The Night Hath Come

 

A/N : Okay, first off, I would like to apologize for the wait. I'm hoping the length of this chapter will make up for it.

Seconds, I ALSO want to apologize for the mild amount of gore/death in this chapter. Please keep in mind that ninja have to be ruthless. It's their job. And Akatsuki are particularly good at it.

 

I also want to apologize for how long everything is taking. I know I usually get right to the smut with my other stories, but I'd like to take some time to develop the relationships in this one, particularly since Itachi is so antisocial. We'll get there eventually, please just hold tight.

 

Enjoy!

 

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Sun filtering through the thin sliver of a window eventually wakes you up. Well, as much sun as Rain would ever get.

 

“Ugh. ”

 

Head pounding, stomach churning and eyes straining you manage to pry yourself out of your bed, if not just to rest your head against the cool stone wall. As much as you'd rather avoid it, you begin shuffling through what little jumbled memories lay scattered from last night.

 

One of the few civilian clubs. You'd had a few too many shots, but not enough to keep you from dancing. Deidara remained at the bar, his eyes wandering over your moving, twisting body to the pulse of the music.

 

You tell yourself just to be flattered. He was a guy , you're a girl, it's only natural for him to look, but there's something gleaning in the back of his eyes, a hint of a wry smile on his face that slipped the tiniest sense of unease into your mind.

 

You come back to him, panting, sweating. His eyes never leave.

 

“Here. ”

 

He presses a drink into your hands. Not a shot, a long, clear glass full of dark liquid.

 

You take it, albeit raising an eyebrow.

 

“What's this?”

 

“A mixed drink. ” the wry smile returns. “It's on, me, don't worry about it-”/

 

And you suddenly feel excruciatingly stupid. The drink had been sweeter than normal, almost sickeningly. And you suddenly feel angry. Was it THAT wrong to have the tiniest bit of trust in a teammate?

 

Then again, this wasn't just any teammate. This was Deidara. The asshole that had been dead-set on getting into your pants from the beginning.

 

And you shudder, just a bit;

 

He's on you, all over you.

 

And you can't push him off.

 

And there's that look in his eyes again. Distant, far away almost. But he doesn't stop.

 

And just like that, it was over. A looming figure detaches the younger shinobi from you. And you're stupid enough to look into “his” eyes.

 

Everything is dark.

 

You're wondering for a moment if you'd actually been placed under genjutsu at that moment, because although you woke up in your own bed, in “your” (cough) room, you have no recollection of going back by your own means.

 

“Then again. . .” you think “Can't sharingan be used for hypnosis?”

 

*creak*

 

“Gather your things. We have a mission. ”

 

Your heart jumps. There's no mistaking that flat, monotonous drawl.

 

“We?” you snap your head around to the Uchiha standing stoic at the threshold, though this time deliberately avoiding his eyes, settling on pale lips instead.

 

“Yes, “we”. ” he emphasizes the last word, though sarcasm is absent from his voice. “Interrogation and execution. We've captured two Iwagakure ninja posing as merchants on an obvious espionage mission. ” he turns his head towards your, eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“They were captured in the same bar you and Deidara were at last night. ”

 

Your heart drops into your stomach. Iwa? Why? Out of all the places they could've come from...

 

“Maybe they missed you”

 

You assume your best poker face, hoping the lone bead of sweat forming on your forehead doesn't drip down your face. “Why were they there of all places?”

 

“That's what we're supposed to find out. ” he replies flatly.

 

You feel the tiniest twinge of embarrassment and your cheeks heat up slightly. “Fine. Just gimme a minute to change and get supplies. ”

 

He says nothing. You take that as a yes.

 

And again, he fails to courteously leave the room as you begin to lift your dress off your shoulders and over your head.

 

“Uhh. ”

 

“I told you before, it doesn't bother me. ”

 

You make a face. “It kinda bothers ME. ”

 

“I'm not leaving. ”

 

Frustration, perplexity, then resignation as you sigh, stripping down to your underwear and throwing a black sleeveless top and dark blue shorts on, kick on your sandals, and-

 

Where the hell is your cloak?

 

Not in your trunk, not on the window sill, not on your bed (you can't help but bend over “sightly” too far to look under your bed, though logic dictated Itachi was probably more interested in the wall then your ass.)

 

“It's in the closet. ” Itachi deadpans, not bothering to even look in your direction. “I'd prefer you not leave anything on the floor.

 

Great. So he's a neat-freak too. Figures.

