Hopelessly

krito1389: We get a little more of Sakura now (not in a Het way that you people hate). Sasuke’s past (besides what we already know) that fucked him up so badly won’t come up for at least one more chapter.

Kishiko: Thank you!

DarkAngelJudas: Yeah, Sasuke’s not quite human. Yet. Don’t expect him to be suddenly become Pinocchio; these things take time. ^_^

Prescripto13: ^_^ He’s only about 95% evil.

ChelseaPlume: I might have lost you as a reader and may not read this, but in case you do come back once more: Yeah, it’s a creeper story, I really don’t know where it came from, but it flourished. Kakashi’s pretty jaded and a realist but on the other hand just drowning in his own guilt. So he is pretty level headed about it. He also does enjoy it as a form of self destruction and physical pleasure. And you are right about where it’s going, but it won’t be sudden, it’s a long process. As far as Sasuke’s concerned, this isn’t a ‘relationship.’ He likes to think he’s cut out his heart, but his own messing with Kakashi slowly awakens some feeling. The first chapter was a power trip and he continues to exert his dominance, but it’s mostly just lust. BTW, I’m glad to hear you apparently love my other work; this is different though a little like No Regrets.

----------

Construction began on the new Hokage tower. Kakashi would like having a window rather than sitting in this damn tent all day. He was also annoyed by his assistant. A genin. He did his job well enough, but Kakashi hated it. A genin. A constant reminder of his own failure with his genin. This boy was getting a D-rank mission credit for his help. The boy’s sensei was out on higher rank missions and his teammates were elsewhere helping out.

That was another thing Kakashi hated: this boy’s sensei was out on a mission; every Jounin and chunin was on missions unless they were needed here at home. He should be out there. His talents were wasted in this office. He was a shinobi damn it, not a bureaucrat. He actually prayed Sasuke would summon him for a fight.

“Deliver these orders.” Kakashi held out a stack of paper to the genin. “You can go home once you’re finished; no need to come back here.”

The boy bowed, thanked him, and ran out.

Kakashi rubbed his temples. He wanted everything just to go back three months. Just three months. If only Tsunade hadn’t stood up to Sasuke. She discovered the painful way that Sasuke had used his Sharingan to copy all of Kabuto’s techniques. He might not have had the absolute control of his chakra that medical-nins had, but with his speed and power he didn’t need it. He’d also read Kabuto and Orochimaru’s analysis of her and reports of their fights with her. He was prepared for her every move. He took her down with her own jutsu. He also killed the Raikage and the Tsuchikage. Anyone who dared raise a hand against him was put down, no matter what village they were from.

He threw Tsunade’s withered corpse at the shinobi who were forced to watch since they would only get in the way of a fight between a Kage and an Uchiha. Sasuke had looked . . . elated. It was almost like defeating her proved his own sense of superiority, like defeating a Kage made him feel alive.

Why did he choose me?

Because he can manipulate you, he answered himself. Because he knows how broken you are. Because you didn’t try to fight him. Because you surrendered to him. And he uses you because you already threw away your pride when you surrendered. Wasn’t that as much as a betrayal to the village and the shinobi forces? You wouldn’t fight him. He knew you would obey him.

He wanted to roar with frustration. Kill him and you’ll be free. Free of him and free of your guilt. Why can’t you kill him?!

He took a deep breath and try to pull himself out of the pit of self loathing he kept finding himself falling into. He should not be Hokage.

-----

Kakashi tried to make it home every night to have dinner with Sakura. As time when on, she had fewer wounded that needed her and the more often she would come home regularly. Kakashi was not used to eating with someone else regularly, but he was getting used to it. He was even getting to use to keeping his mask down around someone else.

“None of my patients need me anymore,” Sakura announced as they began dinner. “They’ve all healed enough not to need extensive treatment. That means I can become your assistant now.”

“Afraid not. You’re too talented to keep here. I need you in the field. I’ll give you a few days off before putting you back on the active duty roster.”

“I’d prefer to stay here and help you,” she said, a little crestfallen.

“I’d like for you to stay but I need you in the field. I’d rather have someone useless in the field be my assistant.” Like that genin. “You’re medical talents are essential on missions.”

She nodded, unable to argue. She got up and bent down to hug him from behind, placing her cheek against his. “I love you. I want to help you.”

He caressed her arm. “I love you, but I can’t let you stay.”

“Alright, but let me act as your assistant for the next few days before you put me back on the roster.”

