Thread: Bound by Blood (captain levi & Razz)

While the redhead and blonde were out surveying Sasuke's progress towards Danzo's camp, Itachi scattered the rest of the Akatsuki but Pain to gather intel, eliminate more vampires, and recruit promising pure-bloods he had his eyes on. A certain villainous character named Orochimaru had caught the older Uchiha's attention as of late but his target proved to be a slippery catch avoiding the Akatsuki's detection. But Orochimaru wasn't Itachi's biggest concern Sasuke was. Even so, he hadn't expected Deidara to return so soon with his younger sibling in tow, both looking more or less unscathed with the latter obviously fatigued from the trip back. He assumed Sasori hadn't returned to keep Sasuke's companions at bay, although he was more than prepared to thin Danzo's band of child fighters even more if they dared to set foot on pure-blood territory. He didn't look ecstatic seeing Sasuke, although his heart or what was left of it anyway swelled with relief. He already assumed Sasuke had confronted Danzo about his grand scheme otherwise, his dear brother would certainly have given Deidara some more trouble being dragged back. He briskly stepped aside when the blonde all but lugged Sasuke's dead weight to the other side of the corridor and into Itachi's bedroom where he was meant to stay. Transitioning from mortal to vampire was both physically and mentally taxing and now that Sasuke had quite literally exhausted his energy reserve, he needed rest. Trained vampires like himself and the Akatsuki, however, ran on less than an hour's worth of sleep at a time and still performed at their absolute best. I don't like this babysitting business one bit, un! Deidara complained on his way out of the master bedroom, fixing the wily strands of hair that Sasuke had tousled on their scuffle here. He's your brother! And he might be your superior one day, Itachi responded crassly. If the Akatsuki were to have a successor, he wanted nothing more than for it to be Sasuke. But, secretly? He had always fantasized of running away , far away, to settle peacefully somewhere with Sasuke where nothing could tear them apart again. He had these whimsical dreams often but he knew they were just thatwhimsical daydreamswhen he looked around and counted just how many lives he was also responsible for. Not only was he Sasuke's brother, but he was a leader and mentor to many of the outcasts that he had taken under his proverbial wing. He owed them the promise of shelter, protection, and family in exchange for their undying loyalty. He wondered if Sasuke would be up to that task one day, of caring for the Akatsuki as his own family, just like the clan had always supported and protected him in their own way. Just as Deidara had carried him back to the Akatsuki manor for help. Just as Sasori returned with open wounds littered over his body. Sasori Itachi rushed to the redhead's side to catch him just as he collapsed. Don't worry, I didn't lead them here, Sasori coughed into a closed fist, hacking up his precious blood. They put up a fair fight. I tried to A strangled apology was the last thing Sasori muttered before he went limp in Itachi's arms, thankfully alive, but unconscious. It seemed Itachi had been shortsighted and underestimated what damage the weak could do in numbers. Or, had Danzo trained his young soldiers well as Itachi had hoped while the Akatsuki had waited leisurely for them to grow stronger? Sai, Sakura, and Naruto were their names. Sasuke's friends. Itachi had only granted them mercy for the time being as they had been the closest people Sasuke had to call a family, but they were disposable now. The Akatsuki was Sasuke's home. Keep watch for Danzo's hunters, he instructed Pain, who was more than powerful enough to handle three runts. Itachi carefully transferred Sasori into Deidara's care who promptly whisked him into the infirmary. And if they find us? Pain's steely gaze narrowed over the high collar of the cloak. Kill them. I have what we need, Itachi said with resolution. Maybe drop their heads off at Danzo's doorstep as a thank-you gift for taking such good care of my Sasuke. His tone of voice was sarcastic at best, even if he would have actually gone through the trouble of making that grim delivery, just to prove that the Akatsuki had no reason to hold back anymore. If they wanted Sasuke, they would quite literally have to walk through Hell and back for him. With Pain dismissed on surveillance duty, Itachi returned to his bedroom, shrugging off the dense cloak to reveal tight-fitting, black clothing underneath. His skin seemed even paler, but he was certainly not emaciated. Taut, toned muscles rippled under his pristine skin, the cotton of his shirt defining the art of his torso just to leave more to the imagination. As often as Hidan and Deidara taunted him for being all sticks and bones under his cloak, which they had never seen him without, Itachi was surprisingly well-built, donning the body of a seasoned fighter and the perfect genes of the Uchiha. This time, he sat on the edge of the bed and handed Sasuke what looked like a pea-sized rice cake bundled in some steamed leaves. It was a natural remedy he had invented to help newborn vampires control their urges for feeding, subduing them only so it would help them function normally. I know you must be sick of being handed things to eat or drink, he said. But this will help suppress the blood-lust. He knew the medication would only neutralize Sasuke's blood-thirst, but now that his vampire abilities had awakened, he needed sustenance. All vampires did, in exchange for actual rest or food. Itachi fed off of Pain and Kisame's blood every now and then, and only a pint or two was enough to last him weeks until his next feeding. Human blood was far too weak and watered down, but vampire hunters made delicious appetizers with the copious amount of adrenaline pumping through their veins constantly. But Sasuke? He needed something more potent. After all, he had gone nearly two decades without a single drop of blood and it surprised Itachi how he had managed so long. Sasuke hadn't even fed from their mother and was severely lacking the nutrition he needed. As his only biological relative, offering his own blood was the only thing he could do for Sasuke. The Akatsuki would have been jealous how Itachi exposed the bend of his own neck so willingly to Sasuke whereas he would have hidden it behind the high collar of the Akatsuki cloak any other time. You'll also feel better feeding. You've been without proper sustenance for years, he withdrew a small blade from his belt and nicked himself across the skin of his neck, the wound deep enough to draw thin lines of crimson like sap being sucked out of a tree. Sasuke's fangs weren't nearly as sharp enough to break his skin as they were, but he was sure his pure blood was far more potent than the dried residue on Sasuke's hands. Go ahead, Sasuke. Don't fight your hunger.