The Weight of the Heart

Warning boy x boy relationships, don’t read if you don’t like it. This chapter also contains some violence, torture, and gore. Please be advised before reading.



AN: Big hugs to everyone that lets me know they are enjoying this story. Sorry its taking so long to pump out the chapters. I’ve been distracted by other things lol. Huggles to ItaNarulover who has given me the most wonderful reviews for this story. I utterly blush every time I read them. Enjoy this ch.



The Weight of the Heart



Chapter Eight



Naruto felt as if he was burning up. Fire licked at his insides like the never ending inferno that burned at the core of the earth. It was eating away at his body, engulfing his mind in a flare of heat and pain. The only relief came when something cool and damp pressed to his head. The liquid drenched cloth seemed to sooth the heat, keeping it at bay, if only momentarily, before it flared up again with even more intensity.



“I’ll destroy who did this to you, Naruto.” The words brushed cool over his senses, soothing. Who was talking to him? Was it father? No…the voice was too smooth, too deep and dark. This voice made him think of the seductive, dark reaches of his deepest fantasies.



Naruto opened his mouth in an effort to demand more of the sultry voice but his voice seemed to have left him. ‘Please…talk some more…It doesn’t hurt as bad when you talk.’ His mind cried out in agony for the soothing tones to gentle his suffering once more.



Another wave of pain wracked his body and Naruto doubled over in agony. Nothing in his very long life had been this painful. He felt a scream bubble in his throat and his back arched on the sweat dampened linen. Oh, it hurt. The pain was draining the life from his very existence.



“Sasuke! Get that healer back here now! Dawn was hours ago and he’s getting worse, not better.”



Naruto tried to talk but the pulsing in his insides was reaching an untouched peak of agony. The gentle touches on his skin grounded him as the ebb and flow of the burning waves tore through his body. An eternity of pain seemed to pass and Naruto rode the waves of suffering.



“Hold him still.” This new voice was old and crackly. It held wisdom. Naruto could taste the power that it exuded.



“Gods, Itachi, he’s stronger than he looks.”



Naruto fought against the hands holding him prisoner. Foul tasting liquid was poured down his throat. He coughed and sputtered as more of the liquid was dribbled in his mouth. They were poisoning him?



How could such a beautiful voice be poisoning him? Snarling viciously, Naruto’s eyes shot open and he flung the bodies holding him down across the room. Flesh slammed against stone with a loud thump. The smaller of the raven haired men groaned and slumped against the wall, clutching his ribs. The larger of the two stood slowly and looked at him with pale, shocked features.



Naruto‘s pain clouded brain was unable to recognize or analyze the men before him, all he knew was that he was in agonizing pain. Jumping from the bed and backing slowly away from the men in the room, Naruto began to edge towards the wall, he felt his fingers curl into claws in anticipation of another attack. His eyes burned with fierce determination. He would escape these men and return home.



Another wave of pain erupted through his body and Naruto collapsed to the ground. Clutching his abdomen protectively, he watched as the pale man slowly made his way towards him. Snarling, Naruto rose to a crouch and bared sharp fangs in warning, though he couldn’t stop the animalistic whimper of pain that escaped his throat.



“Itachi…stay back.” groaned Sasuke from his slumped position on the wall.



“Naruto…you are hurting? I can make it stop.” Itachi purred the words in that sultry voice that made even his brother shiver slightly.



Naruto jerked at the words and continued to growl but the fierceness had left the sound. It was more a growl of warning that should he make the wrong move, Naruto would slice through his flesh with those thick black claws that were currently ripping gouges in the polished stone floor.



Itachi took another step forward, his voice uttering nonsense words of comfort as Naruto edged backwards until his back was flat against the wall. Crimson eyes darted back and forth between the three men in the room. The old man had backed away to tend to the slumped form of the younger man until the only one within attack distance was the tall man with hair made of the darkest night.



The words that spilled from chiseled lips comforted the pain drenched Naruto. The tension in his body eased and he allowed the man to take another step towards him and then another until they were within touching distance.



Pale fingers lifted and traced the prominent black markings that stood out in sharp contrast against the tan skin. The relief he felt was immediate and Naruto whimpered again, pressing close to the cool, soothing touch against his burning skin. It burned so much.



“Make it stop hurting.”



Itachi looked down at the pain riddled face. Bright crimson eyes pleaded with obsidian. His heart tingled with an ache that grew at the sight of the blonde trembling in such agony. Anger rushed through Itachi until he was fuming with it. How dare anyone seek to harm his Naruto? Picking up the blonde gently so not to jostle him, Itachi carried Naruto to the dais and placed him on the linen covered bed. Small whimpers rumbled from his chest.



