"You're sure about this, Y/n?" Itachi's voice was low and measured, his eyes unreadable behind the front he always put up.
"Yes…" You nodded firmly despite the way your heart was racing.
Today was the day. Your full-team mission. You'd been tossing and turning all night, unable to rid yourself of your nerves. The stakes were high, the target crucial, and the method...unorthodox, to say the least. You knew you looked the part, the picture of a high-value asset waiting to be claimed by the highest bidder. You'd dressed in a tight black mini dress and heels, hoping to look as appealing as possible…but that thought alone terrified you.
"Alright, then let's move out…"
—
You'd been on edge ever since you entered the building through the loading dock. You didn't have much time to become familiar with your surroundings either. Kakuzu was dragging you around like a puppy on a leash. And, that's how you found yourself here, backstage…
You could feel Kakuzu's tall figure looming over you as you stared at the large red curtains before you. He only spoke one word, his tone clear and authoritative.
"Hands."
You could feel your brow twitch slightly, but you didn't plan on arguing. You hesitatingly place your hands behind your back, only to have him harshly tie them together. You snap an eye shut as you feel the rope dig into your skin, a quiet whine escaping you. You realized this had to look believable…but he didn't have to be so damn rough with you. To your surprise, he actually went ahead and fixed your hair up for you after, considering your hands were currently unavailable. Maybe he had more attention to detail than you thought…
You could hear the auctioneer, a portly man with a greasy smile, announcing you with a flourish from behind the curtain. "Ladies and gentlemen, behold! A true treasure among us, a jewel to be claimed by the most discerning eye..."
Your heart was pounding in your chest. You were having overwhelming second thoughts. Why did you think you could do this. Everyone is going to be looking…! Your thoughts are cut off as you feel a hand on your shoulder. It wasn't at all meant to be a comforting touch though. This was firm and authortive. You glance back slightly as Kakuzu's breath ghosts over the skin of your neck, his body uncomfortably close as he spoke down to you. "Put on a show. Make it believable..."
"A shinobi of unparalleled beauty and skill…!" The auctioneer continues.
"…And, make me some money." Kakuzu adds, sliding his hand off you as he turned to walk off back stage.
"She is yours for the taking!!" The auctioneer concludes as the curtains swing open, the lights practically blinding you. You almost wished your eyes had never adjusted, because what you saw before you made your legs tremble.
There was a sea of male faces, all looking at you with varying degrees of greed and entitlement. The room was a cacophony of voices, each one shouting over the other to be heard. The grandeur of the high ceilings and gleaming marble floors made you dizzy. The air was thick with the scent of wealth and desire, an intoxicating blend that made your stomach churn. You eyes quickly darted through the crowd, searching for a familiar face, but it was to no avail. Your vision had grown bleary with tears. They were all looking. Every one of them. Don't look…! Don't look! Don't look!! DON'T LOOK!!!
Before you even knew it, you were falling to your knees. This no longer felt like a mission. This felt real. You wanted to shrink away, to disappear into the shadows…but you couldn't. You were frozen, petrified with fear. Hell, if they wanted a show, this was as good of one they'd get…
Your mind hardly processed it when the bidding began, a dizzying flurry of numbers and raised hands. To you, it felt like your very essence was being chipped away, reduced to a price tag that determined your worth. The auctioneer's gavel slamming down is what finally seemed to bring you back to your senses. "Sold to the highest bidder! 30 million ryo!" He exclaims. You quickly look up into the stands, squinting at where the spot light was currently shining. You saw a man with a slick smile and cold, calculating eyes. Was that… "Thank you for your purchase, Mr. Yuto."
Yuto!? That was him!? Kenji Yuto!? The plan had worked!? Not to mention the man was willing to spend 30 million on you…you'd certainly have something to rub in Kakuzu's face once this was all over.
