Hm..so few reviews...so sad. I appreciate any and all reviews-I take them all to heart.

I know I shouldn’t be posting this until I’m done with ‘The Virus’ but, I just love this story so much, I couldn’t resist. Itachi/Sakura moments are still in the future, but not yet. How about I stop posting on this story when it comes around to them-so I don’t spoil anything...

And, darn it, I tried to move this to the Saskuke/Any categories until Sakura and Itachi come in, but it wouldn’t let me...just kept coming up Sasuke/Sakura-and that’s not what I’m going for.

Well, I hope I got the kanji correct in the title-perhaps a little disorder, but I’m sure they’re correct.

This series by far, out of all my fictions, is my most cherished. I’ve enjoyed every word I have written to make this readable(unlike others where I don’t always feel like finishing the chapter) Somehow, I see this as believable-and very touching. idk, I’m getting soft.

‘Animal I Have Become’ by Three Days Grace ‘Bend the Bracket’ by Chevelle and ‘Wasted Years’ by Cold.

Please R&R!

--

Stage 2

--

I can't escape this hell
So many times I’ve tried
But I’m still caged inside
Somebody get me through this nightmare
I can't control myself

I can't escape myself
So many times I’ve lied
But there's still rage inside
Somebody get me through this nightmare
I can't control myself...

--

He limped his way past her, ignoring her honest offers of help-her hands reaching out to him. Sasuke wasn’t going to look into those big, innocent eyes of hers to see the tears of joy sparkling like stars. He didn’t say a word, didn’t utter a syllable as he brushed past her, knowing he was leaving confusion to wash over her mind. He could guess at what she was thinking-questioning him. But, most of all-worried over his current status of health.

And his answer:

He was Uchiha, Sasuke. He had slept with his niece. He had three months to dwell on his mistake. And he was disgusted in himself.

The end.

All his life he had been the logical one-even giving Sakura a run for her money when it came down to being calculated and precise. Until now...God, what a fool he was. Spending all that time fighting in the wilderness-against the Water and Forest nin-these past three months had been accomplished with her on his mind. He didn’t think about his warm bed late at night on the battlefields-he thought about her in his warm bed through the hours...

He had missed her. God, how he had missed her. Her face, her smile, laughter...the light she brought into his life that he had never known-never realizing what the joys of a loving woman could bring to a man. Everything seemed so bleak without her there by his side, teasing him, asking him for things, telling him what to do-and how did he always react to all her antics? Like a blasted slave. She was the only one who even tried for him anymore-her mother had tried long ago and he-at one point-had secretly within the corners of his frigid heart had tried for her, but he never could bring himself to care for the pink headed girl back then. Nor anyone else.

It was all kill, kill, kill. Train, fight, revenge. Seek something that should never have been contemplated. Beg for forgiveness like a dog. Get shunned by the village for your foolish, young mistakes. Betray one of your closest friends to find your bastard brother(an all time low on his Sasuke-asshole list)...not much had changed since then. Except, maybe, the young part.

When Nevaeh stayed with him-he couldn’t help but feel he had ruined something precious. But, just as one door seemed to close. He began to realize one was opening. Sasuke just wasn’t sure he wanted to know where that door was opening to.

“Oji-san, wait!” She grabbed onto his bleeding arm only to cause him to hiss in pain. She instantly loosened her grip upon realizing her mistake. “We have to get you to the hospital.” He could tell she was trying to conceal the happiness in her voice, trying to seem strong in the moment of her satisfaction that he was home-and trying to stay calm when her eyes saw just how bad his injuries really were.

“Let go.” He ordered and paused-he was too damn weak to jerk his own arm from the girl. So, he took his only option and waited for her to obey.

“But–” He could detect the questioning in her voice, wondering why he was acting so strange, so much more distant than usual. Giving her the cold shoulder when he obviously needed medical attention.

“I said let go, Nevaeh.” His chest was still heaving, trying to control his weak legs as his body shook with the loss of blood and lack of rest. “I’m not going to any fucking hospital.” And he didn’t plan to, either. He was ready to accept what fate was dealing him. He wasn’t going to complain-in fact, he was practically jumping at his opportunity to end it.

She looked into his eyes and shuddered at what she was seeing. His hair was a mess, covering his face-his hitae-ate gone missing, his clothing shredded until in literally hung from his body. His shirt in threads sticking to his shoulders through the melted snow that had fallen on his body. Shadows roamed his face-death in his eyes. Dark and uncaring. And she resisted the urge to vomit-at knowing the things he had seen out on that battlefield, the things he had seen through his life that she could not fathom.

And he was alone-the team he had left with was not by his side. And she dared not wonder what had happened to them all.

Her hand slid off his arm slowly, as if she were still contemplating whether or not she should let him go for fear he would falter-she smoothed her fingers together, feeling the warm liquid of his blood on her shaky hand. He was finally home, all she wanted to do was coddle him and shower his face with kisses, but he was hurt-badly. And she knew he was thinking thoughts of death...but, she would have none of it.