“Have him drink the potion I brewed for him. It will force the poison from his body since it appears that his body is having a difficult time processing it. I also added some lavender to the mix. It should calm him.” Gomo said as he checked over Sasuke’s injuries.



“Naruto, drink this.” Itachi brought the elixir to the blonde’s chapped lips. Naruto turned his face and wrinkled his nose.



“Tastes bad.”



“I know, but it will help with the pain.”



“Promise?”



“Yes. Now drink it.” Naruto opened his mouth and swallowed the brew, gagging slightly at the bitter taste. The medicine began to work its wonders rapidly and soon Naruto was asleep once more, only twitching a little here and there.



Sasuke’s groaning from across the room drew Itachi from the blonde. Gomo was wrapping tight linen strips around the broken ribs. A large purple bruise was rapidly beginning to develop across the pale skin and Sasuke flinched when the healer pressed a little too firmly to the tender area.



“What in Horus’s name was that?” panted Sasuke as Gomo assisted him to his feet.



“I don’t know.” Itachi’s eyes drifted back to where Naruto was sleeping peacefully for the first time.



“Itachi, his eyes were red. He had fangs and claws. He threw us both clear across the room.”



“You are stating things I am already aware of, Sasuke.”



“Hmph. Get rid of him, Itachi.”



“No. He’s mine.” Itachi’s face darkened as he gazed towards his younger brother. No one was taking Naruto from him. He would destroy anyone that tried, be he god or man.



“He’ll bring the wrath of the gods down on us.”



“I don’t care.”



Sasuke scowled and leaned heavily on Gomo, who was leading him from the room. “Fine, just keep him out of trouble. The last thing we need is the gods coming down on our heads, especially with Madara breathing down our necks.”



“Madara.” growled Itachi, his eyes flashing menacingly as he thought of his scheming uncle and then of the man that had caused Naruto such pain.



“Sasuke, where is the cupbearer?”



“I have him locked in one of the servant’s quarters under guard until you decided what to do with him. Why?”



“I’ve decided what to do with him.” Sasuke shivered a little at look of pure anger. It wasn’t loud and it wasn’t wild. This anger was potent and dark. It held a touch of the madness that Sasuke hadn’t seen in his brother’s eyes since Naruto came into their lives. This was the Itachi he feared. This was the Itachi that would destroy anything in his path to obtain his objectives. This was the Itachi that their father regretted creating.



“Itachi…”



“Take Sasuke to his rooms. Send for Naruto’s servant boy.” Gomo bowed and half supported the injured Sasuke out of the room.



Itachi sat beside Naruto’s still frame, grateful that he was resting quietly. Pale fingers trailed gently over the scar-like whiskers that graced each side of his face. Dark smudges were visible beneath dark lashes that lay innocently against pallid skin that had lost much of its healthy glow. The moans and whimpers had torn at his heart. He still was not sure what to make of the events he had just witnessed but he knew that regardless, he would not give up Naruto, not to anyone.



Externally, he was as calm as ever but internally, his mind was spinning with thoughts of what he had witnessed. What was Naruto that he could transform from an innocent boy into a ferocious creature? Was he a gift from the gods or something more? Questions spun in his head like the wheels of a chariot. Though he could only guess at what Naruto was, there was nothing that he could settle on conclusively until the blonde awakened.



Until then he would entertain himself with the cupbearer. A small smiled curved across his lips at the thought of everything he would do to the poor soul who was foolish enough to believe Madara’s promises.



“M-my pharaoh.” Itachi withdrew from his thoughts and gazed towards the door where the young servant, Intef, lay prostrated on the ground.



“I wish you to stay with Naruto until I return.” Itachi brushed by the youth and exited the room with no other instructions.



Intef scrambled to his feet and edged to where Naruto lay resting. He was shocked to see his master so pale. The healthy glow was gone leaving only a sickly tone. He had heard the rumors from the other servants and slaves that Pharaoh Itachi’s treasured slave had been poisoned. None he asked could testify to the status of Naruto as Itachi had taken him to his own rooms and so Intef had waited patiently for news concerning his beloved master.



Itachi ignored the guards that shadowed his steps. With the poisoning so fresh in everyone’s mind, the pharaoh was assigned extra guards while away from his private quarters. It made no difference to Itachi. They would not halt him from his desired course. If they tried, they could join the foolish cupbearer in his punishment.



Two guards straightened at Itachi’s approach and opened the door of the room that housed the doomed cupbearer. “Leave us.” The guards exchanged looks before leaving the pharaoh in the room with his would-be assassin.



