By Any Means Necessary

TWO MONTHS LATER



The mood in the limo during the ride back from Orochimaru’s place was so tense and quiet that you could cut it with a knife. Pein kneeled in his usual spot, naked shoulders covered with a blanket, blood seeping through from the torn lash-marks on his back, head bowed low, trembling hands tucked between his knees. Itachi sat motionlessly, face completely blank, eyes empty at he stared out of the window but did not truly see the passing scenery. Kisame drove without saying a word, hands white-knuckled while he clutched the wheel.



When they finally arrived, the large man moved and opened the back door allowing Itachi out. He ran into the house without a word. Kisame leaned and scooped the red-head gently in his arms, shushing him tenderly when he whimpered.



“It’s okay, we have a doctor, you’ll be okay.” He promised, well-aware that things weren’t going to be okay as quickly as he wished.



When he had made sure that Pein was well-taken care of, he walked back to Itachi’s rooms and quietly slid in, noticing that the Uchiha was standing in the middle of the bedroom, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, back tense and ramrod straight, hand covering his mouth, face as white as a sheet.



“What happened?” the large man asked gently and slowly walked up to him, as if worried he’d spook a frightened animal.



It took a very long time before Itachi finally answered.



“He wanted to play with Pein.”



Kisame sucked in his breath but Itachi continued “and I let him. I had to.” He turned fully towards the older man, dark eyes wild. “Tell me I had to!”



Kisame gently put his large hands on Itachi’s trembling shoulders.



“Itachi, it was necessary. We knew it. The device in his collar would scan the codes of the alarm systems of Orochimaru’s house. You had to take him with you. You knew it.” He said, trying to sound convincing.



The young man shook his head and his eyes filled with tears.



“We went there, and he was looking at Pein the whole fucking time, then finally asked me to lend IT to him. He called him an IT, Kisame! That bastard!” He turned to Kisame. “And I allowed it. I watched… I watched as he hurt him, as if he were a toy, an object. He made him scream, Kisame. And I did nothing.”



The slave tried to hug Itachi, but the brunette took a step back.



“And that wasn’t the worst part.”



“Itachi-san?”



The young man’s voice was hoarse.



“Sasuke was there too.” Kisame’s eyes widened in alarm. “Orochimaru gave him to me, in return for Pein. He didn’t recognize me, Kisame” the dam was broken and the words came rushing out. “He was... was…He was empty. Blank. He did what he was told like an automaton.”



“Itachi-san…”



“And he was as covered in as many scars as Pein, so many of them new!” Itachi was beginning to hyperventilate.



“Itachi-san, did you hurt him?” Kisame finally managed to ask gently.



Itachi suddenly laughed hysterically and the older man bit his lip in worry.



“Did I? Did I hurt him? Not physically. I made sure of it.” Suddenly, he was crowding Kisame’s personal space, faces almost touching, expression almost manic. “But I took him. I put on a good show for Orochimaru.” And then he giggled.



Kisame finally wrapped his strong arms around him and held him, despite his efforts to free himself.



“Hurt me, Kisame.” He whispered against his chest and Kisame’s heart went cold at the tone of that request.



“Please don’t ask that of me.” He begged.



“Hurt me. Punish me.”



Itachi looked up, full, soft lips rubbing against his and Kisame felt a helpless surge of arousal shoot up his spine.



“Do it. I am your Master, I command you. If you don’t, I will go somewhere else where I will get what I want.”



It was not the command that convinced Kisame to obey. It was the mental image of a sadistic stranger taking advantage of Itachi’s unhinged, helpless state of mind that terrified the large man into action. He grabbed the thin shoulders and roughly pushed the Uchiha on the bed, then flipped the delicate body over with ease, grabbing a discarded necktie from the back of the desk chair and securing Itachi’s hands on the headboard above them with it. The Uchiha had gone quiet, body surprisingly relaxed as Kisame grabbed at his clothes and pulled sharply, tearing them off of him and leaving him naked. Then he pulled back and stared down at him.



Itachi keened softly.



“Kisame.”



“Be quiet.” The large man ordered coldly and Itachi quieted down, laying submissively on his front.



“Do you really want me to hurt you, Itachi?” he said softly. The Uchiha nodded.



“Why do you punish me so, Master?” he asked, voice not unkind. “What have I done to displease you?”



“Punish you?” the brunette’s voice was confused.