Her hand now stained with his crimson blood-Sasuke took a step forward. But, his body could no longer take the strain as his legs buckled and dropped to the ground-cursing when he landed on his bruised right knee. Gasping as indescribable pain shot through his body-he no longer even harbored the simple chakra within himself to heal a simple bruise... “Dammit.” She heard him swear under his breath.

“Oji-san!” She knelt by his side and wiped the hair from his sweating face. “Please, at least let me help you get somewhere safe...” For now, she could be understanding for the man-she would let his dark glares of death and his blatant efforts at ignoring her to slide. He was in too bad of shape to argue about how he had suddenly decided she was to be ‘invisible’ again-or that, for some reason, hospitals were out of the question for him.

Turning his head away from the girl, he closed his eyes-knowing that he had no choice but to accept her helping hands, lest he die here in the middle of the street. “Fine.” He nodded to let her know he agreed.

“Good. I’ll take you home.” She said kindly and gently shrugged his arm over her shoulder. Carefully placing her hand around his back, she strained her legs to stand them both back up and began the long journey to his apartment-and she noted that even though his stature was still larger than she, Sasuke had lost a great deal of weight. Which was common among men in his field, out in the wilderness with little supplies...but, if he was really that weak-then she would find it within her power to carry his damn body back to his apartment!

His larger body molded to her side as he sighed with the break in some of the strain on his feet. Sasuke took in a deep breath of her hair-home. He was home with his girl. If only she knew how much that comforted him or how many nights he had been out there only to wish he was here with her, in bed-warm and comfortable and not having to worry about anything else other than what’s for diner. But, she wouldn’t know-he could never tell her. He was way out of line, it wasn’t proper.

Nevaeh kept the slowest pace possible as they shuffled down the empty streets, trying to allow him all the time he needed to move his tired legs-in his condition, needless to say, it had taken them quite a while to return his worn self back to his apartment.

“Hold still for a second, okay, Oji-san?” Nevaeh said when they reached his door, making sure he could stand alone and quickly bending down to acquire the key she had stuffed under the welcome mat as he propped himself against the door frame.

“You locked it?” He asked quietly. Sasuke never locked his door-even when he left for long missions-he had nothing of importance or value to lock away. His sensei was the same way...never owning anything of great value other than his title. He was the only one who seemed to truly understand him after Sasuke had returned-empty handed, scared for life and shunned by Konoha. And although he didn’t approve, he accepted his decision and went on with life. He was a good man...closest thing he ever had for a role-model. Ever since his father died, because of...

But, Sasuke still was never quite sure why he felt he had to live up to Kakashi’s name-remembrance, perhaps?

Nevaeh felt her chest constrict. He was getting that far away gaze in his eyes that she had seen in many shinobi on their death beds... Even his voice was weak, Sasuke was practically a dead man walking.

“Well, it’s smarter than leaving it open to intruders.” She scolded him, trying to keep things as normal as possible and deny the fact he only seemed to be getting worse by the second judging by the distant look in his eyes. Her Oji-san was literally fading in and out where he stood. “Anybody could’ve waltzed right in here while you were gone.” She bit her lip to get her mind off the stinging pain in her eyes-averting her gaze from his slumped shoulders. He always slouched his posture-but, like this he simply looked like a corpse.

“Whatever.” He huffed out. “Just get me inside.” They stumbled through the doorway and paused in the hall as he leaned against the wall. Gasping and heaving for his breath as he coughed up a large chunk of blood from deep within his lungs-how did he get into such an awful condition? He could barely remember.

“Oh my god...Sasuke, I have to get you to the hospital!” She turned her panicked frame to run for help, there was no way her body could carry him all the way back across town in time. But, she could run fast enough to get assistance.

“No!” He grabbed her arm and prevented her from leaving-as if he had the strength to. “I’m not going to that godforsaken place. If I’m gonna die, then I’ll die in my own home.” His pathetically weak hand squeezed her arm, warning her not to say another word.

Her hands began shaking again and her heart ached. Why was he talking like this? He made it home alive, correct? So, why couldn’t he simply stay alive?

-There's a game life plays, makes you think you're everything they ever said you were. I’d like to take some time and clear away everything I planned-

Letting go of her arm, Sasuke made it the rest of the way to his room by himself. Never taking his hand off the wall for support. He didn’t need her anymore, he didn’t need anyone. All he wanted was rest. Just to close his eyes for a while...like he hadn’t heard that line from the lips of a thousand dead nin before.

He landed on his bed with a loud thump and closed his eyes as his body finally went numb. He wasn’t sure where Nevaeh had gone. For help, perhaps. It made no difference-he’d be dead by the time she got back. Finally...everything was quiet. Almost ringing in his ears...then he heard the bath water being turned on somewhere in the back of his mind and wondered what the girl was doing now, but in a few moments that wouldn’t matter-nothing could possibly mean anything to him now. He started struggling to keep his eyes open, uselessly noting the fact that he was probably staining his sheets with his blood. But, what did it matter anyways?