“My lord…have mercy.” begged the prostrated man. Itachi sneered as the man groveled pathetically before him. Mercy? He deserved no mercy for what he was putting Naruto through at this very moment.



“I’m going to make you scream. Each scream from Naruto’s lips will be echoed by yours. You are going to wish that you’d never made your deal with my demon uncle.” The words were purred out but the deep malice contained within them forced the first of many screams from the cupbearer’s lips.



The guards stationed outside the room cringed as scream after scream tore through the silent morning. They heard the breaking of the prisoner’s voice as screams faded to tortured whimpers and pleas. They heard the wet sound of flesh being torn. They smelled the scent of fresh blood. One of the guards gagged as the combined scent of urine and blood worked its way into the corridor.



When the door finally opened, the sight that greeted the guards was one of the most horrific nightmares. Their pharaoh, the leader of their people, stood before them drenched in the blood of the cupbearer. Some was dried while other was fresh. The madness that lingered in his eyes forced both men to lower their gaze in fear of drawing his attention.



“Dispose of that.” said Itachi calmly as he made his way towards the baths.



One of the guards looked in the room and promptly began retching. What was left of the cupbearer was a grotesque body that had seen more suffering than any tortured prisoner they had ever interrogated. His eyes had been removed and placed in a wooden bowl on the table. His nose, ears and tongue were also removed. His gut was split open and his intestines spilled out like worms. Small cuts decorated nearly every inch of the man’s body and the battle hardened guards cringed at the sight before them. The crimson stains on the floor and walls painted a macabre picture of torture and suffering.



“Let’s get rid of it quickly. I don’t want to look at that anymore.” No sooner had the words been spoken than a gurgling sound erupted from the body before them.



“Osiris’s crown, he’s still alive.” gaped the guard.



His partner watched as the breath rose and fell erratically from what used to be a man. Blood oozed from where his eyes and nose had once been. A mixture of gurgles and whimpers echoed through the room. Drawing his khopesh, the guard plunged the weapon through the suffering man’s heart. The body began to spasm and jerk before going still.



“Poor bastard. I doubt even the kind hearted Nut would have much sympathy for him, especially if the boy dies.”



“What’s so special about him?”



“I only know that the pharaoh is much more…approachable with him around.”



Both guards shook their heads and left the room, sending for slaves to dispose of the corpse and all the organs that were detached from it.



The bath servants ran screaming as a blood and gore covered Itachi walked into the large bathing area. He ignored them and began scrubbing the drying fluids from his body and hair. He knew he had been vicious and merciless but his heart screamed for vengeance against he who poisoned his Naruto.



He should be quivering in shock after the viciousness that he had displayed mere minutes before and yet, he could not dredge up the slightest regret for the action of having made the man suffer horribly before death. Inside his soul, the smallest trace of pity for the man sparkled but was overshadowed by the ever present tinge of madness.



Drying in the deserted bathing chamber, Itachi wrapped a plain kilt around his waist and returned to his chamber where a still sleeping blonde awaited. Intef jumped to his feet and bowed low as his pharaoh strode into the room, barely sparing a glace at the poor servant before him.



“Leave.”



“My pharaoh, please…I wish to stay with Master Naruto.”



“Leave us, if there is any change with you master, I shall have you alerted.”



The servant nibbled on his lip but bowed to the wishes of his pharaoh and left the room, quietly making his way to his own chambers.



Itachi was shocked at how easily he had bent to accommodate the plea of a mere slave. Before Naruto had entered his life, he would have not thought twice of punishing such insubordination from a slave. His fingers tunneled through the soft sunshine colored tresses as he drew comfort from the little blonde.



Naruto felt the comfort of a loving touch on his hair. Not since his childhood had he felt such a gentle touch soothing him. He turned his head to nuzzle the hand that stroked him so lovingly.



Black lashes fluttered and Itachi felt his breath stutter. Would Naruto’s eyes be the gentle blue or the fierce red? Lashes lifted and beautiful azure attempted to focus on the figure at the bedside.



“How are you feeling?” The quiet words soothed along Naruto’s tattered nerve endings and gentled the residual ache that seemed to engulf his entire body.



“Water.” croaked Naruto through dry, chapped lips.



Itachi lifted a cup and pressed the rim to Naruto’s lips. Cool, refreshing water flowed over parched lips and tongue. Naruto whined when the refreshment was taken away.



“Just a little. I don’t want you getting sick again.”



Again? Naruto wrinkled his brown in confusion. He was never sick…ever. He could not, in his entire existence, remember being sick. Sure he had been bruised and cut and injured before but never sick.



