'Don't cry,' Sasuke pleads with himself. 'Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry... don't, don't, don't...'

He feels the whip lash against him, going hard enough to break the skin. He is sure blood will be running down his back by the end of it. He squeezes his eyes shut, gripping the chains tightly. He releases a pained moan, waiting for more but more doesn't come. Instead, a shock of cold water greets him. He remembers this part. He shudders and shakes, gritting his teeth. His eyes begin watering, but he refuses to cry. He's not going to break this time. He takes in a deep breath, holding it before letting it out.

A moment later, he hears footsteps that tell him his torturer is walking away. Sasuke relaxes, lying down and resting his cheek on the cold concrete. He exhales, hoping the sick man doesn't return.

Soon, new voices approach. "Yamanaka," he hears Koharu, "You're the best healer around, yes?"

"I do what I can," Ino responds modestly and Sasuke allows himself to take mild comfort in the healer's gentle presence.

"Make sure there is no scarring," Koharu adds. "I can't be selling flawed products. I want to rid this place of all damaged goods. I need my customers knowing they can come here and receive the best treatment from the best workers."

"I'll fix him, ma'am," she promises.

"Good girl," Koharu says fondly before leaving the room.

Once the old woman is gone, Sasuke forces himself onto a sitting position once more, trying to collect what remaining scraps of dignity he may have left. He keeps his back to Ino, not wanting to face her. She kneels behind him and takes in the damage. She lets out a shuddery breath, trying not to get emotional. "Ino," Sasuke says her name calmly, sensing her distress. "Don't. They killed the last woman to cry for me. They made me watch as it happened and I'd rather not see it again. You need to just... take it with an empty mind."

"I'm sorry," she whimpers. She works silently, disinfecting and applying ointment. "You're... You're really hurt," she whispers. "Will they give you a break until your wounds heal?"

Sasuke lets out a bitter laugh. "You already know the answer to that. We don't get breaks in here, Ino. We're worthless if we're not pulling in money."

"Damaged goods," Ino murmurs, recalling what Koharu said moments earlier. "About Sai..."

"Don't," Sasuke says sharply. "If you talk about that, you'll get yourself into trouble."

"But Koharu –" she tries once more, only to be cut off.

"Stop!" Sasuke hisses, clenching his angry fists. "I know what you're going to say, so just... stop."

This time, Ino relents. Once she's done, she applies bandages. "I brought you a robe," she says, unchaining him and rapping the cloth around his shoulders. He pulls it on and ties the knot tightly. When he's dressed, he turns around to face Ino.

"Can I change the bandages on your feet?" she asks. He only nods and as she unwraps them, she says, "They're healing nicely."

"You're good at what you do," Sasuke states.

She offers him a small smile, but it falters quickly. "You need to be so, so careful... I don't want our visits to consist of me cleaning your wounds."

"I won't see you at all if not like this," he reminds her.

"That's okay," she says softly. "I'd rather not see you at all and know you're safe than see you like this."

"I'm never safe, Ino," he laughs callously. "You're not either. None of us are... but you can escape, you know. You don't need to be here."

And she knows he's right, but she'll never leave. She wants to help. "Haku is sick," she decides to mention.

"I know," Sasuke says.

"He's in the infirmary," she murmurs. "I don't think he's going to make it."

Sasuke lets out a breath. "He won't. He's going to die."

"How can you be so sure?" she pries.

Sasuke shrugs his shoulders lightly. "Isn't that the way it always goes?" He pauses. "And let me guess," he lowers his voice to a mere whisper, "like Sai, he had planned to leave. Like Sai, he began protesting."

Ino smiles bitterly. "Exactly... it's one mysterious death after another."

She helps him to his feet and the two of them leave together. Sasuke feels relief upon exiting the basement. He feels like he can once again breathe easily. Ino walks him back to his room and they silently part ways with nothing more than forced smiles.

||XxXx||

In her office, Koharu speaks sternly to her new employee. "Jugo, correct?" she asks the orange-haired man. He nods in response and she offers him an overly polite smile before adding, "You're sturdy build is excellent. You'll be able to scare and subdue the workers. I take it you're practised?"