What did it matter? What did it matter? What did it matter...what did she matter?

-Was it life I betrayed for the shape that I'm in? It's not hard to fail, it's not easy to win. Did I kill too much, could I disappear? And there's nothing that's left but wasted years-

His breathing slowed and the ceiling started to spin. The darkness surrounding the corners of his eyes began to creep in around him and take over his vision. His felt his heart beat began to fade and the pulse of his blood stop. Ceasing the transfer of oxygen to his brain and body.

Now was his time to choose. It was a choice he had faced numerous times within his life. And, before now, he was always able to draw the ace from the pile. But, tonight...just for tonight-he didn’t have the strength-he didn’t want to have the strength. He wasn’t suicidal...he was weary and worn down.

So, choose right now, Sasuke. Life or Death? Life or Death...Life? Death...

Sasuke welcomed the cold darkness, releasing one last breath as his head turned to the side and his eyes closed with such a heaviness that it would have been impossible to keep them open. And then there was black...

-If I could change my life, be a simple kind of man-try to do the best I can. If I could see the signs I'd derail every path I could. Now I'm about to die-won't you clear away from me. Give me strength to fly away-

--

“Heh...heh...” A short, brown-haired nin cocked his head to the side. Smirking like a damned cockroach. From the Water by the looks of his attire-which was far too big for his frame. Sasuke could use that against him-baggy clothing makes for easy grabbing and tossing. “He’s the last one...” And although the little freaks head stayed still, his eyes zoomed over to his partners on the field.

“I’ll do the honors,” Stocky, this one. He would be slower-but his punches would hurt like a bitch.

Uchiha, Sasuke looked down at the bodies around him-enemy, allies. The head of the latest victim just finished rolling on the ground. A nin from Konoha...Sasuke had known him since he was twenty one. Too bad...he would be missed...and that’s all he could bring himself to say.

Briefly, Sasuke had to ask himself how he got into this mess.

Oh yeah, he was jounin.

It was his job to lead people to their death.

Fun, fun.

And, then he began wondering what had started the war...he wasn’t even sure he knew anymore. Something about expanding borders-but, the Water, Forest and Leaf weren’t even that close geologically...hell, he didn’t even care anymore.

-So the water's thickening. His collar's pulled, begin to be aware-

Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he focused on the upcoming attack. Locked in a stare down-he ignored the gaping hole in his hand, the three cracked ribs at his side, his possible broken shin and the gangly looking cut on his back. And the death around him...

Then it happened...he heard the quick shuffling of feet as they made their move-all of them at once. Dammit.

-That he needs to focus. Beyond that man, he brings a world of pain-

If he were younger...he would have said ‘bring it on, bitches-I love a good challenge.’ If her were younger, but he wasn’t. Yet, he wasn’t old either-he shouldn’t be complaining. It wasn’t as if his bones were cracking under the pressure of osteoporosis.

He braced himself, defense stance-no way he could take the offensive here. His eyes darting everywhere-assessing the situation faster than humanly possible.

A laugh, behind him. Dammit! Where did that bastard come from?

-Because the war is on, too weak to move. Call it off, sorry refused-

He could have swore his spine cracked after receiving a kick to his back-right on his abrasion-if he weren’t still breathing...

Spin, fast. Good, now catch the prick off guard. Grab his foot and twist it five different ways until it’s shoved up his ass.

One down...unless he got back up-he wasn’t down that bad. Sasuke had only given him a broken foot-and he had seen men do damage whilst in worse shape. He needed to get serious.

-So we bend the bracket, shove it down-anything to make it fit-

No! There’s too many of them...he couldn’t take them all at once, not in this shape.

His point was proven as the blade of a kunai was plunged to the hilt in his upper arm. He looked down and saw the hand holding the weapon. Then, he looked up in the face of the enemy. The sicko winked at him-fruit cake.

“Hey, handsome.” Now, what the hell was he supposed to say to that?

“Hello, ugly.” He smirked when ‘ugly’ frowned.

-And being foolish won't cover up, exposing them as fakes-

Sasuke quickly grabbed ugly’s wrist, squeezing hard enough to break it in two different places. ‘Just get him on the ground...if he’s on the ground I’ll have the upper hand.’

He pulled down on the arm of the Water nin, latched onto his jacket and tossed ugly to the dirt. Sasuke pulled the kunai out of hi arm-gripping it like his life depended on it. Now, it was the only weapon he had. And he prepared to attack with the bloodied blade.

-But the war is on, too weak to move. Call it off, sorry-refused-

Shit.