“If that’s how you want to spend your vacation.” At last there was some humor in his voice; he was sounding more like the sensei she missed. She wanted him to be happy. She had promised Sasuke that if he stayed she would make him happy, make every day fun, and not let him regret it. Sasuke didn’t take her up on that offer, but she was determined to do it for Kakashi. She loved him; they shared the same pain—or so she thought. She hugged him tighter.

“You’re all I have.”

Kakashi didn’t want to call her out on that, but he couldn’t stop a flash of anger at those words. She could never understand what it felt like to truly have nothing or close to nothing. She had much that he did not. She didn’t know what she was saying. She had everything he’d already lost. He and Sasuke. He didn’t like the momentary comradely with Sasuke.

“You are all I have left,” he said with more sincerity and more honestly. He didn’t even have his pride anymore.

-----

Sasuke hadn’t visited Konoha since he came to give Kakashi the seal on his shoulder. But Sasuke was ever surprising him. It was morning when Sasuke appeared before his desk. Sasuke looked wide awake while Kakashi was still drowsy.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Kakashi asked.

“I have an order for you and I wanted to see what progress has been made.”

“Most of the village’s been rebuilt. I left the Hokage tower for last; it’s under construction now.”

Sasuke stepped out of the tent to look a look around. He was immediately set upon by two shinobi. Sasuke wasn’t fazed and put them both down using their own momentum.

“I thought you would have a better handle on you dogs,” Sasuke said to Kakashi who’d come out behind him. “Or are these standard orders?”

“I have no standing orders concerning you because I didn’t think you would come back here again.”

“I’m in a good mood so I won’t kill them.” Sasuke let them go. They ran off. “Not even worth the effort.” Sasuke looked over at the village then around at Kakashi’s tent. “Looks like the field headquarters of an army.” Sasuke seemed amused.

Kakashi watched Sasuke’s eyes as he looked over the village again from this hill. The skin around his eyes tightened. Sasuke was not pleased to see it. “At least it doesn’t look the same.” Sasuke turned to reenter the tent and Kakashi held the flap open for him.

“If that one, Yamato, can make buildings of wood so easily, why didn’t you make a more appropriate temporary office?”

“If Yamato’s going to build a permanent or semi-permanent building, I prefer it’s for the civilians.”

Sasuke didn’t look like he was listening. He took something out of his pocket. “Give these orders and money to whoever makes the best shinobi gear.” He threw a packet onto Kakashi’s desk. “Don’t look at them. Have them delivered to you and summon me when they’re done. Probably be best if you don’t say they’re from me. Tell them it’s for Sakura or something. I don’t want to have to search the damn things for poison needles or anything.”

“It will be done.”

“Is the memorial finished?”

“No. I will summon you when it is.”

“Very well. Facing any threats?”

“None. We’re just trying to earn revenue, so I have most of the shinobi off on missions.”

“Hmmm.”

“Bored?”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t make me deal with it here.”

Kakashi put up his hands in a conciliatory manner. “Forgive me.”

Sasuke vanished.

Kakashi sat down and picked up the packet. Why did Sasuke want gear made? He got along quite well with a chest exposing shirt and purple bow.

Sakura arrived an hour later. “I checked on the hospital, the construction of the tower, and Itachi’s memorial. Everything is going well. What can I help with?”

He forgot how perky she could be. They never woke up at the same time, so he’d not seen her morning perkiness in a long time. Well, it hadn’t really been that long.

“I have another errand for you to run, unless you want to wait for the genin to arrive and let him do it.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Take this packet to Usami. Say it’s for me. There’s money and instructions in there. Ask him to have it ready ASAP.”

“May I ask?”

“Don’t tell anyone: they’re Sasuke’s requests. He doesn’t want his named mentioned so no one booby traps them. I don’t want him mentioned because if someone does try to assassinate Sasuke, it’s my head that will roll.”

“I won’t mention him.”

“Thank you.”

-----

It was actually nice to have Sakura around. She tried to cheer him and her smile did lighten his mood. Between her and the genin, he was able to get his work done. The next few days were not quite hellish.

But then he was forced to send her out on missions. Maybe he was genuinely falling in love with her. He missed her.

It took a week for Usami to return Sasuke’s order to Kakashi.

“Some of my finest work,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“The dimensions didn’t seem to fit you, but I did as you instructed.”

“Thank you. I hope there was sufficient money.”

“More than enough.” He brought out a handful of money.

“Keep it,” Kakashi said. Let Sasuke’s money stay in Konoha.

Once the man left, he opened the scroll Sasuke’d given him and summoned the green sphere.