"Well practised," Jugo tells her, insisting on it.

"Wonderful," she claps her hands together. "I'm surprised you came to me. Usually I have to seek out good employment. Why do you want this job?"

"Call me sadistic," Jugo ventures vaguely and Koharu's smile widens.

||XxXx||

Late in the night, Sasuke is lying awake. He's on his stomach and his back still stings to a point where he's unable to relax. After pointlessly trying to distract himself for hours, his door creaks open. It's Anko, much to his dismay. He sits up and squints at her in the dim room. She's carrying a candle and smiling.

"What?" he asks expectantly. "I'm really not in the mood for games right now."

"Aw, I know," she coos at him, stepping into his room. "I'm on my way to bed now. I just thought I'd stop by. I see you were taken to the Red Room earlier."

"I was," he states, not bothering to deny it.

"Everyone heard you screaming," she laughs. "Your friend Ino was grieving. So was Sakura."

He doesn't respond. He knows she's taking pleasure in his pain and it makes him angry. It makes him wonder how a person can be so vile and gladly sadistic. He never thought it possible before meeting her.

"Madame hired a new guard," Anko tells him. "His name is Jugo and the rumor is that he can't control himself. He's... quite scary. Maybe he'll pay you a visit one of these days."

"Would you enjoy that?" Sasuke asks tersely. He knows she would.

Anko smirks. "Yeah, I might," she shamelessly admits to it.

"Why are you like this?" he pries.

"Like what?" she questions in response.

"You attack me personally," he points out. "You don't do this to anyone else around here. You only do it to me. Why is that? Are you jealous? Are you jealous that you try so, so hard and I'm still Koharu's favorite?"

Anko sneers. "Favorite? If you can call it that."

"She hurts me to improve me," Sasuke says. He's lying to himself, of course, but he wants to get a rise out of the cruel young woman. "You call her Madame while I'm free to call her Mother. She raised me as her own. She wants to perfect me. I'm grateful." The words taste like acid in his mouth, but he forces them out and gages Anko's reaction.

Anko sets the candle down on Sasuke's vanity before approaching his bedside. She stares at him for a moment with a blank expression before suddenly reaching forward and wrapping her fingers around his neck. "I'm going to kill you!" she hisses at him, feeling angrier than she's ever felt. "I'm going to fucking kill you!" Body aching, he tries to throw her off, but he's still in a weakened state. "DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE!" Her grip tightens and he lets out a meek sound before eventually losing consciousness. Anko emits a sound of shock, immediately letting go and stepping away. He slumps backwards onto his pillow and she sinks to the ground, exhaling deeply. "Shit," she curses at herself for always losing her temper. She puts her head in her hands and waits for him to regain consciousness. She tentatively stares at the camera, thankful that it's late and Koharu has retired for the night.

Each second feels like an hour, but eventually Sasuke lets out a groan and sits up. Anko immediately rises to her feet and stares at him. "You could have killed me, you know," he says hoarsely, rubbing his throat with a pained expression.

"Don't tell anyone," she states flatly. "If you do, I really will kill you."

"Koharu would demote you if she heard about this," Sasuke mentions. "You wouldn't be able to lay a hand on me and even if you did kill me, she'd kill you in return."

"It'd be worth it," Anko bites.

Sasuke laughs callously. "I don't think you mean that... but if you leave me the fuck alone I'll consider keeping my mouth shut." It's not in his nature to swear. These days, he speaks gently. It's what he was taught, but there are times like now when emotions get the best of him.

"Fine," she whispers.

He gives her an overly sweet and completely insincere smile. "Goodnight, then."