Sasuke landed face down in the snow/dirt after a swift kick to the head. And, for a moment, he thought he saw stars. All the snow around him seeped into his vision-there was nothing but white and he couldn’t feel his body...so much for taking the defensive.

But, somehow-his legs and arms moved on their own. He found the strength within himself and pulled his body up until he was on his hands and knees-staring at the red snow beneath him.

-So boredom captured another fool, shredding him to bits-

And he looked up, slow and serious-and he found the eyes of his opponent. And he saw fear in his eyes. Sasuke knew it was the Sharingan-starting to glow red and swirl like a vortex. It always had that effect on people. He rarely used the thing anymore, guess now would be a good time to put it back into action.

-And the more we tense up, avoiding pain-you'll never learn a thing-

Somehow, he was aware-yet completely in a daze. He couldn’t remember much. There was punching, blocking, kicking, stabbing, dodging, ripping and tearing, slicing-he knew he went wild on those men. For when it was over he saw the blood covering his entire body-blood that was not his own.

However, now, he was not so numb. He felt the pain, he felt the cuts and bruises and aching, splitting pain searing through his head from that kick to the temple.

Rest.

He needed rest, to sleep, to close his eyes and rejuvenate.

Dull, onyx eyes sought out a shelter from the falling snow-from the stinging wind. He found a fat tree in the wood, big and round and fully capable of blocking him from the cold.

Sasuke sank to the ground and leaned his back against the frigid, rough bark-let his chin fall to his chest and fell unconscious...

Late evening three days later and he still sat in his burrow-leaning back against the tree that had been his shelter for the past two nights. Now, it was grey and gloomy out with the dying sun. The trees were all dead and the stench of death was all over him and the field he had been observing from his position. Red stains on the ground, white snow still falling from the heavens and a grey sky...thus said the raven.

They left as twenty, they were now one...and he was hungry, he was growing thin, injured and almost homesick. He was stuck in this hell hole of a place in the forest-waiting like a sitting duck for any kind of medical help that might happen to pass him by-and their supplies. The support group was supposed to have arrived five days ago had yet to show, and-in the back of his mind-he knew there was nobody coming to his aid. The assistance had most likely already been attacked on the trek to the tiny stronghold they had once been protecting-four miles to the west...they had already abandoned the place to return home upon the news of the war relief. But, it seemed-thanks to his most recent skirmish-that there were still rebel fighters for the cause. How noble...

And the rescue group-well, one of two options. They had been raided and left for dead. Or...they had given up hope on his team-already taking them for dead-and returned to Konoha to be with their families...

Feh...who needs ‘em...

He looked down at the hole in his hand-the large puncture would received by a enemy kunai and recently reopened in his latest battle. It had been difficult to get the bleeding to stop, but now he needed something to cover it and protect the hole from the dirt and infectious causing bacteria. Being possessed by a super-human healing fox demon would have proven useful right now.

Reaching into his deep pockets, he felt around-hoping to find any extra cloth that had been previously placed there. When his hand came into contact with something thin and papery, he grabbed onto it and pulled the foreign object out of his pocket.

Sasuke couldn’t help but smile when he saw what it was.

An old crumpled up picture of him and Nevaeh. He remembered when this was taken...she was seven-it was the annual festival and she had begged him to go until his eardrums bled. The chit must have snuck it into his pocket while he was asleep...

Why had he let her stay with him that night? It wasn’t because he needed company, he could have found any woman that would have willingly slept with him easily-no matter how many of them still thought they were ‘shunning him’ for his past crimes. The dawdling women of the village had long ago stopped searching for his love-his heart-and instead, only desired his body. He supposed after all these years they finally learned he didn’t yearn for affection of the soul like so many other ‘normal’ men.

Define normal: single-minded, fools.

Maybe it was some quirky desire to feel the comfort of someone he‘cared’ for before he left for this hell. He didn’t love her, there was no possible way that he was even capable of loving-anything or anyone. She knew that, she had to. Even the village had learned long ago that the mere mention of Itachi’s name was forbidden around the younger Uchiha. Sasuke hated everything and everyone that had any kind of connection to his brother. He even hated himself. So, it only made sense that he should hate her as well, right?

“Niece,” Sasuke muttered, reminding himself of their relationship. “Just a niece.” And he should have been angry. At himself and at her for all that had passed.

If he ever returned alive, he would make sure that mistake would never happened again-he had to guarantee that nothing of the sort would take place. At least, for her sake. To spare her the pain he had already caused her.

‘Never again...’

Sasuke stuffed the picture back into his pocket and stood-his bones and muscles cracking and aching from the cold, long position he had been sitting in.

And he looked up at the black crow that had been eyeballing him for the past few days, after all the other birds had taken a monopoly over the field of fallen nin. Telling it there was no meal for it here, not today...and he walked...

-Because the war is on. Too weak, too move. Call it off, sorry-must refuse-

--

He was walking home, he was sure of it. His feet crunching in the deep snow under his boots, the wind tangling his already tangled hair and that damned bird cawing at him like an alarm clock.

