Chains

                                                          C          H          A         I         N         S

When Itachi strolled through the door, composure regained, I knew it could easily be undone by a poorly made comment. I decide its best if I break the awkward tension given that I strongly felt had it been Sasuke who was to open his mouth to speak directly to his brother tempers would rekindle and flare back up. We’d get nowhere.

It took awhile but as the conversation melted the prickly layer from the elder we all gradually relaxed. We laid everything out on the table between us. No subject was unturned and in a way, as fucked up as this situation was, it made me feel a bit more at ease with being here. I knew based on Itachi’s reactions he stuck to a certain mainframe and it worked for a long time but the crimp in the deal was causing more trouble than the pay. I could see the stress in his tense jawline, could see it in his eyes and he mainly watched his younger brother for the usual cues to quiet on certain topics around us.

Now that we knew basically everything from the layout of the plan to what was to happen up until now, he didn’t need silent visual tells from Sasuke any longer. He crossed his arms tightly across his chest, I knew from my studies at college in psychology this was meant to be a way of creating a barrier of stability for him. He couldn’t control the situation at hand but he could wall himself off by his body language and expressions. Clearly he’s still not completely open to having Sasuke lay everything out in the open, however, it opened a new door that wasn’t available to them before.

We drew up our own countermeasure led basically by Hinata, and it was her job to sell it to Itachi. He told her he would have to think on it and I understood completely as did she. I wouldn’t want someone who knew nothing of my profession to come in and tell me how to operate on an open heart surgery especially on my turf. I think Itachi might have a soft spot for Hinata. This is solely based on my observation but—she has been nothing but cooperative through this whole hellish ordeal and I believe he’s grateful for that.

—- ... —-

Once again I’m restless and I can no longer stand finding new things in the pattern of the ceiling so I watch the moon make its ascension in an arc above the tree line. I haven’t seen Sasuke in two days since...that night. I’ve gotten really good at planting seeds of doubt in my head. Being alone doesn’t help the situation either. They just fester and eat away at my resolve.

There’s a light wrapping of knuckles against my door, I perk slightly feeling a faint flutter in my chest which I squash thinking of this as more of a business transaction rather than finding out what it meant. The elders face comes through the threshold and the tickling in my chest is snuffed out completely.

I sit up making my way to the edge of the bed. No cracks in his facade.

“Evening.” Judging by the tone—though it sounds the same, yet I’ve somehow come to discern the temperaments of the brothers based off the situations at hand, I knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant chat.

“Evening.” I offer back lightheartedly.

“I’m aware of the situation.” I can’t help it when the entire top half of my body including my ears turns red in shame.

“I-I see.”

“It can’t continue.”

“O-of course.” Not being able to look him in the eye I instead glance to the tray he’s holding with two strong smelling brews of tea. He sets them on the round table and I bite my tongue. Here we go again. I’m going to be subjugated to more humiliation and I have no one to blame but myself.

I sit taking a testing sip of the steep and savor the taste. These men are going to make me addicted to tea just as much as they were. Itachi sits across from me. I’ve had a lot of meals on this tiny thing. I think I’m actually going to miss it if I ever get out of here. Having my morning coffee and watching the sun rise has become one of my favorite things to do as I awake.

Even the knots in my muscles have dissipated with time and not having the heavy burden of saving lives every second of the day brought years back to my stolen ones and I have learned to genuinely relax. The tea helps too.

“It just happened on a whim I swear it.” He keeps his eyes glued to the surface of his cup.

“Hmm.” He doesn’t seem to be listening to me. He always seems distracted.

We’ve been sharing a cup of coffee or tea in the mornings that it had become ritualistic habit. During the times I wasn’t in trouble that is. Or when he was out doing whatever it is he does to make things go smoothly. I imagine he has to meet constantly with this Danzo asshole an appease his temper...a lot. It’s almost enough to make me feel sympathetic for the brothers but, this is the path they chose and all I want is to make it out of this safely with Hinata and I intact.

“Itachi?” His dark eyes linger a bit longer in front of him before meeting mine. I can see how very tired he is. No matter how prestige and sharp his appearance always seems, I can see the weight of the world like a stone in the middle of his eyes.

“You’re a doctor. I forget that about you at times. I’ve used natural remedies and I’m a big believer on them, do you have any advice in that category in reducing stress?”

“Obviously, chamomile tea,” I raise my cup noting its the preferred dealers choice of the day this morning. “And lilac scents are also excellent. You know, those diffusers? If you let it linger in the air an hour before bed it will do you wonders. I’ve had to rely on it a couple of times myself before a big morning.”