Your thoughts are cut off as two guards walk onto the stage, each grabbing an arm and lifting you to your feet. That's right…here's where the hard part came in. You'd have to be alone with this stranger until your team took care of his security…
The guards lead you off stage, the auctioneer already beginning to announce the next person. It made you sick. How could a place like this exist? Maybe one day you'd have the power to shut it all down…but for now, you had your own issues to handle…
—
You quietly walk down the clean, polished halls, your heels clicking with every step. The guards hadn't let up on you even once. Did they really think you were going to try to run? Not like you had anywhere to go…
You make another turn, walking into a more secluded area. This must be part of the V.I.P section. You see a man standing in the distance, with four bodyguards behind him. Your heart pounds with each step you take. "Your purchase, Mr. Yuto," one of the guards speaks up.
"Thank you, boys," the man known as Kenji Yuto responds. The guards finally release your arms with a nod before making their way back down the hall.
A small moment of silence passes before Kenji speaks up once more. "Hello, my dear. You're even more beautiful up close." You can feel your stomach churn at that. Here we go… "But, you look awfully frightened," he continues. "There's no need to be afraid. You see? You're my guest…" That didn't make you feel better in the slightest. Kenji grins before turning towards the four bodyguards behind him. "Why don't you all go watch the front, hm?" The bodyguards don't hesitate to do as they're told, leaving the two of you alone. That's right, it was just as Pain said… "Let's go inside, shall we?" Kenji suggests, pulling open the door beside him.
You swallow before hesitantly walking through the open door, Kenji following suit. You squint around the room that was dimly lit by a few torches, a chill running down your spine as the door shuts behind you. You can hear his footsteps approach and then a hand on your shoulder. "That must be uncomfortable, huh?" he asks, tracing a finger down your arm. "I'll untie you, but you had better behave, get me?"
You nod your head in response. The feel of the ropes against your skin was starting to become extremely uncomfortable. You hold your breath as he pulls out a simple pocket knife, slicing the ropes around your wrists. The now broken ropes fall to the ground, Kenji silently kicking them to the side. Your wrists throb with newfound freedom, but the sense of danger remains, sharp and unyielding.
You gather the courage to speak as you watch him pocket the knife once more. "Thank you…"
"Of course, darling. Like I said, you're my guest." Guest? More like prisoner. The man had quite literally boughtyou. "Come," he continued, gesturing for you to follow. "Let's have a drink, hm?" He pulled out two incredibly expensive-looking glasses from the cabinet and placed them on the marble counter. There were more alcohol choices lined up than you'd ever seen in your life.
"You should feel honored," Kenji spoke up as he grabbed a bottle. "This one's my favorite, a really good year too." He claimed, popping open the top and pouring the beverage into the glasses. "Here, drink up." He concluded, offering you a glass.
You eyed it cautiously. No way were you trusting that. "…No, thank you. I'm not—"
"Did I ask you? No, I was telling you. Drink the goddamn alcohol." His voice was sharp, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.
You blinked once, your expression shifting to something rather blank. Just a moment ago, he'd been acting kind. The instant switch-up was wild.
The older man's eyes narrowed as he took in your blank expression. "Oh, jesus, you gotta be kidding." He huffed. "All you damn whores really think I'd go as far as spiking your drink? I've already got you here. I own you. Why the hell would I go through the trouble of drugging you? There's no where for you to go. You see that, don't you?"
The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. You could feel the weight of his gaze, daring you to defy him. "T-That's not—"
"I'm trying to be nice here, you know? Loosening you up, letting you have a good time." He continues to grumble. "Come on, come on." He insists, frustration evident in his tone. "Take. It." He repeats, grabbing your wrist roughly and forcing the glass into your hand. "Don't waste my time!"
You hated just how quickly you obeyed, bringing the glass to your lips as instructed. The beverage wasn't unpleasant or anything like that, but you still didn't love the idea of accepting a drink from a stranger.