He had been in the middle of a field, he was close to home-he recognized this place...

“Sasuke...” Who was there?

“...Sasu..ke–” Neveah? What was she doing here?

“Don’t die on me, Sasuke!” Her voice broke his memories, he could barely hear her crying voice over the deafness in his ears. It sounded like she was so far away, only a muffled echo. She sounded so...sad, heartbroken. He hadn’t meant to make her cry.

And then he felt her warm lips pressing onto his cold, blue, lifeless mouth. A desperate effort at trying to get some kind of living response out of him. He could feel her sobs shaking from her mouth to his as her hot tears stung the cuts over his washed out, pale face.

“Please, wake up.” She broke away and then placed another soft chaste kiss upon his lips once more. But he didn’t want to wake up, all he wanted to do was rest. Rest forever and finally obtain peace.

Fuck the village, fuck his friends and most of all...fuck revenge.

“Go away, Nevaeh.” He whispered and tried to pull his mouth away from hers. He didn’t want to do this to her, nor to himself-they couldn’t go through this again. It would be his and her ruin if anyone were to ever find out what had passed between them.

It would stop here.

‘Just go away and let me die in peace.’ His mind wanted to say to her, but there was no strength. After all, that’s why he had returned. Just like a wounded animal running back to its burrow to die without interruption-not to see her face one last time and pray it helped him find absolution.

“I’m not gonna let you die, Sasuke!” She stopped her tears and stood to her feet, a new determined voice coming from her mouth, she was going to get him through all this, dammit-it was time to be a strong woman, not a whiny little girl. “Get your ass up right now. Unless you enjoy death-like that brother of yours, I would have expected more from you.” Nevaeh tried to ignore the fact that she was dissing her own father-hell, she didn’t even know what she was dissing him over. No one had told her why her fathers name and death fit together like a glove-that one of those words were not spoken without the other. But, she had to make him wake up-she had to get his attention away from these ridiculous ideas of dying.

His eyes cracked open and found her resolute face. He almost smirked, understanding what she was trying to do.

“Come on, we have to get you cleaned up before gangrene sets in.” She ordered as she tucked her arms under his shoulders to hoist him into a sitting position-grateful for all her medic training. “I don’t know what all this talk is about dying, but I have other plans.” Her hands worked with fervor at peeling off his blood soaked shirt and threw it to the floor-the heavy material hitting the carpet with a wet slap in all its shredded glory.

He glanced up at her determined face and could tell she was still fighting back the tears-that facade was not enough to fool him. She was scared, afraid, fearful of the truth. She knew he wasn’t going to pull through, there was no point in trying anymore so why was she even bothering?

“Give it up.” He said quietly-resisting the urge to chuckle at her persistence.

“Give what up?” She asked, acting like she hadn’t the slightest clue what he was talking about. But he didn’t respond, only began to shake his head at her worthless efforts.

Hooking his arm over her shoulder once more, she forced him to stand and lean on her like a crutch. After practically dragging him into the bathroom, she rested his back against the tiled wall and began removing his pants.

“What are you doing?” He grabbed onto her wrist weakly, it wasn’t as if he’d be able to stop her from taking them off anyways.

“I’m going to give you a bath.” She continued striping him of his boxers. “By the looks of those wounds, you’ve had them for a while. I don’t want you getting an infection.” Her fingers slipped under the hem of the fabric and pulled them down completely before he could say another word. “Besides, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” She blushed and glanced up at him.

Nevaeh helped him ease himself down into the hot water she had prepared and placed his head onto the back edge of the tub. Stepping back, she began unbuttoning her blouse and bra. She quickly discarded her skirt and underwear as well-throwing them into his bedroom on his mattress-and stepped out of her shoes.

Sasuke’s body already felt better when it touched the steamy water. It relieved every ache and every knot his muscles had worked themselves into. The burn of his cuts faded and the steam seemed to clear his breathing. It was like nicotine for the body. But, when he felt Nevaeh push him back up into a sitting position and slide her naked body in behind his, his relief disappeared and turned to despair. Why did she continue to do this to him? Was she trying to torture him?

Her knees popped out of the water on each side of his body as her legs wrapped half way around his torso. Her soft skin rubbing against his to create an almost painful friction against his. Sasuke nearly forgot his personal vow as she began to remove the band that held his short hair off his shoulders-his arms hanging loosely over the sides of the tub.

“Just relax.” She ran those slim fingers through his knotted hair to remove the tangles. He restrained a sigh and rolled his head back onto her shoulder when she pressed her bare breasts into his back.

“Why are you doing this to me?” He asked as he tried to control the urge to press his lips to her neck, turn over and show her just how much he missed her body.

