The Weight of the Heart

Warning boy x boy, don’t read if you don’t like



AN: Seems a little shorter than normal but I didn’t want to start anything big yet. I hope everyone enjoys.



The Weight of the Heart



Chapter Nine



The light filtered in the room as dawn broke across the sky. Naruto blinked his eyes and sat up slowly. His body felt weak but the burning pain and nausea were gone, leaving him nearly starving for something more filling than the soup of the previous night.



Tossing the linen sheet from him, Naruto whimpered as the skin was pulled raw from the dried cum the sheets had stuck to. Rubbing the skin gently, Naruto stepped from bed but wobbled and sat back down as the blood rushed from his head leaving him light headed and dizzy. Maybe he would just sit here for a while.



“Master!” A blur of brown hair and skin plastered itself against Naruto, knocking the breath from him and sending him sprawling across the bed.



“Calm down, Intef.” Naruto wheezed as he regained his breath.



“I was so worried master. I thought you might die. What would I do if you died? I don’t want to go back to before. You are nice and don’t beat me if everything isn’t perfect.” Tears were flowing freely down the boy’s cheeks and his nose was dripping. Burying his face in the crook of Naruto’s neck, Intef’s body shook with the force of his sobs.



Naruto wrapped tan arms around the boy, soothing words of comfort poured from his lips as his hands rubbed gently over the shaking shoulders. The boy really was terrified that Naruto would die. Guilt battered against Naruto. He would be leaving eventually and Intef would be left behind.



Little by little the quaking sobs slowed to small hiccupping whimpers. Intef pulled back and rubbed at wet eyes to clear away the remaining tears. Glancing at his master, Intef was so relieved to see the clear blue eyes smiling down at him.



“Are you better now, Intef?”



“Forgive me, master. I’m not worthy of you.” The boy knelt and lowered his head to Naruto’s feet in supplication. Naruto gently stroked the dark hair as the boy prostrated himself before him.



“Stand up, I’m honored that you care so much for me.” smiled Naruto.



A loud grumble broke the silence. Naruto patted his stomach as his face broke out into an embarrassed grin. Intef stood and gave Naruto a watery smile. “I’ll go fetch you some food, Master Naruto.”



Naruto sent Intef a grateful smile as the boy turned and flew from the room so fast, he thought he had sprouted wings. He certainly was enthusiastic about his job. Naruto wasn’t used to being waited on with such devotion. At home, most of his time was spent fending for himself. Servants made him uncomfortable and he usually found it easier to simply take care of his needs himself.



Thinking of home brought an ache to his chest. Reaching down, Naruto clasped the pendant that dangled from the golden thong around his neck. The blue crystal caught the light and shined, sending dappled bits of light around the room. He missed his father. He wanted to go home and at the same time he wanted to stay. Home was comfortable yet…home didn’t have Itachi.



Dropping the pendant back to his chest, Naruto lifted a finger to trace the golden collar. It marked him as Itachi’s. It connected him to Itachi. He really should take it of…sighing he dropped his hand. He didn’t want to.



Flopping back onto the linen sheets, Naruto buried his face in the pillow. This was turning out to be a harder mission that he’d originally thought. Perhaps he wasn’t the right person for the job. The only thing he’d succeeded in doing was injure Sasuke and draw out some of the insanity that plagued Itachi. Tears welled up in his eyes. He didn’t want Itachi’s heart to be devoured. The thought of that happening sent chills of fear running through him. The thought of watching as the monster ate Itachi’s soul was more painful that the most horrible torture he could imagine.



For the first time since he’d been left alone in this world, Naruto began to sit and think. What were ways that he could force Itachi to fight back the darkness that weighed down his soul? His brows furrowed and he scratched his cheek.



Itachi needed an entire change in thinking. That wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, especially with war coming. War! If Itachi was forced to make harsh decisions, remorse over them might lighten his heart enough to pass.



Nibbling on his lip, Naruto shook his head. There was no way he was going to instigate those type of decisions and it was too random that such a decision would have to be made.



“What’s an idiot like you thinking about so hard?” Naruto was jerked from his thoughts and glanced towards the door where Sasuke was standing. He couldn’t help but notice the way the words lacked their normal arrogance nor could he not notice the tight linen that was tied around his waist and knew it was an injury that he had inflicted. Guilt once again rushed through him.