Kenji's expression shifts as he watches you sip on the drink. "…See, now?" He begins, threading his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "It's good, huh?"
You nod as you lower the glass from your lips. "…Yes, thanks…"
The older man grins as he takes a sip from his own glass. "Nothing like sharing a drink with a beautiful woman." He comments, making your insides shrivel.
"…"
There's a small moment of silence before Kenji begins to chuckle. "Hey, how old are you, anyways?" He questions. "Are you even allowed to drink this stuff yet? How silly of me, I should've asked first." He laughs.
You stare at him blankly in response. It's not like he'd given you much of a choice…
"Now, be honest with me, sweetheart. You old enough to drink this?"
You slowly shake your head, there was no point in lying.
"Hah! You naughty girl, you downed the whole thing!" He exclaims. "I like that. Not afraid to break the rules every once in a while, huh? You want some more?"
Oh, this guy was hilarious. There was no way in hell you were actually gonna let him get you drunk. "Uh, no, thank you…"
"Alright, but you're missing out." He claims as he takes the glass from you once more, placing it back onto the counter. "…I guess that means we should get down to business then, huh?" He inquires, his eyes scanning over your form.
Get down to business? You knew exactly what he was implying with that, and you didn't want any part of it. Where were Itachi and Kisame? You needed them to get on with the plan ASAP— Your thoughts cut off as you feel a pair of hands gripping your shoulders. When the hell did he get so close!?!?
"What do you say, my dear?"
By the way you were practically frozen in fear, the answer should've been obvious…
"There's no need for you to be afraid. I'll make it good for you too, promise." He says, beginning to pull down one of the straps of your mini dress.
The way you reacted was purely out of instinct. Your body moved on its own before you even realized it. "Stop! Don't touch me…!" You blurt, smacking his hand away from you.
The silence was loud. Too loud. Not to mention awkward and nerve-wracking.
…
…
"…What did you just say?"
You take a step back, crossing your arms over your chest protectively. "I—"
Before you could get another word out, he'd risen a hand and slapped you right across the face. Hard. Really hard. You stumble back slightly, your face burning with the sting of the blow. You hardly even had time to recover before he roughly grabbed you by the wrist, causing you to let out a yelp. He then practically shoved you down onto the chair behind you, the sound of the wood scraping the floor ringing out. Your rump hits the hard surface with a thud, and you swore your breasts almost bounced out of your dress from the impact.
"You really think you can talk back to me?" He seethes. "Me!?"
His words were practically going in one ear and out the other for you though. Your expression remained dazed and unfocused. He'd really knocked the wind out of you…
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" You feel his fingers roughly tangle into your hair, forcing you to look up at the entitled fool before you. "I. Own. You." He states. "And now, you're gonna suck my cock like a good little slut, get me?" He commanded, releasing his grip on your hair, only to immediately reach down to unbuckle his belt after. The guy clearly didn't know what patience was. You close your eyes tightly as you hear his zipper come down. This was way more than you signed up for. You couldn't go through this…not again…!
…
Your eyes suddenly shoot open at the sound of flesh ripping. You stared in horror as blood splattered onto you, Kenji's head was detached from his body, rolling across the floor. You trembled, your eyes refusing to look up. You didn't even have the resolve to move your legs out from under his corpse.
"Disgusting." You heard Kisame's familiar voice. "I said not a finger." He adds, roughly kicking Kenji's now headless body off your feet and to the side like a piece of trash.
You slowly look up at the mist shinobi. Honestly, words couldn't describe what you were feeling in this moment. You don't think you'd ever been more happy to see someone in your entire life. "K-Kisame…"
"Hiya, toots. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." He grinned in response as he latched Samehada back onto his baldric. You were just staring, eyes wide and lips slightly parted as if you wanted to say something but the words wouldn't come out. Of course, Kisame didn't miss the very evident red mark now on your cheek. Perhaps he had been just a few moments too late…
The sound of quick yet light footsteps could be heard from the hall then, Itachi appearing in the doorway right after. His expression looked as it always did, but you could tell he was quietly accessing the situation. Kisame glanced over his shoulder at the dark haired male. "I see you cleaned up quick."