Sasuke arrived almost immediately.

“Your order,” Kakashi said, gesturing to the packet on the far side of his desk.

Sasuke opened them. There was a chair this time and he sat down. “Did you look at them?”

“No.”

“Good.” Sasuke examined the black vest with his Sharingan. “Perfect.” He checked the other two packets. He looked approving. He took the last article and tied it around his head. An eye patch for the left eye. Sasuke still had his Sharingan activated. “Works very well.” He took it off and threw it to Kakashi. “For you.” Kakashi looked questioningly at Sasuke.

“I want the challenge of your Sharingan when we spar without seeing it. It’s made of a mesh that should let you see perfectly while hiding that eye. You’ll wear it when we spar so keep it on you for when I summon you. Try it.”

Kakashi kept his left eye shut as he took off his headband and tried the eye patch on. He opened his eye and found his vision was nearly perfect.

“Will it do?” Sasuke asked.

“I think so.” Kakashi almost thanked him.

“I can’t see the damn thing, so I’m pleased.” He stood, picking up his own gear and the green sphere. “I have to deal with some of the other Kage or I’d test it out now.” And he was gone.

Kakashi touched the eye patch, feeling the mesh. He had to admit, he sort of liked it. But he took it off and put his headband back on.

-----

Whatever business Sasuke had with the other Kage, was probably what caused Takamaru, Suna’s fastest messenger hawk, to arrive in Konoha.

A secret Kage meeting. Kakashi sighed. Did those fools really think anything could be kept secret from Sasuke? He put his head down on his desk. Oddly, he wasn’t frightened of Sasuke; definitely not frightened enough to blab to him. Sasuke would probably just rape him again anyway. He didn’t like his own reaction to that thought: a tingling in his back. He would go.

“I hate this job,” he mumbled.

The genin stopped sorting papers. “Huh?”

“Summon Shikaku and Hiashi. Is Sakura back?” Probably not or she’d be here.

“I did see her earlier, she said she’d be over once she looked in on Naruto-san.”

Kakashi couldn’t help the flash of jealousy. He knew it was sisterly concern for her friend and teammate, but she didn’t come to him first, but to Naruto. Sasuke had called him a replacement. Whatever.

“Then she’ll probably be here by the time those two arrive. Go on.”

With the elders dead, Kakashi had chosen Shikaku and Hiashi as his advisors. The ‘elders’ couldn’t be chosen as the Third had chosen his, his own teammates; Kakashi didn’t have any living. Shikaku and Hiashi were the most able and better candidates for Hokage. Sakura, as his lover, just needed to know his intentions. Sakura arrived first.

“How’s Naruto?” he asked without looking up from his work.

“No change. Whatever Sasuke did to him just won’t let up.”

“I didn’t think genjutsu could last this long without the caster doing it actively, but Madara’s Moon Eyes’ Plan would be similar. I don’t want to know what’s going in Naruto’s mind.”

The Shikaku and Hiashi arrived together with the genin.

“I have something to tell you four,” he said, including his genin assistant. “The Kazakage wants a secret Kage meeting. I’m going.”

“You should take a guard,” Hiashi said. “Two ANBU at the very least.”

“I want one or both of you to act as Hokage while I’m gone. I doubt you’ll have to deal with Sasuke, but it’s a possibility.”

They nodded.

“Sakura, you won’t be coming with me. Ritsu,” Kakashi said to the genin, “you’ll be helping Shikaku and Hiashi while I’m gone.”

“Understood.” The genin tried to look like a soldier receive important instructions. Sakura gave a small laugh.

“Are you sure about going?” Shikaku asked. “If Sasuke finds out . . .”

“We’re all technically still allied. I should go no matter what to preserve that alliance.” And if it pissed off Sasuke, all the better. He wasn’t some slave who’d lost all his pride. But then why did he feel like a kid taking pleasure in defying his parents. Not that he knew what that was like. “I’ll deal with Sasuke if he finds out.”

-----

“His demands have been outrageous!” Hatori said. “He demands money and rations for his own forces from us!” Hatori was the new Tsuchikage, a rather young and spirited man. Sasuke had approved him, but he hadn’t chosen him as he had with Bee as the new Raikage and Kakashi as Hokage.

Kakashi remained silent. Demands? Sasuke never took anything. In fact he paid for the gear he ordered. And forces? Sasuke was completely alone in that fortress, Kakashi was sure of it. What forces did he need?

“He orders our forces spread thin,” Bee said. “He’s making sure we cannot strike against him without him noticing our moves beforehand.”