“Stay awake-with me, Sasuke. You can’t black out on me like that again.” Nevaeh whispered into his ear and began kissing her way down his neck to nibble gently on his bruised collar bone. She slinked her arm over his shoulder to caress his broad chest, making sure to avoid all major wounds. “Just concentrate on my touch and everything will be alright.” She ran her lips over his tan skin as her fingers worked on removing the caked on blood from his tender wounds and flesh.

Then, she closed her eyes and tried to remember all the healing techniques and jitsu’s she had learned in school, sending small amounts of her chakra to his body and focusing on his serious injuries-healing them to the best of her ability. He sighed when he felt her energy flowing through him, killing the pain like a drug.

Seconds later and the water was completely fogged over with a dark red hue. His blood thickening the water around them. She reached forward and turned the knob of the faucet once more to renew the heat to the water and help defuse the murkiness.

“I missed you so much.” She kissed the top of his head, just like he had done once. But he remained silent, as usual ignoring her affections. “Didn’t you think of me?” She asked and slowly pressed her palm down his chest to pause at his lower abdomen, playing with each ripped muscle. Noting again at his slight weight loss-she would have to feed him as soon as possible.

“Nevaeh, don’t...” He groaned.

“I can touch you, Sasuke.” She whispered into his ear erotically and moved her hand lower. “I can take your mind off the pain.” Her fingers brushed down the length of his shaft and she could feel it stiffen beneath her touch.

“God...” He breathed out. Was she trying to take advantage of his weakened state?

She wasn’t a minx, or a vixen...more like a succubus.

He groaned when she tried to wrap her hand around his thick appendage, unable to get her fingers to completely encircle him. His body betrayed him as he almost immediately became hard as she began gently thrusting her tiny hips into his back, hoping to get a response from the man. Rubbing her hardened nipples over the curve of his shoulder blades.

“I’ll do anything you want me to.” She bit down on the top of his ear. “Tell me what to do.” Her breathless little voice floated in the foggy room and he reached down to grab onto her tiny wrist. Tell her no, just tell her to let go.

“Just...stroke it.” He whispered, unable to find the ability to think about anything but her touch. He suddenly didn’t think about his vow to approach her on the subject, nor the pain that had been throbbing through his body to be replaced by an increasing dose of adrenalin.

Nevaeh obeyed, moving her hand up and down his length and pressing her palm into the sensitive skin. She was slow at first, still unsure and experimenting with his responses. But, soon her stroking quickened and became more confident causing little ripples to escape onto the water’s surface above her moving hand.

His hands squeezed her lower thighs, trying to stop his hips from moving into her motions. Guilt began weighing in his mind, but why couldn’t he simply tell her no?

Sensing his need for more, Nevaeh carefully slid her body around his in one fluid motion. Straddling his waist in the warm water and letting him rest his head at the end of the tub once again.

She looked down at the man-glaring at her. Daring her to do it and see what the repercussions would be. She knew he wanted it-he just couldn’t accept it. He would threaten her with his eyes now, but his body said otherwise.

And, so, she closed her eyes as she positioned herself over him-and his onyx eyes intensified. But, it did not frighten her. She lowered herself down his length, sinking him deep into her body. She gasped-not realizing this position could cause deeper, fuller penetration. Her shaky hands placed themselves on the porcelain sides of the tub to regain her wavering balance, it had been three months since she had been with him and needless to say her body was still unaccustomed to a man.

Nevaeh looked at him with flushed cheeks when Sasuke’s hands immediately went to her hips, planting them there as he held her in place. And she watched his reaction as she tried to move up, only to have him greaten his hold-not allowing her to move.

She closed her eyes-blocking out his raging glare as she tried again, ignoring the ripping pain taking place inside her body once again.

And with her third effort, he allowed it until she finally, slowly started moving up and down atop him-regaining her use of the feel. He watched her waist move-she was not used to making love this way. She was clumsy and unsure and constantly looking to him for some type of guidance or approval on how she was performing. But, he would not help her-she had started it, she must finish it.

It was difficult for her at first, to grow accustom to the movements she had to make-difficult to go up and down on her knees and calves. Making little grunts when she did it too hard and hit a sore spot still adjusting to his feel.

Minutes passed and as she finally learned what was right by his reaction-she felt the pleasure. And she taunted him like a dog with a bone. Moving up his shaft to painfully bring herself down at such drawled out pace he almost lost control. He watched her now with withdrawn eyes, trying not to enjoy her body, but when her hips came down to touch his and she curled them inward only to pull back away, pausing at times to purposefully and voluntarily contract herself around his erection. Using him to settle her own needs as well as his...things had become a haze of lust for him.

She moaned his name and gently pressed her palms to his hard chest. Sinking her nails softly into his skin, she raked them down his chest, over his firm abs and then took hold of his hands that sat upon her hips-guiding them up her body. She placed his fingers over her breasts and asked for his encouragement and attention. He complied and watched as her hands continued the path upwards over her neck to tangle into her damp hair. “...uhn...” Her head lolled back and her movements became more pronounced as he gave special luxuries to one of her pink nipples.