"Yes…" Itachi responded stoically.
"Well," Kisame chuckled, as he leaned downwards. "I think this should be proof enough, don't you?" He asks, grabbing Kenji's detached head from off the floor. You quickly turned your gaze away. Even if you had ill feelings towards the guy, that was a little much.
Itachi's own gaze hardened. His partner's violent tendencies always took a bit of…getting used to. "…We should head to the rendezvous point."
"Sure, the sooner I can get rid of this sick bastard's head, the better. He's not even worth keeping as a trophy." The mist shinobi sneered, before making his way out the door.
…
You hadn't budged. You were sitting still as a statue, your gaze glued to the floor. Your breath was coming out uneven as you tried to process everything that just happened. All the while, Itachi was watching you, his eyes filled with a quiet, pitiful understanding. You always seemed to get more than what you asked for. Weight was constantly being thrown onto your shoulders. That was something he could understand better than anyone else.
The dark haired male continued to eye you carefully, studying your body language. You were exhausted and uncertain. For someone like him, you weren't hard to figure out. You craved guidance, validation, care—empathy from someone older and wiser. You needed a helping hand. And right now, he was willing to be that for you.
Little did you know, you reminded him of someone from his past. His brother. He saw traces of Sasuke in you—your mannerisms, your silent need for validation, for reassurance. Perhaps where he couldn't help Sasuke, he could help you. Maybe, in some way, this could make up for all those times…
The sound of his footsteps barely registered as he approached, but you felt him before you saw him. He crouched in front of you, his hands gently resting on your thighs as he looked up at you, his voice soft. "Look at me."
Your breath hitched as his touch seemed to pull you from the fog of your thoughts. Your heart raced, eyes locking with his, and for the first time tonight, something inside you steadied. This wasn't a usual gesture from him. In fact, he'd never done anything like this before…but it was nice. His touch was grounding, comforting, and for a moment, you found it hard to breathe, but not in fear—in something else entirely.
"You're safe."
He had only uttered two words, and yet it was like an immediate weight had been lifted from your shoulders.
"You're safe with me."
The terror you'd felt just moments before seemed to vanish in an instant. You hadn't realized just how badly you'd been longing to hear those words. And, for the first time in a long time…you really did feel safe. It seemed odd to say…forbidden even, but you found yourself nodding in response.
Itachi gave you a small nod of his own before standing, and you found yourself instinctively missing the warmth of his hands. "Let's go," he said quietly, as if nothing had changed, yet everything had…
"Right…" You answer quietly, fixing up the neckline of your mini dress before raising to your feet. You tremble slightly in your stilettos, your body still recovering from the harsh way you'd been thrown around all night.
Then, just when you thought the night couldn't surprise you any more, it did. Itachi extended his hand, graciously holding it out to you. For a moment, you were just staring at it like an idiot. What was he doing? He'd never offered his hand like this before. Surely he didn't mean for you to take it…?
He didn't say a word, simply gazed down at you with that absent and stoic expression he always wore…but you realized he didn't need to speak for you to understand. This was an offer, one you may take or not. But, the answer was obvious in your mind: you'd be a fool not to.
You hesitantly place your hand in his own, your cheeks flushing slightly at the physical contact. You knew it was stupid to get all giddy like some school girl, but you could hardly help it. The gesture was so simple, yet it filled you with a sense of comfort you hadn't felt in years.
The two of you begin to walk together, your hands entwined, each step feeling like a silent promise of protection in this unfamiliar territory. The earlier chaos of the mission, the fear and trauma, still clung to your skin like the remnants of a nightmare. But as you walked beside him, it felt less suffocating, like you could finally breathe again…