“Sasuke…I am deeply remorseful for having injured you.” whispered Naruto.



Sasuke stood looking at the object of his brother’s infatuation. He could see why Itachi desired him. He was attractive, there was not doubt there but there was something else, a spark that shined in those deep blue eyes.



“I told my brother that he should get rid of you. Your presence here is dangerous.” commented Sasuke from across the room.



“Why didn’t he?” Naruto pulled himself up onto the plush pillows, the linen sheets settled in a pool of material around his hips.



“Because he wants to fuck you.” Naruto winced at the harsh words and Sasuke’s eyes zeroed in on the movement.



“Did you think he cared about you as anything other than a nice piece of meat for him to devour at his leisure? I’m his brother and I’m little more than a useful accessory to him. What makes you think you are special?” Sasuke growled bitterly but remained where he stood, not approaching nor leaving.



“He doesn’t think that of you.” said Naruto as he stood on shaky feet and walked naked across the room.



Sasuke stiffened and backed away. The flash of fear in his eyes broke Naruto’s heart. It hurt all the more because he knew he was the one that put it there. Sasuke‘s hand flew to his bandaged ribs. “Stay away.”



“I will not hurt you, Sasuke.” Naruto kept his voice gentle as he approached Sasuke. That Sasuke didn’t run in fear was a small win. Sasuke might talk big but in his heart he was as human as the rest of the individuals that inhabited this world. They needed the guidance of the gods. Not to say that the gods weren’t infallible because they were. The only thing that the gods had over humans was longevity to learn from the mistakes of the past.



“Sasuke, allow me to see your ribs.” Naruto continued to approach, his hands offered in a non threatening way.



Sasuke jumped as Naruto ran gentle fingers down the tender flesh. When the hands stopped over the broken bone and torn muscle, he stopped. Naruto’s eyes flashed red and Sasuke jerked back as if burned. “Trust me, Sasuke.” The words were whispered with such gentleness and compassion that Sasuke felt himself leaning into the touch instead of away.



Naruto pressed gently into the tender flesh. He couldn’t heal it, such was out of his scope of power but he could take away the pain, just as he did for Sasuke’s father. Feeling the power flow through his body, he pressed his hand firmly on the enflamed muscle.



He felt each intake of breath and how much pain the simple act of breathing caused him. That he was out of bed and walking showed how much determination he had. Naruto knew that it went against Sasuke’s beliefs to lie about all day when it is possible to get up, regardless of pain. Itachi might think he was the only one shaped by their father but Sasuke was to a certain extent as well.



Sasuke closed his eyes at the calming rush of energy that entered his body from where Naruto touched him. It seemed to coat the tattered and torn nerves in a warm salve that eased pain until it was barely more than a subtle ache. When the warmth faded, Sasuke reached to remove the bindings.



“Don’t. I only took the pain away. You are still injured and will need to not over exert yourself.” Sasuke looked into Naruto’s eyes and nodded.



“Don’t think that because you did this that I will let you off.” Sasuke growled the words but they lacked the bite of before.



Naruto smiled, “I wouldn’t dream of such a thing.”



Sasuke nodded stiffly and exited the room, pausing as the young servant entered with food. Intef startled at the sight of the younger prince leaving Naruto’s rooms. “Master, I have food.”



“Thank you, Intef. I find that I’m famished.” Naruto took a seat near a small table and the young servant spread the food before him. It was still light but had more substance than the meal the day before. Breaking off a chunk of bread, Naruto chewed quickly, anxious to have some food in his stomach. The small healing on Sasuke had taken what little of his energy he had access to. He would need to eat to replenish what the illness and the healing took from him.



Intef watched silently has his master devoured the food with haste. He was surprised that his master was able to keep it down after such an illness. Nearly all the food was consumed before Naruto finally stopped and ran a hand over his stomach.



Standing slowly, Naruto opened a chest and pulled out a simple linen kilt. Intef jumped to attention. “Master, I’m so sorry. I forgot to help you dress.”



“It’s fine, Intef. Just fetch me a belt and walk with me to the baths and then gardens.”



“But, Master, Pharaoh Itachi left word that you were not to leave the rooms without him. I think he was really scared when you got sick. I saw his eyes. They looked dark.” whispered Intef as he tightened the belt around Naruto’s slim waist.



