with him.



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A/N



I’m afraid that this is turning into an epic story with a confusing plotline very much like Crashing Memories. I’ll try my best to keep it contained :3



Sorry for the abrupt chapter end (the conversation was getting too long and I had to split it up)… I promise I’ll update very soon.



Anyway, thanks for reading! Do review if you wish.



Much Love,

Viotox