“But why is he stocking up? What could he be gathering his forces for?” Hatori demanded.

“Sasuke is practical,” Gaara said. “He must be anticipating an attack.”

“Kakashi,” Mei, the Mizukage, said, “have you nothing to say?”

“Sasuke hasn’t demanded anything of us. But then again, we’re still rebuilding; we have nothing to take.”

“It’s true that our villages weren’t directly attacked during the war,” Mei said. “I don’t think he’s showing a preference to his home village; he’s abandoned you.”

“Considering how much he hates us,” Kakashi said, “he’s been fair to Konoha.”

“He’s made no demands at all?” Hatori asked.

“Nothing except a memorial to his brother who killed their entire clan—except Sasuke—to avoid a civil war in Konoha. I agreed. It’s not much of an extra drain on our resources. And I feel sympathy for Itachi anyway.”

Hatori continued to complain about Sasuke’s predation. Kakashi didn’t even bother listening. They all let Hatori complain. Finally, Gaara took advantage of a pause in Hatori’s recitation.

“We need to discuss how to take Sasuke out.”

Kakashi’s skin puckered.

“With his Sasanoo and Amaterasu, he’s nearly invincible,” Kakashi said. “The initial rout was caused by confusion on our side, but then he took on and killed three Kage and defeated two very powerful Jinchûriki. I think the only reason he didn’t kill Bee and Naruto was because they are Jinchûriki.”

“But you were his sensei,” Hatori said, “surely you know enough about him to help us defeat him.”

“I was his sensei for less than a year; he was Orochimaru’s student for three. His motivations used to be very simple: kill Itachi. You could manipulate him easily—as Orochimaru showed—by playing on that one desire. Then it was to avenge his brother against Konoha. Why he attacked the allied forces? I don’t know. What he’s thinking now? I have no idea. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Does the Sharingan have a weak point?” Mei asked.

“Just the amount of chakra those jutsu use up and the toll it can take on the body, but Sasuke’s adapted to that and perfectly aware of his chakra. I’m sure he has something more powerful than soldier pills to give him a boost. However, the Sharingan is inferior to the Byakugan in two respects, it does not have 360 vision, he’s limited to a normal range of sight and though he can see chakra, he can’t see the chakra network. Yet, I should also warn you, he’s immune to most poisons and though he no longer has Orochimaru’s curse mark, he does still seem to have many snake jutsu.”

“You’re frightened of him,” Hatori said.

“Scared shitless,” Kakashi deadpanned. “Naruto, Suigetsu, and I are probably the only people who know him well at all, but I have no insight for you, Naruto’s in a coma, and Suigetsu’s on his side.”

“No, he isn’t,” Mei said.

“Huh?”

“Suigetsu’s given us what intelligence he can. We don’t entirely trust him, but we believe he’s betrayed Sasuke.”

“Huh.” Then Sasuke is totally alone. Kakashi felt sorry for his former student. No, Sasuke brought it on himself. He isolated himself. “He’s closer the to the man Sasuke is now, his intelligence is more important than anything I can tell you.”

They started to debate ways of defeating Sasuke’s ninjutsu and doujutsu. Kakashi made an effort to contribute, but he believed it was hopeless.

Then he felt a tingle in his right shoulder. He rolled it, uncomfortable with the feeling, but he thought nothing of it.

In fact, he didn’t have time to think about it as Sasuke appeared between and behind he and Gaara.

“Yo.”

Kakashi and Gaara sprang up and turned to face him.

“Nice to see the allied nations still getting along,” Sasuke said. His red eyes darted between them; they hesitated on Kakashi. “So, what are we discussing?”

Sasuke still hadn’t finished growing and was definitely the shortest man in the room, but his presence was heavy and nearly suffocatingly dark. One didn’t need to know who he was to cower before him. But the Kage stood firm.

Kakashi tried not to track the man with his eyes, but he saw one of the guards moving in behind Sasuke using a chameleon technique he well remembered. The Iwa shinobi struck, but Sasuke sidestepped and caught his arm. Everyone moved. Kakashi pushed up his headband then leaped up and attached to the ceiling while Gaara prepared his sand. The others all moved into position. Kakashi created his Chidori and before Sasuke could break the Iwa shinobi’s arm, Kakashi was diving toward him. Sasuke ducked him, grabbed his upper arm and kicked him in the stomach using chakra to repel him.