“I need to get clean, Intef. I can smell the sickness on me.” And the cum, but Naruto wasn’t about to tell his servant that.



Intef nibbled on his lip for a moment in indecision. If he followed Naruto’s orders he was disobeying the pharaoh. If he obeyed the pharaoh, he was disobeying Naruto. His head spun with the agony of deciding who to obey. While the pharaoh was considered a god on earth, Naruto was his foremost master and it went against to gods to disobey one’s master. Making a decision, Intef nodded and finished helping his master dress. He would bear the consequences with pleasure if Master Naruto was happy. He didn’t know why he felt such devotion to the blond, but he could think of no other person in this world that he would rather serve.



Naruto watched the two guards shoot glances at each other as he and Intef exited the room. They had been told that the pharaoh’s room housed something so precious that only the pharaoh, Lord Sasuke, and the servant Intef were allowed to enter. Realizing that the something precious must be the little blond, they panicked and grabbed Naruto’s arm, perhaps a little harsher than necessary and attempted to push him back into the room.



Naruto winced at the grip. He felt the blood vessels pop, and knew a bruise would develop. His body was already weak and had not yet had a chance to process the food that he’d just ingested. There was no way he would have enough energy to heal himself. He didn’t even want to think about how Itachi would react to the bruise.



“Let Master Naruto go!” yelled Intef, jumping on the back of the guard that held Naruto, the young servant bit down hard on the tender flesh of the junction of his neck and shoulder. The man grunted and released Naruto to swat at Intef. The nimble servant jumped from the man’s back and raced towards his master. Grabbing Naruto’s hand, he pulled with all his might leading them both through corridor after corridor in an attempt to lose the guards.



“Stop!” panted Naruto as he collapsed against a wall. His breath was coming in pants and his hand clutched at the ache in his side. His body still hadn’t recovered from its ordeal and was unable to go any farther.



“I think we lost them, master.” Intef was panting as well but not to the extent of Naruto.



“I’m glad. Now I really would like to go to the baths.” smiled Naruto, abet tiredly. If it wasn’t for the fact that he couldn’t stand the thought of remaining the room that reeked of illness to his sensitive nose, he would have suggested just returning to the room so he could rest and regain some of his lost energy.



“Yes, master.” bowed Intef as he lead his master to the baths.



Thankfully, the walk wasn’t far and soon, Naruto found himself being fawned over by the bath servants. Too tired to fight them, Naruto allowed himself to be bathed and pampered. The head bather noticed Naruto exhaustion and shooed away the giggling girls and took over the bath herself. The older woman’s hands felt like heaven as she washed away the smell of illness from his skin. Sighing, Naruto leaned into her touch.



After she settled him in the pool, she sat nearby and kept a watchful eye on him, least he fall asleep in the water. Intef brought a glass of fruit juice and placed it on the tile next to Naruto’s head.



The water felt like heaven. It was cool and refreshing. The water lapped at his neck as he submerged all but his head. He didn’t want to leave, it felt so good. Sighing, he lifted a hand and saw the tell-tale wrinkling that signaled it was time to leave. Standing and pulling himself from the water, Intef was there almost immediately with a large sheet of linen.



“Master, should we return to the rooms?” Naruto shook his head. He wanted fresh air and wide space. He wanted to go to the massive garden of before.



“Take me to the garden.”



Intef bowed and lead Naruto to the flourishing garden. Naruto breathed in the warm, floral scented air. Settling himself against one of the trees planted in the rich imported dirt, Naruto closed his eyes and allowed the warmth of the late morning to pull him into relaxation. Sitting here reminded him of home. He would often nap in the Fields after playing with the children. Naruto slumped even more against the tree and soon was lost in oblivion.



o~ooOoo~o



Itachi kept his face neutral with practiced ease as the war advisors filed in. He had sent Sasuke from the room when the boy had looked as if he was ready to keel over. There was no point in him being there if he could barely stand upright and Itachi knew from experience just how painful broken ribs were. It hurt to even breathe, let alone stand in a long drawn out meeting.



His brother, who also happened to be his head advisor, had grouched and complained but did as he was ordered. Sending his gaze over each of the men standing in his presence, Itachi nodded and the meeting began.



“Lord Pharaoh, our soldiers at the border speak of an increase in Madara’s army. He is bringing in soldiers from as far away as the savannahs of the south.” began the chief advisor for intelligence gathering.