Itachi tilted his head as he watched confusion play across the still pallid features of his pet. “How much do you remember about last night?”



“Just flashes. I remember you feeding me.” Naruto blushed at the memory, foggy though it was.



“You were poisoned by the wine. Gomo says that the milk you drank probably delayed the effects of the poison and possibly blocked some from entering your system.”



“Who?”



“The royal cupbearer. He has been…taken care of.”



Naruto cringed at the look of residual bloodlust that flooded Itachi’s eyes. He didn’t want to think about what suffering the man had endured before blissful oblivion. Naruto attempted to lift himself from the linen sheets before collapsing in exhaustion. He felt as weak as a babe.



“Rest. You nearly died last night.” Naruto’s eyes shot to meet Itachi’s. Died? A slight bit of panic entered Naruto’s own. When one of divine birth was endangered, they slipped into the form that would offer the most protection. A sudden flash of memory burned through Naruto’s mind.



A limp Sasuke against the wall, a patient Itachi talking him down from protective madness, and the taste of a foul elixir all rushed to his mind and he knew that his form had been revealed.



“What did you see?” Naruto fought to keep the quiver from his voice. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of what he was but he wasn’t sure he wanted to see disgust in Itachi’s eyes.



“That is what I would like to know.” Itachi’s arms crossed his chest and his eyes stared unblinking into Naruto’s, awaiting an explanation.



Naruto swallowed and turned his eyes to stare at the carved imaged that adorned the walls of Itachi’s room. The gentle touch on his chin turned his face so that their eyes met once more.



“Tell me. What did I see?”



“I am the son of Anubis and Nut. My duty is to guard the Fields of Hetep and Iaru. It is not usually a job that requires a lot of fighting. Souls inside never wish to leave and those that don’t enter the Fields are devoured upon judgment and are no longer a threat. I spend most days playing in the sun with the children who have entered the afterlife.”



Itachi felt his eyes widen with this confession. Could it be true? What he had seen earlier was unexplainable and yet here he was being offered a simple explanation. Naruto, his pet, was god in his own right.



“What happened this morning? You became wild.”



“When I am injured to the point of near death, my body reverts to its most basic desires. It is a…protective mechanism. Please forgive me for attacking you and Sasuke.” Naruto lowered his eyes to hide the tears that had welled in the expressive orbs.



A few crystalline drops trailed down his face and fell to the white linen that covered his lap. Itachi caught one of the precious drops and brought it to his lips. The salty flavor of Naruto’s tears ricocheted over his taste buds before dissipating into only a memory.



“Do not apologize for protecting yourself. We do not fault you for what you can not control.” The words poured over Naruto like a balm. He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of being cared for.



“Why are you here?”



Naruto’s eyes jerked open and panic coursed through his body. He couldn’t tell him. “I cannot say.”



Itachi’s eyes narrowed but he knew he would get no more from Naruto. The firm set of his jaw and the way his muscles tensed up was testament enough that for now, Naruto’s true purpose here would remain a mystery.



The gurgling of Naruto’s stomach drew Itachi’s eyes to the flat expanse of tone muscle. A small smirk graced his lips as he watched a blush fan out attractively across Naruto’s face, bringing much needed color to his far too pale features.



Itachi stood and ordered a servant in the hall to bring a broth for Naruto while the blonde struggled to remain in a seated position. Never in his life had he felt so weak. It felt as if every ounce of his strength was taken from him.



“Stop trying to get up. If you couldn’t do it a few minutes ago, you won’t be able to do it now.” Itachi once again took his place on the corner of the bed, his hands stroking the smooth skin on Naruto’s neck and face.



Naruto slumped on the bed and closed his eyes, relishing in the touches. He felt himself drifting slightly when hands lifted him and propped him against plush pillows. Cracking open an eye, Naruto saw Itachi watching closely as servants set up a light meal for him.



The servants watched in shock as Itachi lifted a bowl of warm meat broth and brought the spoon to Naruto’s lips. The blonde devoured each spoonful ravenously. It was a shock to see their pharaoh serving a slave. They continued to watch with envy at the caring way Itachi fed the Naruto.



Itachi turned dark eyes on the two servants. “Leave.”



The servants bowed and scrambled to leave before anger was directed at them for failing to obey. Both were tittering with excitement at the juicy gossip that they would be able to provide their fellow servants with.



Naruto pouted at only being given broth but devoured each bite nonetheless. When the bowl sat empty, Naruto slumped against the pillows and closed his eyes, exhaustion once again tearing at his consciousness. His body felt heavy and he briefly wondered if the food had been laced with a sedative.



