DISCLAIMER-

Me: Can I just have ONE of the charac-

Kishi: NO!

Me: Not even a little one? I'll settle for someone you never explain much, like… Izuna Uchiha!

Kishi: *glares*

WARNING: And the lord said "Let there be yaoi!" and then there was yaoi. And by "there"… I mean down there, yeah, down there in the fanfic below this warning. No, not in this chapter, silly goose. I'm not a whore. I don't open plotty fanfics with a smut scene!... often.

A/N: SasuNaru! Whoop whoop!

Enjoy!

Naruto woke comfortably, surrounded by plush feather pillows and golden silk sheets, he stretched to himself and let out a gentle yawn, deciding that he'd keep his eyes closed for a few more precious minutes, before a soft chime was heard and he released a calm sigh, raising his head and inspecting his bedchambers. He looked around and smirked privately to himself.

"That you, Tachi?" He asked, knowing that the soft jingle he'd heard was the sound of the small golden bells he had hanging above his doorway. He received no answer, but that was fine. He didn't need one. Whoever it was would be getting a free peek-show soon though, so with a light giggle, Naruto rose and dashed hastily over to his walk-in closet.

He examined himself in the mirror then, and frowned slightly at the harsh marks decorating his neck, shoulders, chest, and abdomen. Hesitantly, he turned around to look at his backside and had to restrain himself from emitting a yelp of shock. That would be ridiculous, anyway. It was never a shock to look at himself in the mirror- but that didn't make it any less horrifying to do so.

"Excuse me?" Naruto called out, slightly raising his voice and knowing that in this house someone had heard him. He flipped through his racks of robes, trying to decide which colour he was in the mood for, as he waited for a reply.

"Did you need help with something?"

That wasn't the voice of one of the maids… Naruto stepped around the rack of robes to see who was addressing him and gasped, quickly moving to pull something over himself, but it was too late; the damage had been done. Obsidian eyes flashed furious red for a second before closing, and the intruder let out a frustrated breath.

Naruto bit on his lip, out of nervous instinct, and quickly retreated back to the safety of the tighter portion of his closet; where he hid behind a rack of suits that were organized alphabetically by designer, then fabric.

"I… I was just going to ask one of the maids to change my sheets, I think they might be-"

"Covered with blood? Like the back of your legs?"

Naruto winced slightly at the mention of his body's current condition, it suddenly hurt more when it was talked about.

The other man grunted in disgust, and turned away. "I'll change your sheets. You two are the ones responsible for Itachi's messes, not the help. Why should they have to clean it up? Next time have him change the damn sheets himself, or better yet, soil them with his own blood in the first place."

"It really doesn't hurt that much, Itachi was just-"

They both froze at the sound of the door chiming again. "Naru-Chan, are you awake, yet?" a new voice called.

"Shit! Pass me a robe."

"What?"

"Pass me a fucking robe, I'm naked, if he knows you saw me like this he'll gouge your eyes out, hurry up!" Naruto whisper-hissed frantically, grabbing the robe when it was tossed to him, and putting it on with impressive speed, just in time for Itachi to walk into the closet, looking back and forth between the two other men suspiciously.

"Naruto, you didn't answer when I called you."

The blonde smiled warmly, ducking out from behind the suits and wrapping his arms around the back of Itachi's neck, giving the older man a passionate kiss. "Sorry, I was so busy thinking about last night, I didn't even hear you…" he muttered, nibbling at the Uchiha's ear with practiced delicacy. "You know I'm easily distracted… forgive me?" He asked, pecking his lover softly on the lips.

Itachi merely raised a clearly disbelieving eyebrow and looked over the blonde's shoulder.

"Otouto, what the hell are you doing in Naruto's private closet?"

Sasuke glared at his brother. "I was looking for a fresh set of sheets, Naruto asked me to change his bed."

Itachi smirked at that, and gave Naruto's head a slightly amused kiss. "Ordering my foolish little brother around, huh?" He chuckled. "Well, if you can get the bastard to actually do what you ask, I don't see what's wrong with it. Sheets are on the linen shelf, Sasuke." Itachi pointed. "Change them, and get out."

Sasuke made a noncommittal grunt, and grabbed a random set of bedsheets from the shelf Itachi had pointed at, then exited the closet to do as he'd been told. Not because his sadistic idiot brother had told him to, but because he knew the damn maids would freak out to his parents if he knew that Itachi had again played too rough with one of his toys and nearly broken it.

The younger Uchiha failed to understand why his brother couldn't just buy prostitutes like everyone else. They certainly had enough money; but no- Itachi found interest in one particular boy, and moved him into the damn house. It had been going on like that since the weasel was fifteen years old, and now at twenty-three it was doubtful that he'd stop. Sasuke didn't even mind having to live with his brother's boyfriends, hell, he didn't even usually mind seeing the way they were always so bruised up when he happened to run into them.