 

Whatever. You open the closet and through on your cloak, Itachi waiting patiently at the threshold. You pause for a moment, letting your eyes wander over the pale man.

 

Maybe he didn't have much emotion. Or personality. Or . . .  anything. Still, you owed him. A lot.

 

“Itachi?”

 

He stops in the doorway, looking at you over his shoulder.

 

“ . . .  ”

 

You bit the side of your lip, looking away.

 

“Thanks, for saving me from Deidara.”

 

 

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It soon becomes clear why Pain chose you to accompany Itachi on this mission, rather than send the Uchiha alone.

 

Because while the sharingan is considered the greatest, most intimidating ocular kekkei genkai, capable of sending anyone foolish enough to look into the wielder's eyes into a fabricated hell-on-earth-

 

It didn't do jack shit on the blind.

 

It shouldn't have surprised you, honestly. Sight was only one sense, and ninja were taught to utilize all five (sometimes six) from the crib. The loss of one could be devastating, yes, but the others would work overtime to make up for it.

 

And in this case, your prisoner's blindness had actually been a benefit, not a detriment.

 

Well, if you hadn't come along, it would have.

 

Milky, unseeing eyes narrow at you, presumably in rage under a curtain of dirty blonde bangs. The young man is furious, evident by the number of times he spit on you, unfortunately corresponding to the number of question's you'd asked.

 

“Look.” you blow out a breath, thinly veiled frustration in your voice. “ This is the LAST time I'm going to ask nicely. What the hell were you doing in Rain?”

 

“And I'm telling you for the LAST time, you can suck my dick!” the boy spits. Thought this time you manage to dodge, muttering obscenities under your breath.

 

You raise an eyebrow. “So you're saying you've got both ends of the deal down south, pretty boy, is that it?”

 

“Given how he acts, I wouldn't be surprised if he did”

 

The snide remark comes from the other Iwa nin, bound and shackled against the wall in a similar manner. Cropped straw colored hair and vivid green eyes peer over at you, though how she's managing to remain sarcastic while being interrogated was beyond you.

 

“Fuck off Kato.” the man blows out a breath. ”

 

“I love you too. ” the kunoichi manages, barely contained mirth in her eyes.

 

You bit your lip, slightly aggravated. Interrogation wasn't necessarily your strong suit. Actually, anything requiring immense amounts of concentration and patience wasn't your thing. Pain had it out for you, you were certain of that, at least. Kisame or Hidan would've been a much better choice. You avoided unnecessary pain. They got off on it.

 

Hell, even Itachi rarely resorted to torture, despite his bloodline limit being perfected for just that. He killed when he had to, hurt when he had to. Nothing more. In that sense you were similar.

 

“Speaking of which”

 

The Uchiha was a bit behind on his interrogation. Actually, he hadn't even started, and you notice with a bit of surprise that he's facing the opposite dungeon wall, staring blankly.

 

“Itachi-san?” you hesitate, cocking your head to the side. And it's then you notice the grey eyes, un-activated sharingan.

 

And tears.

 

Wait.

 

What little you could see in the dim light coupled with the telltale faint metallic stench in the air told you he wasn't crying. Far from it.

 

His eyes were bleeding.

 

“Are you okay?” Slightly alarmed, you step towards the stoic Uchiha. He raises his hand, motioning you to stop.

 

“I'm fine. ” He clutches his head with his free hand, covering his eyes. “Just give me a moment. ”

 

“Look, I don't want to be rude or anything. ” Comes the sarcastic response from the unseeing ninja dangling from the wall. “But if you're not gonna ask us any questions any time soon, you could let us the FUCK down!”

 

“Gee, looks like someone can't wait to be tortured. ” his female companion roles her eyes. “No, seriously, stop trying to piss them off. I like my bones unbroken, fingernails un-pulled, thumbs unscrewed, etc, etc, just /shut u-”

 

She stops mid-sentence as Itachi turns away from the wall, grey eyes gone, blood cleared, sharingan fully activated.

 

And you were inclined to believe that despite her being the voice of reason, the young woman was considerably more naïve' than the man. The wide, dilated pupils and the sudden silence was telltale enough.

 

She'd made eye contact.

 

She'd gone under. And was no doubt having her mind thoroughly raped by the mangekyo.

 

You fail to sniffle a shudder. You didn't envy her, that's for sure.

 

“Kato?” the man suddenly sounds the slightest bit alarmed. “Look Kato, I didn't mean that stuff. . . Kato?”