He couldn’t take it anymore when he saw her bite down on her the tip of her forefinger to stifle a cry-still moving atop him, looking down at him with her helpless face and furrowed brows-trying to be a quiet little girl. He had to do something other than sit there and let her do this by herself. Besides, she was moving too goddamned slow.

Quickly replacing his hands on her hips, he sat up slightly and forced her hips down onto his when she was trying to move up. She looked at him, at bit surprised that he was finally taking action as he pulled her closer.

With his weakened state forgotten in the lust of the moment, Sasuke pulled her up with his bulked arms and jerked her back down-causing her to cry out with his sure, steady motion. So much for quiet. It seemed so much more...enjoyable to her now that he had taken control-at least, he knew what he was doing half the time. Unlike her...but, she would get better for him.

His eyes stayed locked onto her wet chest as her two young, round, firm mounds of flesh jiggled every time he brought her body back down to his. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, he even began thrusting his hips to hers.

With every jarring motion they made, red water splashed out of the tub and onto the tiled floor with a splatter. And Nevaeh tried to stop her release from coming, but he was so steady with his strong thrusts that she couldn’t help but lean forward and brace her forearms on the sides of the tub. Her action causing her breasts to sit perfectly in front of his face, only inches from his nose.

“I...I’m coming, Sasuke!” She nearly screamed-feeling her lower body spasm, squinting her eyes shut as a powerful wave of pleasure washed over her being, her orgasm hitting her like a bucket of cold water in the warm tub. Her back arched and with that inch closed between them, her tits brushed themselves against the tip of his nose causing him to grunt at her unknown gesture.

Bringing her hips up one final time, Sasuke found the warmth within her body he had missed so much these past three months unbearable. With her walls still dancing on his member, he found release within her passage. A strangled grunt and a warm sensation deep inside her abdomen was her only clue that he had finished.

His heartbeat was alive once more and his breathing had definitely picked up from the slow heaving it had once been. The ache in his body had dissipated with the warm water and the height of his orgasm. Although, he knew some of the pain would return after a certain period of time with the decline of adrenaline, he still felt more alive now than when he walked through the gates of the village. She had brought him back from the dead-with sexual intercourse...he supposed only she was capable of doing something like that to him.

They stared into one another’s eyes and then...she smiled at him. And he felt so at home with her here now. He had found what he was missing.

Some forgotten and frosted over part deep within the most undisturbed corners of his heart started to warm at that moment, melting the ice. She leaned down, kissed the tip of his nose and giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck in tight embrace.

“I’m so glad you came back.” She whispered. Truly grateful that he had come home alive.

He opened his mouth to say something, but she quickly pulled back and hushed him with her forefinger.

“Wait here, I’ll go get some towels.” Nevaeh separated her body from his and left the warm water of the tub. She walked out of the bathroom naked, careful not to slip on the wet floor beneath her feet. He didn’t bother to stop her, he had already tried to tell her that the drying towels were in the closet.

Nevaeh went through his modest apartment until she reached the small laundry room. Grabbing one of his large, black shirts, she threw it over head to hang off her shoulders on her petite body. Her moist skin soaking the material and causing her nipples to become erect. She hugged the shirt to her chest, enjoying the simple things like difference in their body size or how good he smelt...and that he was home-alive!

She dug through the hamper, trying to find any towels or what could be used as drying material, but he appeared to have nothing. ‘That’s weird.’ She bit the nail of her thumb. ‘Maybe they’re in the bathroom somewhere, but I didn’t see any.’

But, before she could reach the hall, she heard a loud knock on the door and glanced at the clock that hung from his wall, dangerously near to falling off it nail. It was two in the morning, so why would anyone be trying to contact Sasuke when the village hadn’t even known he had returned? This late.

Slowly walking to the door, she cursed under her breath at the fact he didn’t have a peep hole to look out of. When she cracked the door open hesitantly, her eyes widened as she saw her mother waiting outside of his apartment looking rather distressed.

As soon as Sakura saw the door open and two familiar dark eyes peek out, she planted her palm on heavy wood and shoved it open. “Nevaeh!” Her mother gasped. “How did you get into your uncle’s apartment?” She asked, her green eyes glancing down at her wet body covered with nothing but an oversized shirt that she recognized as one of Sasuke’s.

“Mom...What are you doing here?” She asked, evading her mother’s question.

“Fugaku is gone.” Her brows furrowed in anxiety. “He just left without warning.”

“What do yo mean ‘gone?’” Nevaeh brushed her wet hair away from her face. “There’s no place for him to go.”

“I know. But, when I asked him where he was heading, he told me to go ask his uncle. I hadn’t realized Sasuke had returned yet, so I immediately came here in hopes of finding your brother.” Nevaeh’s eyes narrowed. ‘That little creep must have seen us together at the gates. He did all this to set us up!’