And yet…

Naruto was different. He'd known Naruto first. Okay, so they weren't the best of friends in high school… or middle school… or elementary… or daycare… or ever- but still, even if they tended to ignore the other's existence, the truth remained that Sasuke had known Naruto longer than anyone else had, and Naruto was not built to be Itachi's plaything.

Angrily, the raven tore off the bloody sheets and balled them up, letting them fall to the ground as he tried to escape the mental images of Naruto's thighs. That much blood just wasn't natural… it couldn't all have come from a whip. Itachi must have actually cut him. Sasuke shivered at the thought.

"You done in there?"

He ignored his brother's impatient call, and continued taking his sweet ass time changing the sheets. Alas, the new set was on, and he opened the closet door, looking pointedly at the ground for fear of seeing what his brother was doing, and aimed the bloody sheets in the general direction of what he hoped was Itachi's face. A semi-shocked cough told him that he'd aimed correctly, and he smirked to himself, exiting Naruto's personal bedroom suite just in time to hear his elder sibling's taunt of: "Real mature, Sasuke!" in reference to him throwing the sheets at him.

He chuckled darkly to himself, and he was not the only one amused. Back in the closet, Naruto couldn't restrain a light giggle, and he let it build until he was laughing openly at the disgusting fabric on his lover's face.

"Doesn't smell so good the day after, does it?" The blonde asked, smiling softly to make sure that Itachi knew he was only joking around. He didn't want the Uchiha to mistake it for teasing… Itachi didn't like to be teased, in any way.

"Hn. You don't smell so good the day after, either. Go bathe."

Naruto licked his lips deviously. "Come with me?"

"No." Itachi said coldly, moving to leave the room. "And next time I catch you naked alone with my brother – and I know you were naked alone with my brother, and I know you heard me when I called - I won't hesitate to kill either of you."

Naruto nodded shakily, and hurried to go take his bath. The marble was cold on his feet, but he still was glad to be here. Itachi rarely interrupted him while he was in the bathroom, and it was always a spare moment of guaranteed peace. He turned on the water, setting it to the perfect temperature, before wetting a face cloth and dipping it into the stream of running liquid.

Before actually getting into the tub, Naruto carefully cleaned off his wounds, deciding to bandage them first thing when he got out –rather than wait for one of the live-in medics to do it for him, later. Itachi seemed to be in a possessive mood, today. So, it was best Naruto didn't ask for aide when it came to his body.

He sighed as he stepped into the water, and glanced up at the antique clock hanging above the bathroom vanity. It was eleven thirty four, Itachi would leave for work in exactly eleven minutes, and the house would calm. Naruto could help the cooks with Mikoto's lunch, then call Itachi at work to make sure he was doing alright around two. Even though the Uchiha liked to act as if he didn't want to be bothered, if Naruto went a day without calling in before Itachi went to lunch at three- he would assume the worst.

So, Naruto would call, and get yelled at for calling, but it would reassure Itachi that he wasn't cheating. Then, he could go out and shop for a little bit, and buy a sexy little outfit and ride with the driver to pick Itachi up from work at eight. That would be good. That would keep him relatively busy all day.

Still, Naruto was bored. He liked having the money –the butt-loads of money. He also didn't think Itachi was really as bad as everyone made him out to be. Nonetheless, he couldn't leave this house without a member of Itachi's personal staff. He definitely couldn't go see his friends… and then there was his body… he frowned, running a finger over a bite-mark on his shoulder. He could hardly feel the touch of his own hands on his skin. He was becoming immune to harsh physical behaviour.

He'd barely even felt that whip last night, which was why he didn't cry out loud enough for Itachi's liking… which was when the razor got involved…

Naruto shut his eyes- refusing to recall such a painful memory. His thighs, however, still were very much aware of the pain, and he knew it was getting to be time for him to get out of the tub. If his skin wilted, the cuts would only sting more later.

He got out of the bath and snuggled into what felt like it had to be a twenty billion thread count towel, smiling slightly to himself. He had to admit, overall, he was happy with his life this way. He didn't want change to come, when he knew he was able to live like this. But, in every person's life, change will eventually come knocking… or, in Naruto's case… chiming.

The blonde looked up at the sound of his door being opened and saw Sasuke peering in curiously. Naruto was seriously starting to get frustrated by this kid.

"What, Teme?" He called out angrily.

Sasuke growled under his breath. "Just making sure my brother left you alive, idiot!" He retorted rudely, going right back out, and slamming the door.

Okay, so sometimes when change came knocking, it didn't so much knock, as it did stealthily peek in- then slam it's way right back out… and maybe change wasn't always the most polite of things- but change did come, and sooner or later, Naruto was going to have to accept it.

A/N: I promise, this fanfic isn't going to be as bat-shit crazy as it seems right now. Itachi's also not going to be as bat-shit crazy as HE seems right now, just stick with me till it all unfolds, okay? *hopeful eyes*

Sweet reviews are loved! Flames are toasty! Reviews that tell me nothing about your opinion of what you just read can be kept to yourself. Thank you!

Love you for reading!

-Beloved