Title: Plea for a Captive

Rating: R

Summary: AU ItaNaru SasuNaru. Itachi, lord of the youkai, captures the Kyuubi no Kitsune, imprisoning it inside the mortal Naruto. Sasuke and Naruto develop a bond, and Naruto is faced with a decision: stay with his love, or be eternally free? Yaoi

Hey, all. I decided to take a break from yuri (shocking, I know) and do some good ol' SasuNaru! Yup, this is going to be fun. Haven't done SasuNaru in quite a while. Let's hope this makes it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or the poem Plea for a Captive by W. B. Merwin. Well, technically, neither does the poetry book I got this from either, so it would be like using unowned goods...if that makes any sense. ...You know what, never mind.

Woman with the caught fox

By the scruff, you can drop your hopes;

It will not tame though you prove kind,

Though you entice it with fat ducks

Patiently to your fingertips

Do not suppose it will turn friend,

Dog at your heels, sleep at your feet,

Be happy in the house

No,

It will only trot to and fro,

To and fro, with vacant eye,

Neither will its pelt improve

Nor its disposition, twisting

The raw song of its debasement

Though the long nights, and in your love,

In your delicate meats tasting

Nothing but its own decay

(As at first hand I have learned)

Oh,

Kill it at once or let it go.

Plea for a Captive by W. B. Mervin

I'MLAZY,NE?

A blood curdling scream echoed throughout the forest, followed by the sound of hunting dogs. The bushes rustled before parting to reveal a flash of orange, followed by several flashes of brown and white.

"We've almost got him!" a hunter cried out from his horse, followed by at least forty others. "C'mere, you heartless bastard!"

There was a brief flash of nine tails dancing in the air before one of the hunter's companions fell off his horse, caught on fire. The thick scent of decaying flesh filled the small forest.

There was a thick air of foreboding, even the humans with their limited senses could feel it. Something bad was going to happen, that was why the animals had left the forest minutes before.

Foolish humans, thinking that I can be caught so easily? A deep voice growled. The hunters froze, paralyzed from fear.

Everything stood still. All they could hear was their own labored breathing. Uncomfortable from the silence, one idiot broke the silence.

"Kyuubi no Kitsune! Come out and fight us!" he yelled, throwing up his gun in an attempt at being threatening.

As you wish.

That was the last thing they heard before the entire forest erupted in flames. Their screams were bone-chilling as the fire ate them alive. They faintly saw a figure of the fox before their vision turned black. Dead.

(In the Uchiha Palace thing)

"Milord, I have just received news that the hunting party you sent out has just been killed," Kiran, the lord's right-hand man, said, one knee bent.

"Well, it seems as if the infamous Kyuubi no Kitsune doesn't want to be caught," a haunting voice chuckled. Crimson eyes looked out at the servant. "Order your best men out there."

"But sire--"

"Is there a problem with my order, Kiran?" Itachi drawled, twirling a finger around his long back hair boredly.

"N-no sire, but, it's just," he stuttured.

"Speak clearly, Kiran."

Kiran took a moment to gather the courage. Gulping, he continued.

"Those were my greatest men, milord," Kiran grumbled.

"Are you sure you have no stronger men?" Itachi asked.

"Yes, milord. They are, or were, the best in the village," Kiran gulped again.

"Very well then. I shall go capture this kitsune myself," Itachi got up from his throne, starting to walk down a hallway.

"But, milord, he is far too strong!" Kiran cried.

"Do you doubt my power, Kiran? The last to do that ended up in the dungeon," Itachi spoke calmly.

"N-no, milord! Of course, you are much stronger than that kitsune!" Kiran stuttured, rushing up to walk at his master's side.

"Good," Itachi said, amusement shining in his eyes. Servants were so fun to take advantage of. He headed off to the weapons room.

He looked around the room, and seized a large sword off of one of the stands. It was made of the finest crystal he had yet to encounter, beautiful designs of roses etched on the blade. The handle of the sword was covered by a crimson ribbon.

His battle strategy would work. He had no doubts. The Kyuubi no Kitsune was already weakened from running, and using his kitsune tricks. The Kyuubi was his.

With a sadistic glint in his eye, he sheathed his sword (A/N: Can't really call it a katana...it's sorta like Crystal Sword that Cloud has on FF7.)

(In the Forest)

Kyuubi chuckled. Yet another army of bounty hunters shot down. He was becoming a master at this. He settled himself in front of a pond to have a drink.

The clean taste of the water soothed his throat, dry from the remaining smoke from the fire. It was strange; his element was fire, and yet the smoke still got to him. When he was done, he lay down upon a patch of grass, listening for any footsteps of any hunter that might track him. Hearing none, he looked around, relaxing. It had been a tiring chase for him. Though he was a demon fox, it still tired him to run so far, especially from one city to another for about twenty miles. That was how long the hunters chased him. Well, there used to be a hundred, but most collapsed from exhaustion.

He soon became aware that he was not alone. He looked across the lake to see a human boy, no older than about eighteen. The boy had messy blonde hair and eyes as blue as the sky. He was dressed in filthy rags, a human peasant. Eyes downcast, the boy bent down to get a drink of water. Kyuubi saw his chance and slipped quietly into the shadows, intrigued by this human.