“Bah…those savages couldn’t tell their dick from a snake on the ground.” interrupted the portly representative for the nobles that supported Itachi.



“Do not underestimate Madara, or else you find yourself dead under his sword.” Itachi’s eyes locked on the portly man. “You maybe selected by the nobles but when war comes knocking on the door, you will see just how deadly my uncle can be when he wishes it.”



“Yes, Lord Pharaoh.” the man stepped back into place.



“Continue.” Itachi settled back once more to watch the proceedings.



“Yes, lord. The savannah men tend to focus on long distance attacks with spears though they are just as deadly in close combat. We should not underestimate the potential damage they could do.” The general crossed his arms and sent the noble representative a glare.



“Weaknesses?” Itachi sat forward and stared deeply into the eyes of his general. He had to give the man credit, he didn’t quiver or simper before him but instead stood his ground with steel-like nerves.



“Their normal garbs for war are easily penetrated by weapons. They mostly opt for masks and the use of paint. They consider such protection during battle. Even without suitable armor, these wild men are not to be underestimated.”



“I see. Have our bowmen ready for battle. I want to be able to take out those savages upon advance. We need to fortify all of our weaknesses. Now is not the time for arrogance.” Itachi turned his eyes to focus on nobleman. The man shifted under the uncomfortable gaze of his pharaoh.



“For now, prepare our men. I won’t march on Madara until my father is placed in his tomb but I’m not foolish enough to think he would hold the same honor.”



“Yes, Pharaoh.” The general bowed and led the remainder of the war advisors from the room.



Itachi stood pondering his next move. He was sure Madara would attack. His father had grown complacent in later years, allowing the military to weaken in favor of supporting temples and the common man. While he was alive, he had the luxury but Itachi did not.



Madara was mad and his own reasons for desiring the destruction of Itachi and Sasuke were as of yet unknown. Would he ever understand the lust for power that other men seemed to drown in. Perhaps his father had been right in raising him as he did. He was able to think objectively about what was better. He could choose the most successful route without worrying about the moral aspects. Why was his chest hurting at the thought of making such decisions?



Closing his eyes for a moment, Itachi attempted to stop the small crack that had appeared in his armor. He needed to purge himself of it. The country needed a strong, ruthless leader.



A panting guard rushed up to Itachi and bowed clumsily before him. The man was out of breath and it took a few moments for him to compose himself enough to explain himself.



Itachi looked at the red faced guard and realized who it was. This was one of the two guards that he’d placed to guard Naruto. Fury erupted through him and he grabbed the man and slammed him hard into the stone wall. The man grunted and his head made a loud thump as it hit the wall. “What happened to my pet?”



The words came out as a snarl and the guard paled at the almost mad gleam in his pharaoh’s eye. “H-He and his servant escaped and ran. I have guards searching for them.”



“You should pray very hard that nothing happens to him or you shall have the same fate as the cupbearer.” With a final shove, Itachi strode from the room and towards the bathing chamber.



Upon entering the spacious room, the servants scattered leaving only the head bather. Itachi motioned for her to approach and looked down on her with dark, angry eyes. “Was Naruto here?”



“He was, Lord. He left several minutes ago. I heard he tell his servant to take him to the gardens. If I might say, He looked rather ill and should probably be in his bed, not running around the gardens.” The servant left and went about her duties while Itachi left the bathing hall and headed towards the gardens.



The black aura that bled off of him sent servants scattering. No one dared step in his way as he made his way through the corridors towards the large main garden. Stepping into the warm sun, Itachi paused for a moment before spotting the young servant of Naruto.



The boy glanced up as a shadow fell across his body. Dark skin paled considerably as Intef saw the dark gleam in Itachi’s eye. The wind blew the loose raven hair about and the boy trembled at the menacing sight. “Lord Itachi…”



“Where is my pet? I gave orders that he was to remain in my rooms and yet I find him gone. Why is that?” The words purred from Itachi’s mouth like a cat but the malice in his tone took away any thought of gentleness.



“F-Forgive m-me. M-Master Naruto really wanted t-to be outside.” Intef prostrated himself before Itachi and quivered as if waiting for the beating to begin.



Itachi narrowed his eyes at the boy. The sun illuminated healed scars that scattered across the boy’s back. Servants needed to be disciplined from time to time but not beaten into submission. He wondered what this boy’s job had been before to warrant such severe punishment. The boy was a slave and they tended to receive much harsher punishment but even so, this boy was whipped to the point of scarring.