 

“You may as well give up” you mutter under your breath, nearing the suspended shinobi. “I know you can't tell, but your friend just looked an Uchiha in the eye. She can't hear you where she's gone. ”

 

He makes a face, as if greatly displeased. “Dumbass. ”

 

“Now then,” you sigh, delaying the inevitable “ I'm going to go out on a limb an assume you're not going to tell me anything without a bit of provocation. ”

 

“I'm not going to tell you anything PERIOD. ” he snarls. “Go ahead, fucking try me. ”

 

You blow out a breath. ” Alright. God help me I actually tried being nice. Should be enough to let me sleep tonight. ” You hold out your index finger, pushing several fine strands of chakra from the tip, thinning them out, weaving them tightly together, just the right pattern and-

 

You can't help a wry smile at the corners of your mouth. No matter how many times you did it, it was always an incredible feeling to produce fire from pure chakra, from thin air.

 

“I”m only going to do this once. ” you murmur, now on level with the young man, lips next to his ear. “The second time around your entire nervous system will be completely and utterly fried. You WILL feel pain like nothing you've ever felt before. This WILL permanently damage your body and your mind. You WILL be begging me to slit your throat during and after. ”

 

You hold the single flame under his jaw, letting just enough to singe the skin a blistering red.

 

“Any last words?”

 

“Yeah. ” the young shinobi sneers, turning blank , unseeing eyes straight into yours.

 

“Suck. My . Dick. ”

 

You feel a vein throbbing in your forehead. That's it.

 

Your force your fingers into his mouth, and before he has time to bite down, shoot burning tendrils of chakra down his throat, into his lungs, that immediately ignite.

 

He's silent for a second, convulsing unconsciously. You form your hands into the tora signal, focusing for a moment.

 

Before setting his insides on fire.

 

The initial scream is so loud you actually have to plug your ears shut, and for a split second almost regret what you did. It's deafening, almost inhuman, and for a moment, though you may have imagined it, you thought you saw Itachi cringe.

 

His cries grow weaker, he's thrashing, gurgling and spitting up copious amounts of blood.

 

“Now”

 

“Talk and I'll stop it, while there's still a chance you can be healed! ” You shout over the screams. Before realizing that it wasn't his screams.

 

 

“KIRA!” The kunoichi is screeching, thrashing under her restraints. She turns her head towards him, somehow aware.

 

“What the hell?” You turn towards Itachi. “I thought you had her under mangekyo!”

 

“Not completely. ” he narrows his eyes. “She could still hear him screaming in pain. ”

 

It then dawns on you. That was his plan from the beginning. Sly bastard

 

“Stop it, please!” The girl, Kota, turns toward you, pleading. “I'll tell you everything. Just stop. Oh god stop. ”

 

 

“The fuck. ” the blind manages through gasps and a mouthful of blood. “Sis, don't, they can't. ”

 

“I can't let them hurt you anymore. We'll defect from Iwa, we'll go live somewhere as civilians, god knows we can't go back after this anyways. ” she inhales sharply, piercing green eyes boring your yours.

 

Stop whatever you're doing to him. I'll spill. We both will. ”

 

You look over at Itachi nervously. He simply nods in your direction.

 

"I'll take that as a yes."

 

You press your index finger down on Kira's lower lip, drawing the chakra out, and you realize with some trepidation that you'd burned him internally far worse than you'd intended.

 

"He's probably not going to make it, even with medical treatment."

 

You can't help the frown ebbing at the corners of your mouth as you turn towards Kota.

 

“Go on. ”

 

She swallows hard, eyes downcast.

 

“We were sent here to gather intel on two ninja that defected from Iwagakure and were rumored to have joined the Akatsuki. We saw both of you at the bar in the civilian area last night. We were supposed to capture and interrogate you. ” She lets out a harsh laugh. “But we knew better. It was a damn suicide mission from the start. ”

 

“So you came for me and Deidara.” you purse your lips. “Why would your village send you on a mission like that?”

 

“They wanted to get rid of us. ”

 

You raise an eyebrow. Your former village wasn't exactly the shinning example of a democracy, but still.

 

“Kota's my big sister. ” the crippled shinobi rasps unexpectedly. “She had an affair with a feudal lord's son when he was visiting the village. Fucking pansy pretty boy knocked her up. ” you can tell to some extent the girl was embarrassed, blushing even. Of course he was arranged to marry someone else, they couldn't make it public, the Feudal lord threatened to cut funding from the village if they didn't cover everything up. So they sent her on a one-way mission. ”

 

“They only sent Kira because he wouldn't shut up. ” the girl jabs her thumb in her brother's direction.