Kakashi moved in again, this time making use of the blind spot Gaara’s sand made which was also moving in. Sasuke jumped up to avoid his Chidori which he heard coming. As he leaped up, he spun and grabbed Kakashi’s right shoulder where his seal was. He gripped him tightly and shot Chidori into his arm intending to numb and disable Kakashi’s dominate arm. But as soon as the chakra touched the seal, Kakashi vanished. He appeared three feet in front of Sasuke. Touching the seal with chakra had activated the summoning jutsu. Their eyes met, both astonished to find that the seal had this little side effect.

Sasuke landed on the floor and pressed his body down to get leverage to kick Kakashi again. As he turned away from his fallen sensei, Sasuke let a dozen Chidori senbon hit many semi-vital points. Kakashi was temporarily paralyzed by numbness throughout his body.

Jutsu after jutsu was thrown at Sasuke. He dodged many of them, but finally he brought out Sasanoo to absorb the attacks. By then, Kakashi was back in the fight. Then the fight just ended. Everyone stopped attacking realizing they were running low on chakra and making no progress. Sasuke let his Sasanoo drop. He hid how much pain he was in and how drained, but Kakashi, who knew him and the Sharingan so well, could see it.

“I appreciate the sparing match,” Sasuke said. Only three guards were dead and most of the others and the Kage had minor wounds. Other than Sasanoo, Sasuke had barely put up a fight and he was completely uninjured. “No more secret meetings.” He turned to Kakashi. “I’ll speak to you later about that eye.”

Kakashi had already closed it, but he now lowered his headband. Sasuke vanished and the other Kage looked at Kakashi, wondering what that last part meant. Kakashi decided to answer their unspoken question.

“He only allowed me to keep my Sharingan under the condition that I never let him see it again.”

A few of the Kage shivered, imagining having an eye taken out.

“We should all leave,” Gaara said. “He could have killed us all; we shouldn’t take advantage of his apathy.”

Apathy was a good word; Sasuke hardly cared. If it weren’t for the attack, Sasuke might have merely scolded them and left. There might still be hell to pay later.

-----

Nothing happened while Kakashi was gone; he told Shikaku, Haishi, and Sakura what’d happened at the meeting.

“So with that seal you can ‘summon’ yourself to Sasuke’s location?” Hiashi asked.

“Yes. I think it was just a risk with this seal, not intentional. He was as shocked as I was. But I’m more concerned about the fallout from our ‘secret’ meeting. Sasuke’s not going to let this slide completely; I expect to be summoned anytime.”

“But if Sasuke is alone up there as you say, what is he doing demanding supplies from the other villages?” Shikaku asked.

“I don’t know. I sense no other presence or chakra up there, not even residual.” He inwardly winced; he gave away more than he wanted.

“None? None at all. Are you the only one he summons?”

“I am. I think he chose me because I’m a match for him when sparing. I’m the only other one who’s been up there at least since Madara and his allies were killed.”

Kakashi saw the slightest doubt entering into their minds. Kakashi was the only Sasuke trusted in his home. Kakashi was his former sensei. Kakashi had surrendered to him. Sasuke made Kakashi Hokage. They wondered if Kakashi might be an ally of Sasuke’s. But then again, Kakashi returned from Sasuke’s fortress pretty beat up and their village had not been harassed or made to provide Sasuke with anything. Well, nothing they knew about and nothing that wasn’t paid for. And they didn’t know about the money Sasuke had given them early on.

“Sasuke doesn’t have troops in that fortress, of that I’m sure. Sakura, light a fire under the people building Itachi’s memorial. I’m in deep shit right now with Sasuke, no matter how apathetic he was. I want something to cool his temper.” Kakashi rubbed the metal of his headband over his Sharingan eye.

“I’ll go now.” Sakura knew Kakashi’s eye was at stake.

-----

Two days later and no word from Sasuke. The memorial was nearly finished, but not yet. Kakashi was on his way home when Sasuke summoned him.

Sasuke was perched on his bed, leaning on his sheathed sword in front of him. “A secret meeting?” Sasuke asked without any preamble.

“I was invited. Still being allied, I had little choice. You never ordered me to report such things to you, so I don’t think you can really accuse me of betrayal.”

“You attacked me,” Sasuke accused.

“I’m afraid I’m more loyal to the allied forces than to you. You’ve never exactly courted my loyalty; anyone’s loyalty.”

Sasuke scowled ever so slightly. “Your shoulder. You can summon yourself to me. That was not intended.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“Try it.”

Kakashi found himself in the throne room. He touched the seal with chakra and reappeared before Sasuke.