Once she's gone, Sasuke falters and lets out a breath. His back stings even worse due to the pressure from lying on it. He realizes that he's probably bleeding again, but there's nothing he can do. He removes his robe and throws it on the floor before lying on his stomach again. He pulls the covers to his tailbone and closes his eyes, trying once again to fall asleep.

||XxXx||

The following morning, Koharu informs Sasuke that he is allowed to take the day off. "Thank you!" he says sincerely, shocked that she's allowing him to take a break. She simply nods. Behind her, Ino enters with her first aid kit in hand.

"Yamanaka will change your bandages," Koharu says. "Take a day to recuperate because I expect you back in full swing."

"Yes, ma'am," he says.

"Ah, ah, ah," she tuts.

"Mother," he corrects himself, trying not to grimace.

Ino wanders into the room after Koharu leaves and sits on the edge of Sasuke's bed. She sets her kit down and leafs through it, grabbing her ointments and bandages. Sasuke sits with his back facing her and she slowly peels off his old bandages and disposes of them. "Do they hurt?" she asks.

"Quite a bit," he tells her.

"They're looking better already," she murmurs, "but you'll still need a couple days until you can lie on your back."

"I guess I'll be on my knees a lot for a while, then," he murmurs. "Oh, well. It's easier when I don't have to face people... then again, knowing some of my clients I might not even get a choice in the matter."

Ino frowns sympathetically, but says nothing for fear of saying the wrong thing. She hasn't known Sasuke for as long as Sakura, but she's known him long enough to understand there are days he's more emotional. On most days, however, he's solemn. Nonetheless, she doesn't want him to snap at her.

"I'm going to die in here," he says out of the blue, laughing bitterly at the tragedy of it all.

"Tsk," Ino clicks her tongue. "Don't say things like that..."

"It's true." He frowns, trying not to recall the entire mess of yesterday. He's growing more fearful by the day, unsure how he'll stay sane in a place like this. He feels like he's losing himself piece by piece as each day passes. Soon enough, he'll be a mere shell, just like some of the other workers. Perhaps that's worse than dying, Sasuke doesn't know. All he knows is that he doesn't truly want to die. He wants to live at least long enough to see the outside once more.

"You don't know that," she says with a sigh.

He lets out another bitter laugh. "Ino, stop giving me that bullshit. I'm so sick of hearing it. Be realistic. I have nothing and my own life doesn't even belong to me. Neither does my body. It belongs to Koharu and whoever has enough money to rent my ass out for a night. Cut the pity."

"Fine," she mutters, regretting her words. "Yeah, you might die in here... but I don't want you to. I want you to live and I want you to be happy."

"Hm," he muses. "Happy... I wonder what that would feel like."

Ino's throat tightens and her heart aches for the boy sitting in front of her. Once she's finished bandaging him, she places a palm on one of his shoulder blades. "I hope you find it someday."

"I hope you find it, too," she says to her.

"How do you know I'm unhappy?" she asks.

"No one here is truly happy," Sasuke explains. "Whether they're staff, slaves or clients. I don't think any of us know what true happiness is and if it hit us we probably wouldn't know what to do with ourselves. But even so... it's written all over you. You're grieving. I suppose that's normal. A lot of people here have something to grieve over."

"Do you?" Ino asks. "You never talk about your past."

Sasuke tenses for a moment and Ino notices, but she doesn't call him out. He grabs a handful of the bed sheets, keeping himself covered as he turns around to face her. "Most of the memories were taken from me," he admits with distasteful sentiment.

"Taken?" she questions, unsure what he means.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," he murmurs, a crease forming in his brow. "Everyone acts like there's a secret I'm not allowed to know about even though it clearly involves me. I know it has to do with my name... I just don't know why."

"Your name?" she pries. "What do you mean by that?"

"Uchiha," he says. "Cultists."

She presses her pointer finger to her lips. "Hm... I feel like I've heard that name thrown around before, but I can't quite recall it."

"Can you try?" he asks pleadingly and the desperation in his tone surprises Ino. Clearly it's important to him.