“Where is my pet?” Itachi asked the question again, this time his voice lacked the malice that had sent the boy to his knees.



Intef swallowed and stared at his pharaoh. Lifting a thin arm, the boy pointed towards a tree in a shaded part of the garden, away from prying eyes. Itachi nodded and left the trembling boy.



Itachi approached where Naruto slept. His body was slack and the heavy bruises beneath his eyes showed the exhaustion that his body was experiencing. Eyes narrowed in on the forming bruise that had manifested on Naruto’s arm and the burning rage that he’d finally expelled upon finding his pet, returned with a vengeance.



Scooping Naruto into his arms, Itachi carried the sleeping blonde towards Intef. “Come.”



Intef trotted behind his pharaoh and was surprised when the pharaoh took the blonde to his royal chamber rather than Naruto’s personal room. He watched as Itachi placed the blonde on the bed and smoothed the clean linen sheets across his body. When the darkly handsome man turned towards Intef, the boy froze.



“I want to know who marked him.” Itachi pointed towards the bruised bicep of the slender arm.



Intef swallowed. “The guards may have grabbed him a little too hard when we ran from the room.”



“I see.” Itachi turned to leave when he felt a tug on his kilt. Turning incredulous eyes towards the slave, Itachi saw Intef crouched beside him, his hands clenching the white kilt so tightly that his knuckles had whitened.



“Please, my pharaoh. Please don’t hurt them. Naruto would be sad if he knew he had caused men to be punished because he desired a bath. Please have mercy on them.”



Itachi watched the boy burst into tears and blinked a few times, unsure how to respond. The black anger was slowly draining from him and leaving him empty. Shaking his head, Itachi left the room but instead of turning to the guards that had renewed their places on either side of the door, he stopped with his eyes facing forward.



“I suggest you show your gratitude to that slave boy. His words alone keep you from my wrath.” The words were quiet but both guards heard them regardless. They shivered and glanced towards their pharaoh.



Itachi ignored them and wandered the palace. He watched as servants scurried and prostrated themselves before him. The fear that was plainly visible on their faces gave him pause to think. When had he bothered to worry about the fear of slaves?



Finding himself at his brother’s door, Itachi entered without knocking. He found his brother sitting at his desk, reading scroll after scroll of ancient text. “Itachi?”



Itachi simply looked at his brother with confused eyes. He didn’t know why he was here, just that he was confused and to Sasuke was the only place he could go. Sitting in the chair beside his brother, Itachi looked over the scrolls. Some were about war strategy but the most seemed to be a genealogy of the gods. “Why are you researching the gods?”



“He’s not here. I have a list of every single god and their offspring. He’s not here. Why isn’t he here?” Sasuke glanced at his brother before scanning the scrolls again.



“Naruto?”



“Yes. He isn’t listed as offspring of Anubis nor Nut. Neither claims him.”



“Something is wrong with me, Sasuke.”



Sasuke glanced up from his scroll and looked at the shadowed look in his brother’s eyes. Frowning, Sasuke waited for his brother to continue.



“I nearly flew into a rage when I saw a bruise on Naruto. I don’t have control over my emotions like I should. Why is that?”



Sasuke shook his head. He’d never seen his brother like this. He seemed…confused, lost even. Naruto was changing them both simply by being in their lives. “Itachi, I don’t know what to tell you. Before you didn’t care about what happened to anyone. Now, you care about one person.”



“Naruto.”



“I don’t understand what you feel for him but I know that you panic when he’s hurt or not within reach. It drives you mad, far worse than I’ve ever seen you.”



Itachi glanced at his brother and for the first time saw him as more than before. This man sitting beside him would die for him, gladly. Could he say the same? Anger bloomed inside him. This was Naruto’s fault. If he hadn’t come into their lives, he wouldn’t be feeling these sorts of emotions. It was his fault that his thoughts kept drifting to images of sunshine hair and tan skin. He would take what was his and purge himself of these feelings. He would regain what he had lost. Naruto would be cleaned from his system and then he could lead his country into war with Madara. Eyes gleaming with new purpose, Itachi left Sasuke dumbfounded and headed towards the cause of all his inner turmoil. Naruto.



~To be continued.