“I thought I researched that seal thoroughly,” Sasuke said. “Can’t be helped.” He shrugged it off. “Now, about your eye.”

Kakashi felt a chill he was beginning to associate with Sasuke. At least Sasuke didn’t look enraged, rather he looked mischievous. That wasn’t any better as far as Kakashi was concerned. He wanted to back away when Sasuke approached him. Sasuke violently pulled Kakashi’s headband away and threw it to the side. Kakashi kept that eye closed. Sasuke caressed the scar.

“I warned you. I never wanted to see that abomination again or I would pluck it out.” Sasuke’s fingers turned into claws, Kakashi could feel his nails against his eyebrow and the side of his eye. He closed his other eye as well and waited for Sasuke to claw it out. He controlled his breathing, ready for the pain. But it never came. Five full seconds and neither of them moved. Sasuke took his hand away.

Kakashi opened his normal eye.

“You were prepared to face the consequences without argument. I knew you’d be stoic about it; you were the first time. The heart attack is almost enough, I think.”

Kakashi could breathe easy again.

“Almost.”

That clawed hand was back and it gripped his white hair, pulling him forward, throwing him onto the bed. Before he could move from his position on his hands and knees, Sasuke’s body covered him.

“I want you on your knees this time,” Sasuke said. “Strip.”

Kakashi could feel Sasuke doing the same behind him. He complied; it wasn’t like he was new to this. Sasuke, already naked, decided to help Kakashi along, pulling at his pants, leaving him in boxers. Sasuke nude body covered his. He gave the part of the seal that crept over his shoulder onto his back a small lick as his hand snaked down into Kakashi’s boxers. Kakashi was ashamed that he was already getting hard. Sasuke’s pleased hum made both situations worse.

“Take them off,” Sasuke said and his hand disappeared to lube himself up. He shoved two lubed fingers inside him. One of his nails scratched him making Kakashi hiss along with the sting of penetration. Sasuke wasn’t scissoring him, not trying to stretch him, he was just fingering him. Sasuke withdrew and prepared to mount with no further prep. Kakashi leaned down on his elbows and Sasuke pressed in, bracing himself with one hand on the bed, the other pulling Kakashi’s hip back to meet him. It didn’t sting quite so bad after the sudden thrust of his fingers, but it was still a struggle to accept him. At least Sasuke went slowly. It took some time for him to feel Sasuke’s balls against his own. He sighed at the touch.

Sasuke was growing though he would never be as tall as Kakashi’s six feet, but he yanked on Kakashi’s hair to force him to bend backward to bring his face closer as he leaned over him. Sasuke put his lips to the side of his left eye. Kakashi kept that eye shut. Sasuke’s breath teased his eyelashes. Kakashi shut his eye tighter. Sasuke pulled his head back even more, pressing his hips harder into his and managed to touch his upper teeth gently to his eyelid. Kakashi tried to shrink away, but Sasuke had a firm grip in his hair.

“By rights, that eye belongs to me,” Sasuke whispered against the organ in question. He licked at the scared lid. “I should rip it out. I could skull fuck you then.”

Kakashi knew he was bluffing, but he blushed and tried to turn his face away. He was aroused, but wanted to get away.

“It would be a shame to give you that eye patch and never be able to use it. Consider my letting you keep it another gift.” Sasuke kissed the side of his eye. Sasuke pushed Kakashi’s head forward again and let go of his hair. He raked his teeth down his shoulder blade as he pulled all the way out. The claws were back, scraping down Kakashi’s pale ass leaving six red scratches.

Sasuke eased back in, faster this time. Kakashi couldn’t stop a groan. Damn, he wanted it. But Sasuke wasn’t moving. Kakashi would not beg or even press back, at least not yet. Sasuke respected that and started to thrust into him. Kakashi moaned.

“You love it, don’t you, sensei?”

Kakashi grimaced, but wouldn’t answer.

Sasuke sped up his thrusts and leaned down, laying his cheek on Kakashi’s back. Kakashi liked the feeling of Sasuke laying on him. He could almost completely enjoy this.

Sasuke leaned back again to rack his fingernails down his back, hard. Red welts grew. Sasuke retraced them, making them sting more and summoning more blood to the surface. A third time and he drew blood. A forth and he opened up six sanguine channels. It hurt far more than a kunai cut and Kakashi hissed with every scratch. He groaned in pain when Sasuke bent down to lick up the blood. His hot, rough tongue and saliva burned. Sasuke pulled out of him completely to lick at the blood more easily. He continued to tear at his flesh, smearing the blood over more of his back.