“You know I hate doing this. I cannot bear to cause you pain. Or see you in pain. I love you.” He reached and touched his wrists where the too tight bindings had bit viciously into the tender flesh. Itachi let out a soft, desperate sob. “I didn’t mean to hurt…”



“I know. You claim to have hurt two people tonight, now you wish to hurt a third?” Kisame asked and winced, knowing that this reasoning was a very low blow, but if it was what it took to get through to Itachi, he was willing to follow through with it. The Uchiha was trembling desperately under him.



“I don’t… I don’t want to hurt anyone…” he wailed and suddenly burst in tears, desperate sobs shaking his small frame. Kisame reached and released his hands, then gathered him in his arms and held him as he cried, rocking him back and forth as if he were a child.



“I know, love, I know. It’ll be okay, I promise.” He whispered to him over and over until exhausted, Itachi finally calmed down and lay limp in his embrace.



Then Kisame turned his face up and kissed him tenderly, tasting his tears.



“I will make it okay.” He promised and Itachi sighed.



“Warm.” He stated.



“I know, beautiful.” His large, callused hands began to roam over the naked body, caressing and petting each curve with utmost gentleness.

The Uchiha sighed again and relaxed even further, allowing Kisame’s tender exploration.



“Have me, Kisame.” He whispered and his lover nodded.



“I will.”



He took his time with the smaller man, rediscovering his body all over again with his hands and mouth, all the while Itachi lay on the bed underneath him, mentally and physically exhausted, almost as limp as a rag doll, only moaning softly and shifting minutely to give Kisame better access to all his secret places.



When he finally slid into him, it was like coming home for the both of them and they rocked together very slowly, wrapped in a cocoon of heat and safety until finally reached the peak together, Itachi’s long legs wrapped around Kisame’s narrow hips, the large man’s face buried in the Uchiha’s pale, creamy throat, mouthing the silken flesh tenderly as he filled him with his seed.



The next morning, after a long shower and an even longer breakfast during which he mostly picked at his foot, Itachi’s legs led him to Pein’s room. He stood before the plain wooden door for a while, trying to gather the courage to get in, to face the man inside. Finally, he took a deep, shuddery breath and knocked on the door.



“Come in.” came the muffled voice from the inside.



Itachi entered the room and saw that Pein was curled on the narrow bed on his side, reading a book. When he looked up and saw his Master, the red-head made an attempt to get up and kneel, but the Uchiha quickly walked up to him and pressed him back down.



“It’s okay, lie down.” He said urgently and Pein slowly relaxed back onto the pillow, looking at him with open, trusting eyes. How could he look at him like that after what he made him do?



Itachi reached and cupped his cheek gently and the red-head immediately, as if by instinct, leaned into the touch.



“Pein…”



“Master?”



Itachi wanted to say so many things, but after a short pause, he only asked:



“Did the doctor take good care of you?”



The red-head smiled gently and nodded.



“Yes.” He turned and kissed Itachi’s palm in supplication. “Thank you, Master. You’re so kind to me.” There was no irony in those words – the red-head was obviously sincere. Itachi tried to swallow past the lump in his throat.



“I am so sorry, Pein.”



He shook his head, but Itachi continued.



“I shouldn’t have put you up to this.”



“I made a conscious choice, Master. You didn’t put me up to anything.”



Itachi smiled bitterly.



“Oh, but I did. I manipulated you into the whole thing. I chose you, who were broken and affection-starved, and I gave you all that you needed, and you became ready to fulfill my every desire – not because you had to, but because you wanted to.”



For the first time since Itachi knew the slave, Pein did not smile adoringly at his words. His face remained almost emotionless, grey eyes calm and guarded, but not cold.



“I know.”



“…You do?!”



The red-head did smile then.



“Itachi-sama… I have been a slave for a very long time. A lot of people have manipulated me and used me and then discarded me. I have learned to recognize when someone does something of that sort. “



“Then why…?”



“Because, you Master, did not show me kindness just to achieve your own goals – it came out of your heart. And here you are now, telling me the truth, because you’re too good a person and you felt guilty because of your actions. You really did make me feel like a person. You convinced me that I was a person, regardless of the reasons behind it. And I am grateful for it.” He kissed Itachi’s hand again. “I really would do anything for you.”



Itachi ran his fingers over the book’s cover.



“Huckleberry Finn.” He said gently “Used to be Sasuke’s favourite.”



Pein looked down at the book.



“Because Jim was a slave and yet he was also a person.” Itachi explained. “He had dignity and grace and was a better human being than any of the free people he and Huck met on their journey.”



Pein nodded.



“It’s my favourite too, Master.” He said gently.



Itachi took a deep breath.



“Thank you. For everything.”