“I want to know why on earth you’re...” She watched as her mothers voice trailed off. Her jaw dropped slightly in what appeared to be disbelief and her green eyes focused on something behind her daughter.

“Sakura...?” Nevaeh heard Sasuke’s dry voice in the hall and turned around to see him limping his way out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist, pausing for a second to lean against the bathroom’s doorway for rest.

Seconds passed...and then...

It all started to make sense in Sakura’s mind. How her daughter was always so close to him, always wanting to be with her ‘Oji-san.’ The way he always seemed to pamper her and no on else. She stared at him with disgust and accusation written across her face. It had been obvious from the very beginning that he had a soft spot for the girl, but never in a million years would she had guessed it would have morphed into something like...like this.

“What’s going on here!” She tried to control her anger, hoping there would be a perfectly reasonable explanation behind all this.

“I can tell you what’s been going on, missy!” Nevaeh glanced over to see a little old lady stick her wrinkled face out of the neighboring doorway. “I’ve seen her go in there with him before and heard the noises they make! It’s impossible to sleep.” She shook her frail fist in the air like she was actually going to be able to punch something with that weak, flabby arm of hers. “Shameful, that’s what it is. It’s enough to make a poor old lady like me call the authorities!” Nevaeh crossed her arms and huffed. ‘Poor old lady?’ That hag was the meanest creature on this side of Konoha.

“Is this true, Nevaeh?” Sakura asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She could only turn her head away from her mother. Her jaw clenched and her eyes shut as a tear ran down her cheek. Never in her life had she lied to anyone, it was against her ‘code of honor’ to disrespect other people. So, instead of answering, she remained silent. Best choice in a situation such as this.

“Sasuke?” Sakura’s pink head looked up to the man standing in the hall, bruises and gashes still covering his beaten body. If her daughter wouldn’t speak, then he would have to give her answers.

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes heavy and tired. What else would he have expected out of his relationship with the girl, he should have known it would’ve only been a matter of time before something like this happened.

His back turned on them as he limped his way toward his bed, trying to ignore the fact he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. There was nothing more he could do but what he did best-sulk.

“Don’t you turn your back on me, Sasuke.” Sakura’s stern voice warned him.

He paused and placed his hand onto the wall for support-now was a good time to hurt somebody. “Now you know how it feels...to find someone you love with someone you hate.”

Nevaeh’s eyes shot to him as he finished walking into his room. He had been using her...just to get back at her mother? But, she had loved him...

“Fugaku was right! You...you’re just a heartless monster!” She said impulsively and shoved her way past her mother-ran out of his apartment, not caring that it was still freezing outside. “I hate you!” He heard her yell as he sat upon his bed.

“I hope you’re happy now.” He saw Sakura’s silhouette at the entrance to his bedroom. Still a beautiful woman-God only knew why she still tried to remain gorgeous. Probably in hopes that he would come back for her someday. Fools, all the lot of them.

“She’ll get over it.” He mumbled as he heard her footsteps quickly coming closer. And then, for the second time in his life, she slapped him. Sending his head sideways with the amount of force she put into it, his hair falling over his eyes.

“I had thought we were through all that, Sasuke. It was in the past.” Her nails dug into her palms, trying to stifle the urge to smack him again. “Then you go and pull a stunt like this. God knows, she was the only one in the village who actually seemed to genuinely care for your ass. How could you?” Her body shaking from the shear rage of it all.

He remained silent once more, he wasn’t going to tell her the truth.

“So, you torture her because of him?”

His onyx eyes almost went red at that statement from her. Instead, he just glared.

“You’re terrible, have you gone that cold since your youth?” She asked, trying to get some kind of response from the frigid man. When he still did not reply, she cursed him and turned to walk out of the room to leave his dark apartment.

The truth...that he hadn’t done it for revenge-he never had. He said those things to get rid of her, he wanted the girl to hate him and he succeeded. It was the only way to end this messed up relationship that he held with her. He had only done it for her own good.

The truth...that it hurt him more than it hurt her. The sound of pain soaking in her voice, the agony that he knew were in those beautiful eyes. The names she had called him when she said she hated him. Monster...he supposed he was. Inside and out.

The truth that he actually loved the girl...

--

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?
No one would ever change this animal I have become
Help me believe it's not the real me
Somebody help me tame this animal I have become

Somebody help me through this nightmare
I can't control myself
Somebody wake me from this nightmare
I can't escape this animal

Somebody help me tame this animal...

--

What shall become of Sasuke and Nevaeh? How will Sakura handle this disturbing news? When will we see Itachi again? And what has become of Fugaku? Oh, the drama!

Hehe...I loved that old lady bit I added in there...

-shakes fist in the air- You young’n’s better review! -puts dentures back in- Where’s my bengay! Harold...did you drop the remote in the toilet again!