Having gotten his fill of blood, Sasuke mounted him again. He leaned forward again, pressing his abdomen, with traces of salty sweat on it, against the open wounds.

“Ahh,” Kakashi let out.

Sasuke ran his hands through the rivulets of blood and smeared it onto Kakashi’s abdomen and even on Kakashi’s cock as he started to jerk him. That caused Kakashi’s body to tighten around him. Sasuke groaned and his teeth scrapped Kakashi’s skin, not able to find purchase on the flat plane of the skin before him.

Kakashi couldn’t take the double assault of Sasuke’s hand and cock anymore and let his orgasm rip through him. Another few thrusts and Sasuke cam deep inside him. Kakashi rested his head on the pillow panting.

Sasuke didn’t remove his partially deflated length, rather he pressed his hips firmly against Kakashi’s body. He purred like a demonic cat and lapped at the blood on Kakashi’s back.

“I think that’s going to scar.”

Kakashi didn’t have the energy to glare or even move his eyes.

Sasuke reached around to put the fingers he stuck in him to Kakashi’s lips. Most of the soiled lube had rubbed off on his skin and the bedding, but these fingers has just been in his ass. He did like the feeling of fingers on his sex bloated lips though. Sasuke pressed harder and Kakashi opened his mouth. He didn’t taste what he expected, rather he tasted strawberry. Strawberry flavored lube. It wasn’t his favorite flavor, but he licked and sucked at the fingers, sucked off all the lube. Kakashi felt Sasuke grow within him again as his body had already began to tighten up again.

“You’d be amazed what flavors they make this stuff in. I imagine the cinnamon burns and the mint must freeze and burn at the same time. Maybe next time.”

Kakashi shivered. He shivered even more when Sasuke peeled away and pressed his fingers to the base of Kakashi’s spine. Chakra shot inside, the eclectic feeling filling his body. It felt so good and his limp manhood began to grow. Sasuke wanted him to enjoy it, Kakashi knew it. Sasuke wanted him to beg and admit how much he enjoyed it. Kakashi pressed his lips together and solidified his thigh muscles to keep from moving. But he wanted to, he wanted to rock back and take Sasuke even deeper. The vestiges of his pride would not allow it.

Sasuke smirked as if he could read his former sensei’s mind. Sasuke pulled out just to thrust back in. The pleasure was pressed up his spine. Sasuke stretched his body as much as possible to press his lips to Kakashi’s neck. He purred. The vibrations emanated strongly from Sasuke’s chest, but his lips vibrated against Kakashi’s neck. Sasuke had gone from wanting to inflict pain and mark him to giving pleasure. It was amazing how much pleasure could be a form of control and dominance. But Kakashi had felt that before as he knelt on Sasuke’s shower floor, sucking his erection, and looking up at Sasuke’s pleasure warped face.

Getting nothing but shivers, Sasuke gave up and fucked him. But that did it. Kakashi grunted and moaned, but he wouldn’t give in and ask him to go faster or pound him harder or press back. He clamped his teeth together, leaned his head down, and groaned into the pillow.

Sasuke trailed his fingers through the blood still seeping from the wounds. He reached for Kakashi’s mouth. Kakashi obediently turned his head and sucked the bloody fingers into his mouth.

When his fingers were clean, Sasuke pulled Kakashi up against him by the throat, rocking back onto his hams, and stopped moving.

“All you need to do is ask,” Sasuke purred. “Ask,” he repeated when Kakashi said nothing. Kakashi panted. He was so close. He kept his eyes shut, trying to reign in his lust. Sasuke pressed his lips to his neck and they fluttered there when he repeated, “Ask.”

“No.”

“You’re stronger than I thought. Fine.” He pressed Kakashi back down and fucked him hard. They cam together.

Sasuke threw himself onto the bed. “Clean yourself up when you feel up to it.”

Kakashi rolled away from Sasuke and settled on his back to regain his breath.

“You knew my brother,” Sasuke said when Kakashi lay next him without speaking, though there was about two feet between them on the very large bed.

Kakashi was shocked at the sudden conversation and it’s subject. “Not well.”

“ANBU.”

“Yeah. He kept to himself. I didn’t know him. I rarely saw him without his bird mask.”

“You had a dog mask.” Kakashi looked over him. How did he know? Sasuke didn’t look at him, but continued to stare at the ceiling with hooded eyes. He felt the question though. “Iruka dragged me aside once and showed me a picture of you with your hounds. A dog, right?”