Pein nodded, then hesitantly reached and took Itachi’s hand in his, wrapping his fingers around it.



“You don’t have to thank me for anything, Master. I have but one request, though.”



“Anything.”



“Take me with you when you and Kisame-san go to pick up your brother?”



Itachi blinked.



“I think he’d need someone he can relate to who is not… a Master.” He said very softly.



“I am not!...”



“He doesn’t know that. Especially after what happened when we were there.” He clarified and Itachi paled at the memory.



“I’ve ruined any chance we have to be close again, have I?” he said miserably.



Pein shook his head.



“It’s never too late. I am sure that sooner or later, he’d understand.”



Itachi nodded and smiled at Pein.



“Okay. You can come. But you’ll wait outside.”



Pein nodded obediently.





After all the preparations and the months of investigation, getting Sasuke out of the house was a job that took less than an hour. With the alarm codes scanned by the device hidden in Pein’s collar the specialist they had hired had no problem breaking into the house. As she worked, she looked at Itachi and smiled at him.



“I see my gadget worked excellently.”



Behind them, Kisame answered.



“Sarah, dear, all of your gadgets work excellently. That is why we value your work so highly.”



“Ever the charmer, isn’t he?” she said with a grin and waggled her eyebrows at the large man who snickered at the mock flirting, but at Itachi’s drawn and worried expression both quickly grew serious again.



“Your brother, Itachi, will be fine.” She reassured him “As long as he has the two of you, he can take on the world.” And she patted his hand.



The small handheld computer she had in her hands let out a soft clicking sound.



“That’s it, the alarms are off. We can go in now.”



Itachi nodded and patiently waited while Kisame picked the lock of the back door. Together, they slid into the house as stealthily as prowling black cats into the night. The date was carefully chosen – the Master being out of town and the head slave having departed with him, the only ones present were a few guards, easily taken care of by Kisame, and various sleeping slaves. Itachi knew where Sasuke’s room would be situated and he marched towards it without any hesitation. When he barged in, the young man stared up at him with wide eyes, a shadow of fear passing over his face but then he was still again, unmoving even when Itachi lifted him and carried him outside.



Kisame waited for him in the corridor, holding a blanket which they wrapped around pale scarred shoulders.



“Is she done?” Itachi asked softly.



“Almost. Copying all the files from his hard-drive proved to be harder than we expected.”



“I’m done, big man, let’s go.”



They both jumped in surprise and looked back to see Sarah looking at them holding a disk triumphantly.



“You’re a treasure.” Said Kisame and quickly followed her out, Itachi in tow.



Outside, they bid each other a hasty but warm farewell, Kisame promising to complete her payment in the morning and then all three got into the black SUV parked a block down from the house.



Dressed in a dark shirt and dark pants, collar lacking, Pein waited for them by the back door.



Itachi handed Sasuke to him and all four got inside, Kisame driving away at a calm, moderate speed. No need to draw unwanted attention by speeding.



Inside the car, Pein was sitting on one of thr backseats, Sasuke in his lap, surprisingly clutching at him as if holding on for dear life, face buried in his neck. Itachi watched the display in fascination, unsure if he should be jealous or relieved that his brother was responding to the red-head.



When they got back to the house and Kisame reached to take the young man from him, Sasuke whimpered and tried to hold on, making all three to stare at him in even bigger surprise.



Sighing, Itachi gestured to the big man to stop and then looked at Pein, who only nodded.



“I’ll take good care of him, I promise.” And then he turned and walked towards the baths.



Worriedly, Itachi watched until he disappeared behind a corner and then turned to Kisame.

The large man shrugged.



“Makes sense, come to think about it. Try not to be too disappointed. We knew that it would take a long time.”



Itachi nodded, pinched the bridge of his nose and headed back to his rooms, followed by his lover.



In the next few weeks, they saw very little progress – Sasuke still withdrew into himself when he wasn’t with Pein and finally Itachi had told the red-head to relinguish his other duties in favour of being his brother’s caretaker. Pein didn’t seem to mind at all, even appeared happy to obey and began to spend all his time with with the young man, showing him around the house, trying to engage him in a conversation, attempting to bring him out of his shell.



It appeared Sasuke liked the garden the best because they spent a lot of time there, sitting together on a bench before one of the koi ponds, feeding the fish, Pein reading to the young man from one of the numerous books he took from the library.