“I see. That’s helpful. Thank you.” He must be troubled if he hasn’t even nursed the top of the cup. The steam eventually dissipates leaving it cold and terrible tasting should he choose to reach for it again.

“Was there...anything else you needed to talk about? I may be ignorant to what’s happening but I am a good listener should you need my ear.” Nothing. I look down at my hands picking at a cuticle until a small well of blood beads and smears across my nail. Something white blots my vision and a grim but gentle hand clamps down around the small stinging self made cut.

“Thank you.” We’re both silent until I look up at him and give him a slight smile. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me. I appreciate that. O-oh and Hinata too. Thank you.”

“Don’t ever thank a criminal. Especially one that stole you away from your normal life.” He takes his leave and I’m left to take up the napkin until the blood clots and I sigh softly retreating back to my mattress.

—- . . . —-

When I go back down to the kitchen by the next morning I’m assuming I’ll be greeted by Itachi but instead see Sasuke siting there eating what looks to be a tomato. I raise a brow as he bites into the plump side careful not to let any juice dribble. With a cheek full he glances as I walk in and swallows it in one hard gulp discarding it.

I sit beside him looking over his profile. The swelling is going down and I have no doubt soon the purple will blossom into faint blooms of yellow.

“Something on my face?” I’d prefer not to be teased. I scowl at him crossing my arms defensively.

“Funny. Where’s your brother?”

“Getting food for the week. Why did you have something special you wanted? I can still text him.”

“No.” How do I get the courage to confront him? I know it has to stop. I do. But feeling like a woman for the first time in my life is a euphoric addiction that’s hard to squash. No matter how hard I try to numb myself by staying awake at night just to prepare.

“What?”

“What happened the other night cannot happen again.” Any playfulness that danced in his eyes seconds ago is gone. Now the brevity of the situation is transparent and we don’t have to have things remain tense and awkward anymore.

“Sure.” God this man is infuriating. Sure? As if nothing really did happen? Oh you know I didn’t let him have sex with me or eat me out or anything.

“Good. Glad you understand.”

“Yes.” Another awkward pause. We look at one another for a few more seconds and like a volt of electricity our bodies collide. I fumble out of my chair into his arms as it flings back in response to the back of my legs springing off. He catches me simultaneously as he sets me on my back against the tabletop. I wrap my arms around his neck scrunching my nose when I taste the tomato juice still glistening upon his bottom lip.

His tongue glides over mine, the spongy texture alighting all my nerves. I press into him as he holds me down sandwiched between his body and the table. I whine against his lips eager for the ache between my moist legs to be sated. I feel like a teenager again, our hands our intertwined over one another’s body in sloppy hurried motions.

I loop my toes into the waistline of his pants dipping my toes beneath the fabric. His mouth is on my throat, head under my shirt, trailing up between the valley of my breasts. I arch my head back bumping my head against the glass salt shaker. I just want it away from my head, I send it crashing to the floor before getting my other leg looped over his waist and then we both hear the softness of a voice and immediately separate.

“What was that?” Hinata comes in just as we take our seats. I quickly brush down my mussed hair smoothing the knotted strands out and he does the same. A split second later she emerges through the threshold and Sasuke and I couldn’t look any guiltiest. His cheeks are slightly flushed, a corner of his shirt is rumpled exposing the hardened muscles beneath, and I myself look like a disheveled wanderer coming out of a tangle of branches.

I clear my throat and watch as she looks between us confused. Now her ivory cheeks start getting color.

“Wh-what?”

“E-everything a-alright?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t it be?!”

“I heard a crash.”

“Ssssssalt. S’ salt. There.”

Sasuke remains silent going to reach for the tomato that’s rolled under the table in our—moment of heat. I clear my throat kicking it tp the other side in order to hide it from her line of sight.

“I was wondering if you could make something this morning Hinata...if that’s alright?” To avoid what’s really going on she moves quickly to the fridge making scrambled eggs and getting everyone orange juice and toast.

“How did you sleep?” I quickly interject. She offers me a light smile politely taking the change of subject in order to get past the awkwardness. We keep out conversation light, I watch as she brushes her purple strands behind her ear while cutting into her eggs.

“I’m glad we discussed everything the night before. Ever since then I feel I can sleep a lot better than before. I don’t have a constant sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.” Bad friend. I’ve been terrible in neglecting asking her how she herself has been fairing through this whole thing.

“Well I’m glad you’re feeling better. It must have made you feel a lot better knowing that your father did pay in full if not more to get you out.”