"Yeah," she promises. "I'll try." He smiles at her and it's different than the other smiles she's received from him throughout the years. It makes her fall in love with him all over again. She smiles in return and sits up. "I should head out. I've been taking care Haku."

Sasuke almost tells her not to bother because Haku is going to die, but he dismisses the heartless thought, knowing it would only discourage the girl. Instead, he shows her gratitude. "Thanks for coming," he says sincerely.

"It's not a problem," she assures. "Do you want me to send someone to keep you company?"

"Depends who," he lets out a cut laugh, not wanting Anko to show up for her daily dose of torture. Then again, he has a feeling she won't be paying him any late night visits for a while.

"Don't worry," Ino says with a wink, smiling one more time before picking up her kit and leaving the room.

Once she's gone and his door is shut, Sasuke stands up and wanders to his closet. He reaches inside and grabs a clean robe, putting it on. When he turns around, his door creaks open and Kiba is standing there. When he spots Sasuke, he holds up a hand. "Hey."

"Hey," Sasuke echoes. He nears the door where Kiba is still hovering. "I need the bathroom," he says. "Walk me there."

Kiba nods, following the shorter man out of the room and down the hallway. He waits outside of the bathroom and when Sasuke is finished, he opens the door but he doesn't leave. Instead, he decides to revel in the rare moment of privacy. "What do you want in life?" he asks Kiba.

"What a question," the shaggy-haired man murmurs thoughtfully. "I guess if I could be unrealistic, I'd choose to be with Karui. What about you?"

"I'd... I'd want to fall in love," he admits. "A man asked me that question recently and I think my answer surprised him."

"Huh," Kiba muses.

"I guess it doesn't matter. It won't ever happen." Sasuke lets out a bitter, angry laugh. He tries not to feel piteous towards himself, but there are times when it's impossible not to. "I already know I'm going to die in here before getting to taste freedom again."

Kiba frowns sympathetically, unsure of what to say. He's not a people person. He never has been and lacks the social skills when it comes to situations like this.

"You're lucky," Sasuke continues. "You're allowed to come and go as you please. I don't get that luxury. I'd fucking die to go outside."

"I'd take you out of I could," Kiba offers.

Sasuke softens at that. "I wish you were allowed. I want to run around again. I can't even remember feeling free."

Kiba frowns. "Hey... what did you mean when you said they made you forget?"

"What?" Sasuke probes.

"You said that the other day," Kiba reminds him. "When I asked if we knew one another, you said they made you forget most things..."

Sasuke frowns in recollection, shaking his head. "Before I started work, I was injected with something that messed with my memories. It was a long time ago... and I only remember the vaguest blurriest images of my life before then. Faces are just shapeless masses and names are nonexistent. I can't even remember what my family looked like. I don't know if I had siblings, but I feel like I did. Not that it matters. They're all dead now. Massacred. I don't know why everyone is so careful around me... I don't know what my family did that was so bad."

"But you remembered me?" Kiba asks quietly.

Sasuke nods. "With Sakura's help. She fills in the blanks when she can."

"We spent a lot of time together," Kiba says, making circles around the room. "All of us."

"Can you tell me about it?" Sasuke requests. He perches himself onto the counter and watches Kiba pace back and forth. "Maybe it'll trigger something."

"Hm..." the shaggy-haired man muses. "We met shortly after a raid. When it was over, I found you hiding with one of my friends."

"The blond boy?" Sasuke questions.

"You saved him," Kiba mentions, "and from that day on he vowed to keep you safe as thanks. He couldn't succeed... There's only so much a kid can do, y'know?"

"Yeah," Sasuke whispers. "It's a sweet sentiment, though. By the sounds of it, you and him were both really good to me. Probably because you thought I was a girl, hm?"

Kiba flushes and smiles sheepishly. "Well, shit, that doesn't really change anything. You're still pretty and soft looking... It kinda makes me want to protect you... heh, too bad that I'm in a position where I have to hurt you. But apart from that, you're easy to talk to. You're kinda drawing me in."