"Ah, so refreshing!" the boy said, grinning at nothing in particular. "The forest fire destroyed so much, it hurt my throat!"

The human talked to himself? Interesting.

"Hm, I better get back before Iruka-nii-san gets worried," the boy said. "But it's just so peaceful here! Such a perfect place to draw!"

And with that, the boy took out some sheets of parchment and a quill. He quickly started sketching a nearby tree. Kyuubi watched, interested. This boy had talent.

"Kyuubi no Kitsune!" a masculine voice called out. Kyuubi tensed.

Damn, I forgot to watch for hunters. He silently thought. He was losing his touch.

The boy jumped up, surprised at the voice. He looked back to see a tall man with black hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Itachi-sama, milord!" the boy cried, bowing.

"Ah, what is your name, little boy? It's much too dangerous to be out in these woods," Itachi said, looking down at the boy. The boy faintly twitched. So what if he was short for his age?

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, milord. And I am eighteen years old," Naruto said.

"Ah, so sorry," Itachi said, obviously not paying attention. Naruto frowned.

"If I may, why are you out?" Naruto asked.

"I am here to capture the Kyuubi no Kitsune," Itachi said, looking around. "Have you seen him?"

"No, milord, I am afraid I don't know what the Kyuubi no kitsune is," Naruto said.

Am I the one you're looking for?

Kyuubi stepped out of the shadows. Itachi narrowed his eyes.

"At last, I found you, Kyuubi no Kitsune," he growled.

What is it you want with me, pathetic ningen?

"To capture you, why else? And I am not so weak as you are led to think," Itachi spat.

All mortals are weak to we demons. What makes you so different?

"I am the prodigy child from the infamous clan Uchiha," Itachi said proudly.

A Uchiha, hm? This should prove to be interesting.

Naruto looked back and forth between the two.

"What the hell's going on?" Naruto asked. Kyuubi turned towards him. Itachi took advantage of his distraction, calling out a scroll. His hands became a blur as he made many hand symbols. The forest suddenly was engulfed in a blue mist of chakra.

When the mist subsided, the Kyuubi was no longer there, and Naruto was knocked out.

"I had not intended to use this first, but it seems the only way to control you is to seal you," Itachi spoke, picking up the boy. "Of course, I didn't plan on the perfect boy to be here. That was just luck." He laughed. "Enjoy your prison, Kyuubi no Kitsune."

Naruto now had whisker-like scars on his cheeks. Itachi lifted up his shirt to reveal the seal. He chuckled, carrying Naruto back to the castle.

(At the Uchiha place)

Itachi slowly walked to the throne room, still carrying Naruto.

"Aniki!" a voice cried from behind him. Itachi paused, looking to see his little brother, Sasuke.

At the age of eighteen, Sasuke was the type of man that women of all ages adored. His pale complexion and the haunting raven eyes that discerned him from his elder brother made him look almost sinister. He had on a raven cloak, a crimson cord tied around it.

"Otouto-san," Itachi nodded in greeting, continuing his walk.

"Aniki, who is that boy you have?" Sasuke asked, walking alongside Itachi.

"This boy," Itachi drawled, "he is yours. You have said you needed companion. Call together the elders firs for met, and we shall discuss the matter further."

When the elders had been called in the meeting room, Itachi cleared his throat to gain their attention.

"Elders of Iwayama, I come before you to introduce to you the Kyuubi no Kitsune," Itachi spoke, waving his arm towards the boy. There was a collective gasp, and one member spoke up.

"But the Kyuubi is a kitsune, not a human," the elder spoke. Others nodded their heads in agreement.

"Ah, yes, but take a look at his stomach," Itachi said, lifting up Naruto's shirt. The others saw the seal.

"That is the seal of binding!" one cried. "You have sealed the Kyuubi inside this boy!"

"Yes," Itachi said. "I shall further harness the Kyuubi's power when his body has fully recovered. For now, I shall leave him in the hands of my younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke."

With that, he left the room.

(Sasuke's Room)

Sasuke carefully laid Naruto on his bed. He stared at the boy.

"He's cute," Sasuke whispered to himself. "Maybe he might prove worthy as a friend."

Or more, he thought. Yes, it was true that Naruto was quite a handsome boy. Innocent, but still handsome.

"Oyasumi, Naruto-san," Sasuke whispered, climbing into bed beside Naruto.

ENDOFCHAPTER

Fox- ...I suck...

Kira- You just noticed that?

Fox- ...You're talking to me!

Kira- Hm, you apologized, you were honest about it, I don't see why not. But that doesn't mean that I'll leave you alone.

Fox- (smile) Good.

Kira- (grins and flashes victory sign) Aw, kit, you know I wouldn't abandon you! I still have yet to get my revenge!

Fox- ...There's more?

Kira- Of course there is, baka! What, did you think I'd let you forget? Not on your life!

Fox- (deadpans) Oh well...Kira you do the honors...

Kira- Read and review!