Yawning widely, Naruto snuggled into the plush comfort of the pillows and drifted to sleep. Itachi watched the blonde relax and soon light snores were coming from him. Brushing away a stray hair, Itachi left the sleeping blonde to go check on his brother.



“What do you want?” growled Sasuke from his bed.



“Such harsh words, little brother.”



“You deserve them. I can’t believe you are going to keep him. You realize he could kill you.”



“Then I would happily die by his hand.” Itachi said honestly.



Sasuke lowered his eyes but inwardly fumed at Itachi for speaking so lightly of his own death. War was coming and death was an all too real possibility. Who would lead the country if Itachi was struck down? Sasuke, though intelligent, had no desire to deal with the politics of the pharaoh. He liked the power of influencing the pharaoh from behind the scenes.



“What happened with the cupbearer?” Sasuke asked the question but knew he would regret the answer.



“He paid for his crime.”



“That’s all? You just killed him.” Itachi turned obsidian eyes on Sasuke and a chill ran down his spine. No, Itachi wouldn’t just kill, he would torture. Just killing was far too easy of a way to destroy one’s enemies. “Itachi…what did you do?”



“Goodnight, Sasuke.”



“Itachi…”



Sasuke watched his brother leave the room and closed his eyes. He too had become far too attached to the blonde boy. He forced his emotions aside but even he had been touched by the inner light that shined brightly from Naruto. If that light was taken from them, he didn’t even want to think of the kind of monster that Itachi would become.



Itachi softly closed the door and walked quietly down the darkened halls. The clang of his ‘shadows’ as they walked behind him was the only sound audible. The walk to his rooms was thankfully short.



The sight of the young blonde on the dais, naked but for the sheet that had worked its way until it just barely covered the dip of his groin. Itachi felt his breath hitch at the delectable sight. The slow rise and fall of Naruto’s chest drew his eyes and he was all too aware of how close he had come to losing him.



Sliding onto the linen beside Naruto, Itachi caressed the tan skin that had recovered some of its former health. His fingers teased across the breastbone before following the line down to the flat abdomen, stopping at the navel.



Naruto snuffled a little in his sleep but didn’t awaken. Itachi’s fingers dipped just below the sheet to tease in the curls that began just south of Naruto’s navel. His breath caught as he felt Naruto begin to swell with the teasing touches.



Itachi leaned down to run his tongue over the Naruto’s slack mouth, tasting the flavor of the blonde before standing and walking into his private garden. The taste of Naruto coated his mouth and he stood in the shadows to savor the flavor before it was gone.



His body ached with the desire to simply take the blonde. Even after all that had been revealed, he still wanted to own every inch of that sun kissed skin. He wanted Naruto to belong only to him.



Reaching down, Itachi grasped his half-hard cock and stroked once, bringing it to fullness. With Naruto’s taste on his lips, Itachi began to stroke himself in the hidden shadows of the garden. His teeth clamped down on his lip to prevent any sounds from escaping. Up and down his hands stroked, the rhythm steady and constant. His body began to draw up in anticipation for the orgasm that was soon to come.



His mind saw Naruto, feral in his bed, blond hair tussled and red eyes flashing. Itachi could not stop the strangled gasp that escaped at the thought of bedding Naruto in his more feral form. Heat suddenly scorched through him and his body arched against the stone wall as his mind saw the wild and feral version of Naruto screaming out in pleasure as he took him.



“Naruto.” gasped Itachi into the night, as his body slumped weakly against the wall. He pulled his hand back, coated with his seed. The sight of this indiscretion only made him long even more for the blond that was only feet away, sleeping peacefully in his bed. Itachi closed his eyes. This was getting out of hand. He needed to sate his lust on the blonde and soon or he would go mad with longing.



Naruto curled more tightly into a ball as his aching loins throbbed with unsated lust. He heard the muffled groans and gasps as Itachi brought himself to orgasm, leaving Naruto alone and aching. Pressing his hips into the soft material of the bed, Naruto sought some type of relief but it only added to the heat burning through him.



The sounds from Itachi seemed to be reaching a peak and Naruto couldn’t help but grind into the bed as the heat built in him.



“Naruto.” The sound of his name coming from Itachi’s lips at the moment of orgasm sent Naruto over the edge. His hips jerked wildly against the linen covered dais as a powerful orgasm rushed over him, forcing him to slump weakly against the cum covered sheets.



“Itachi.” The words, barely mumbled echoed loudly in Naruto’s mind as he slumped wearily onto the bed as sleep dragged him under once more to dream of Itachi’s voice.



To be continued.