“Yeah.” He remembered that picture being taken. It was foolish thing a bunch of the members of ANBU did once sort of as a way to show off. It was almost enough to make him laugh, but his mouth remained in a straight line. “We could choose the animal. Mine was a dog with red highlights. Your brother’s was a bird with purple highlights.”

“I remember.”

Neither said any more. After a few silent minutes, Kakashi got up to take a shower. He dried and went back to the now completely dark bedroom; Sasuke had evidently turned out the lights. The only light was what came from the bathroom and Kakashi left it on to dress. Dressed, he expected Sasuke to automatically send him home or to ask him if he was ready, but there was nothing. He moved closer to Sasuke and realized Sasuke was asleep.

Sasuke didn’t look innocent like this; his brow seemed set in a permanent scowl and his eyes hard. But he looked far less threatening. And lovely. He’d squirmed under the blanket so that only his hands, shoulders, and head peeked out. One hand was level with his eyes while the other was thrown over his head carelessly. Did he really trust Kakashi so much to fall asleep while he was there?

Kakashi wanted to go home, but he didn’t want to wake him, yet he should have been thinking about murdering him. “Sasuke?” he whispered, resigned to wait a while if Sasuke didn’t wake up. But it was enough to wake the experienced shinobi.

“Ready?” Sasuke asked sleepily. Kakashi nodded. “Should probably send you to the hospital. You don’t want Sakura to see that, do you?” Kakashi had to agree. He had created a clone to carefully wash his back and had seen how bad it was.

Sasuke didn’t wait for an answer. Kakashi found himself in front of the rebuilt Konoha hospital. Kakashi went in and asked for Shizune.

“She’s already gone home, Hokage-sama.”

“Where does she live?”

The receptionist gave him the address and he went looking for her. As Hokage, he was somewhat familiar with the new layout of the streets even if he didn’t walk the streets anymore. He found the address.

It wasn’t very late and she was still awake.

“Do you have a minute?” he asked.

She nodded and let him in. She was alone.

“I need you to heal my back. I don’t want Sakura to see it.” He took off his shirt and rolled up his tighter undershirt to coil around his neck to keep his mask on.

Shizune gasped. “What happened?”

“Sasuke.”

She went to gather herbs to fight infection, a basin of water, stitches, and bandages. She cleaned the cuts and spread the herbal paste into the open wounds. Kakashi suppressed a hiss. She let the herbs sit to do their work, then cleaned them from the wounds. She prepared the needle.

“I’m afraid I don’t have any anesthetic.”

“That’s fine.”

She hesitated before starting the stitches. Kakashi was ready for it and took it. With the wounds held closed, she started using her healing chakra.

“You might have some scars, but they’ll just be some thin lines.”

Kakashi nodded.

She finished. She ran her finger down the lines and the two lines on either side that were merely welts. His skin crawled.

“What did he do?”

“Are you finished?” he diverted her question.

“I need to wrap them for now.” She wrapped him up. “Have you become Konoha’s whipping boy?”

“Sort of.”

“Do you have any other injuries?” she asked with the most delicate tone. She knew.

“I’m fine.”

“Sakura doesn’t know?”

“No. I don’t want her to.”

“I won’t say anything. I’m so sorry, Kakashi.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“But you’re taking his rage toward us all on yourself. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

She helped him roll his tight shirt down over the bandages, but it hurt too much. He pulled it back up to his neck.

“Do you have a scarf I can borrow?”

She brought it to him and she turned her back as he stripped off the shirt/mask and wrapped the scarf around his face. He put his outer shirt back on.

“Thank you,” he repeated as he left.

Sakura was asleep when he came home; she was even less disciplined than Sasuke. He stripped again and put on a nightshirt more to hide the bandages than anything else. He eased his way into bed.

He wondered—perhaps a little egotistically—why she wasn’t waiting up for him, worried that he hadn’t come home? Perhaps she merely thought he was working late and decided not to disturb him. Had he been working late, he would have appreciated her coming to help him. Wasn’t she even concerned about the fact Kakashi might lose his eye if Sasuke called on him again?

He rubbed at his borrowed eye as he sat there. He ran his finger down the scar. The memory of Sasuke touching and licking the scar make his skin pucker. He opened it. There was nothing really for that eye to see, just the chakra of the ANBU who were positioned around and throughout the building. How pointless. The only threat to his safety was probably Sasuke and they couldn’t protect their Hokage from him.

He pushed all those thoughts away and lay down with his back to Sakura. He wouldn’t tell her anything unless she asked. He doubted she would.