“It does. I never had doubts but...” She looks at her plate struggling with that small seed of worry that it had been him who stalled us from getting out. Not that her father knew I was here too. I’m not even sure anyone noticed my absence aside from my coworkers and parents. It wasn’t unusual for me to be completely busy that I disappeared from my circle of friends in bouts.

“I understand Hinata. You don’t need to explain.” She glances at Sasuke finally drawing him into our conversation too.

“How did you sleep?” He looks surprised. This was Hinata’s nature. She extended kindness to those who in my opinion shouldn’t get any! But I never intended to change her or how she presents herself to others. She gently draws other in with her fragile airy demeanor. Despite her being terribly shy she still comes from a pampered pedigree. She didn’t need to adopt good manners they were already engrained in her DNA.

“I uh...yeah. Good.” He’s too embarrassed to remain at the table as the third wheel to our girl talk apparently. He busies himself by cleaning the pots and pans.

Itachi comes back stuffing the arm full of bags away in the appropriate places.

“I’ve thought over the plan.” Hinata and I turn about in our seats resting our arms over the back of the chair.

“I think it will work with some improvements and tweaks.”

“Did you get a call while you were out?” Sasuke inclines his head parking himself against the counter resting his tailbone against it.

“Several. Actually.”

“That’s his typical M. O.”

“I’ve begun putting things into place.” We silently exchange glances to one another.

“The problem is no one will be able to get close enough to get to Danzo without him becoming suspicious to an assassination.”

I fiddle with my fingers in my lap nervously. The conversation muffles into background noise. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears focusing on the steady rhythm. Sasuke’ s batting around different ideas to which Itachi shoots down with plausible explanations.

I swallow sharply and perk in my seat, “What’s his type?” Hinata already knows where I’m going with this, but the other two are lost playing catchup.

“Sakura...” I put my hand up to her looking to the other two awaiting their answer.

“Type?” Sasuke asks raising a brow. Something washes over the elders face and now he’s on the same page as we are.

“Small. Soft. Submissive.” Sasuke’ s truly lost. His brow furrows as he tries deciphering what we’re all putting out there.

“I would be a better candidate.” Hinata chimes in quickly.

“You can’t. He knows who you are.” She looks at me wearily. I flash her a confident Sakura smile and turn my attention back to Itachi.

“No.” There Sasuke goes.

“It can work.”

“I’m not putting her in the field.”

“We have no choice.”

“I wont allow blood to be shed on her hands.”

“They already are bloodied. You forget, I’m a doctor. I’ve even had to pull the plugs on people who are dying Sasuke. Putting a drug in his drink in order to end this? I can do it.”

“No.”

We spend minutes going in circles amongst ourselves arguing and putting our counterpoints into the mix of this half hatched scheme. And just like that the underlying issue comes to the surface.

“I don’t want that piece of shits hands to be all over you.” His hands are curled into fists, his tooth digging into the bottom of his scabbed lip, and the tension in his framed shoulders are solid and unyielding.

“Rule one, Sasuke.”

“Fuck the rules right now Itachi. I did get personally involved. Yes we had sex. But this is a whole different issue separate from that.” Hinata slowly looks at me embarrassed. Please Kami-sama. Just open up the floor and let me be swallowed by it.

Everyone is quiet and I’m silently begging someone to open their mouth because I feel like my fiery insides are going to combust and I’ll gladly turn to a pile of ash right now.

“It’s the only option we have.” Itachi repeats, this time with a softer rapport. The locked frame eases slightly and the stoop of his shoulders melt back in alignment with his collarbone.

“I really don’t like this fucking option.”

“I don’t think any of us do, its risky, dangerous, and half assed. But it makes sense and fits. We just have to hope that once she goes into the wolf den she can escape without every drawing attention to the others.”

I give Sasuke a reassuring smile that lasts only seconds because the hurt in his expression makes my heart constrict terribly.

Yes I will be involving myself in this. Yes I am choosing to adopt their profession that I’m always putting down whenever I acknowledge it. But this is the only thing I can think of to gain my freedom in the quickest way possible. If I can infiltrate the hive and take down the leader without a hint of their involvement then they walk away freely as well as Hinata and I. But I also run the risk of the escort service that I have no doubt will be there as the entourage around Danzo will memorize the last person to be with Danzo and vow to hunt me down.

But hey, I bet their reach without their boss will eventually peter out and meanwhile I’ll be lounging about in the Bahamas soaking in the sunshine. Ah yes. A nice outcome. I’m not even going to think about the other alternatives.

I stand folding my hands over my midsection and I nod to both of them.

“Tell me what I need to do.”