Itachi, in turn, spent his days staring out of the window overlooking said pond, watching as his brother and the slave communicated and apparently grew closer and closer together. He wasn’t sure how to react to this new bond developing between them, not being able to understand it completely – it was apparently absolutely platonic, at least for the moment – and yet jealousy had reared its ugly head and was gnawing at his heart every time he saw their heads closer together. Kisame noticed, of course, as he noticed everything that happened in the house and around it, for that matter. He hadn’t confronted Itachi about it yet, but it certainly worried him. They would have to talk soon.



Just when he finally made up his mind and entered Itachi’s office he found the young man once again staring out of the window. Kisame was about to speak when a servant walked in.



“Master, Itachi-san, sir?” he said and the young man turned.



“Yes?”



“Your father is here. He wishes to speak with you.”



Kisame and Itachi looked at each other, then Itachi pulled the window curtains and moved to sit behind his large polished mahogany desk, Kisame standing to his right and slightly behind him, hands behind his back, feet slightly apart.



The older Uchiha entered and father and son looked at each other, sized each other up, engaging in a cold, vicious staring contest. Fugaku was the first to look away.



“Where is he, Itachi?” he hissed.



“Where is who, father?” Itachi asked mockingly.



“Sasuke, that little bastard!”



“He’s safe.” Itachi answered coldly, small smile playing on his lips.



“You are to return him immediately!”



Itachi rolled his eyes.



“Father, you are in no position to give me any sort of orders. Nor are you entitled to raise your tone in MY house.



“How dare you…?!”



“I strongly suggest that you amend your behaviour right now, or I will have Kisame here escort you out. Do you understand?” Itachi hissed back, expression suddenly vicious.



Fugaku shut up.



“Sasuke will remain as MY property, and you and Orochimaru will sign all the necessary documents to make it legal.”



“Now, why would we do that?” the older man asked, having composed himself.



“Because, father” Itachi began and threw an unmarked disk on his desk “here I have the data of all of your illicit dealings. Guns, drugs, unlicensed slaves, money-laundering, you name it.” He leaned forward on his desk “And if I do not get what I want, all this information will find its way to the cops.” The young man smirked. “Or worse. The press. I will destroy you both.”



Fugaku stared at his son, red splotches blossoming on his face, but he held his tongue. Finally, he deflated.



“Very well.”



“Good.” Itachi leaned back into his chair. “You keep that.” He pointed to the disk. “I have many copies, in many different places.” The older man glared, but Itachi ignored him, picking up a folder. “You may leave now.” It was a clear dismissal.



Itachi sagged back against Kisame after the other man left. His lover began gently massaging his shoulders.



“You did excellently.” He told him and leaned to place a soft kiss at the base of his throat. “He walked out of here like he’s crapped in his pants.”



Itachi grinned at that, but then his smile faded and he got up, walking back to the window and looking down.



“You need to stop doing that.” Kisame said, not having moved from his position behind the desk.



“Doing what?”



“Worrying. About Sasuke. And Pein. And while you’re at it, you can try to stop being so damn jealous.”



Itachi turned to him.



“I am NOT jealous, Kisame!”



“Are you? Because you’re acting like an obsessive paranoid boyfriend.”



The Uchiha glared.



“They’re much too close. What if…?”



“What are you afraid of, Itach-san?” Kisame started gently “That your brother, after all he’s been through, might start a relationship with a man sixteen years his senior, or that he might love him better than he loves you? If it’s the former, let me remind you that our age difference isn’t small at all as well. If it’s the latter, I assure you that cannot happen.” Kisame moved to perch at the edge of the desk, still looking at the silent Itachi.



“Pein told me that he explained to Sasuke why you did… what you did at Orochimaru’s. And that Sasuke’s began to remember his previous life. He’s not angry, at least not at you anyway. He’s scared, yes, and ashamed. And it will take a long time for him to begin to function as a normal human being, or to open up to you, but he does not hate you. All you need to do is give him time.”



“Pein himself cannot function as a normal human being, Kisame.” Itachi pointed out tiredly.



“Normalcy is over-rated.” Kisame joked with a lopsided smile, then grew serious again. “I know that Pein is… damaged. More so than Sasuke. But he is also older and he has begun to come to terms with what happened to him. He’s began to find himself. He has not healed yet, not completely, he may never actually heal to the fullest. But who can better help Sasuke than a person who understands how he feels so well?”



Itachi turned and looked out of the window again, staring down at them. Sasuke was listening intently to Pein’s reading. For a fraction of a second, it looked like the corners of his lips trembled into the beginning of a smile. It was over so quickly that that you could blink and miss it, but it was definitely there. Finally, Itachi conceded.



“I hope you’re right.”