 

“Fuck off. ” he deadpans, inducing yet another coughing fit.

 

“You, you're kidding me. ” you mutter.

 

“Unfortunately, no. ” Kota sighs. “I can see why you left when you did. What was all that about anyway? I mean that was a few years before my time, but I heard it was something to do with an arranged marriage?”

 

Shit

 

“You heard wrong. ” you answer bluntly.

 

“Really now? She smirks. “Funny how the only two clans that still practiced arrange marriages both had their heirs defect within the same year. ” She narrows her eyes.

 

“Or did it have something to do with your older brother?”

 

Your heart jumps into your throat.

 

No. Oh god no.

 

“I heard the council had some less-than pleasant plans for him, and that's why you bailed, and took him with you. ” you ball your fists in rage. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She'd somehow turned the tables here and YOU were the one squirming under the pressure.

 

How dare she.

 

“I know you think he's safe, where he is now. But I'll tell you now, there's no less than three people that know exactly where he lives, where he sleeps. ” She bares her teeth in a toothy smile.

 

“I'm one of them. ”

 

It takes all of your willpower not to panic, to crumble into a heap on the spot.

 

It takes even MORE not to beat the ever living shit out of her where she stood.

 

“Enough. ”

 

You'd nearly forgotten about Itachi, who until now had remained entirely silent throughout the ordeal.

 

“We've finished the mission. We can dispose of them now. ”

 

“Don't kill my sister. ”

 

The burnt shinobi's plead catches you of guard. It wasn't spiteful, hateful, or demanding. It was heart-rending at the very least.

 

 

“Kira!” the girl cries, snapping her head in his direction.

 

“Please, you can kill me, just, let her go.” A weak smile forms over his lips. “She can still make it, have her baby, live out her life as a civilian in a different country. “

 

“Kira-”

 

You bite your tongue painfully hard. You feel the slightest twinge of guilt, sorrow, something welling up inside you, though you straight face belies this. You look over at Itachi.

 

No emotion. No nothing.

 

Of course. Nothing effected that man. Why the hell would disposing of an enemy choke him up?

 

“Kill the boy. ” Itachi murmurs, his voice low. “He won't make it anyway. ”

 

You swallow hard.

 

“And the girl?”

 

“I'll take care of her. ”

 

You nod, gritting your teeth as you turn your attention back to the captive shinobi. Burnt, bleeding, shallow breaths cracking his ribcage. If anything, you were doing him a favor.

 

“I'll make this quick, Kira-san.” you say flatly, unsheathing a kunai.

 

He says nothing, only closing his eyes as you bury the cold metal into the back of his neck.

 

A flash of blood, an unconscious gasp of air. Muscles tense, then relax.

 

It's over.

 

The clanking of metal brings you out of your trance as Itachi frees the girl's limp body from it's restraints, holding her bridal style. You do the same, removing the kunai from his neck as an afterthought.

 

”Leave him here. Zetsu will take care of the body. ”

 

You give him a puzzled look. “And the girl?”

 

He says nothing. It's then you notice the occasional rise and fall of her chest.

 

She's alive.

 

“Help me take her outside. We'll leave her on the outskirts of the village. ”

 

You open and close your mouth several times, unable to form words.

 

“Sharingan can be used for more than just torture and ninjutsu.” he replies, expression surprisingly soft. “I erased her memory. Completely. She's harmless to us now. ”

 

“Why?” you mutter.

 

He says nothing, turning on heel to the dungeon exit. You silently follow.

 

 

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It's not until three hours later, after you've left the girl at a halfway-inn outside the village, /returned/ to the village, and stopped under the outcropping of an out building to let a sudden torrential downpour of rain let up does he speak again.

 

 

“ '_____'-san.”

 

“Hmm?” you reply, still staring blankly out into the storm.

 

Another pause.

 

“I see no need to speak of your brother, “ he says slowly. “If you see no need to speak of the girl. ”

 

You look at him for a moment, daring to make eye contact. Dark red eyes half closed, exhausted. Traces of blood still smeared across his face.

 

For whatever he did, he had his reasons.

 

Maybe he's not entirely emotionless. Maybe.

 

“I understand, Itachi-san” you sigh, leaning back against the wall, closing your eyes, the dull roar of the rain soothing. He's closer to you than you would have liked, shoulders touching under the narrow alcove to avoid the downpour.

 

You don't want to admit it, but it's nice.