Sasuke smiles back at him. "That's the first time someone complimented me on my personality rather than my looks. Thank you."

"Sure," Kiba yips.

Sasuke stares at him for a moment, feeling comfortable. It's a feeling he doesn't get often. He feels this way around Sakura and Ino. He felt like this around Sai, as well. "Hey..." he pauses, tone changing.

"Hm?"

"There aren't cameras in here," he reminds Kiba.

"What?" Kiba asks slowly. He may not be intelligent, but he's smart enough to realize where this is going.

"Let's have sex," Sasuke requests evenly.

Kiba's cheeks turn pink. "You'll get in trouble."

"Not if nobody finds out," Sasuke says. He watches as Kiba bites the inside of his cheek and for a long time, he doesn't utter a single word. "Don't ignore me," Sasuke mutters.

"I'm not," he insists. "I'm just thinking..."

"About what?" Sasuke scoffs. "Whether or not you want to fuck me? Most men would be drooling at the chance if I were to offer a free fuck."

"Well, maybe I'm not like most guys," Kiba challenges.

Sasuke rolls his eyes at that, standing up straight. "You want to," he accuses, untying his robe and opening it to expose his body. "Don't be embarrassed. Haven't you ever been with a man?"

"No," Kiba says pointedly.

"Well, there's a first time for most things," Sasuke murmurs. "Shut the door."

Kiba stares at him for a moment before glancing away and saying, "This is a one-time thing." After that, he closes the door.

"Sure," Sasuke says and with that, Kiba moves forward, touching his mouth to Sasuke's – slow and soft. "Hn," he mumbles once they part. "I've never been kissed quite like that before. Do it again."

And Kiba does. As their lips are pressed together, Sasuke reaches for the other man's cock, only to find that he's already hard. Sasuke draws back smiles slightly. 'Men are weak,' he thinks to himself. 'We get excited just by some kissing.' He opens a drawer and grabs a lotion bottle, opening it and allowing the oily substance to drip onto his palm. He drops his robe, getting on his knees and unzipping Kiba's trousers.

Kiba shudders, not having been touched by another person in years – not since Karui died. That was two years ago. He's been mourning for far too long.

Sasuke wipes the rest of the lotion on his thigh, standing back up and perching himself onto the countertop. He shifts closer to the edge and leans back, inching his legs apart. Kiba's blush deepens as he moves forward, positioning himself before slowly pushing in. Lips parted, Sasuke closes his eyes, locking his arms around Kiba's neck.

"Good?" he asks.

"Very..." Sasuke murmurs.

Kiba is gentle, which surprises Sasuke. The trait clashes with his rough exterior and blunt personality. Sasuke clings tighter, feeling something good for the first time in years. For once in his life, it's his choice.

When it's over, Sasuke feels like he's in a daze. He stares off into space, unsure of what to do with the way he feels. Kiba remains silent, grabbing a tissue and wiping Sasuke off before wiping himself off. He zips up his pants and picks up Sasuke's robe, offering it to him.

"I didn't know it could be that nice," Sasuke admits after a long pause. He grabs his robe and gets off the counter, putting it back on.

Kiba smiles at him sympathetically. "It can be... and it always should be, but we don't live in a just world."

"I've been missing out," Sasuke says sadly. "I want it again... but we can't get into the habit. Like you said, it was a one-time thing."

Kiba nods. "It's better this way... for both of our sakes, but mostly yours. I feel like it would be worse if you got caught sleeping with someone who didn't pay."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Sasuke murmurs. "When I was fifteen I entered my first auction and I cried, I protested and I screamed. I'm sure you know of the three-strikes rule? Well, I got three strikes for breaking those three crucial rules and I got sent to the Red Room for the first time. After getting tortured, the healer who came to clean my cuts ended up crying for me. Do you know what they did to her?"

Kiba shakes his head, afraid to find out.

"They killed her," Sasuke states numbly. "They killed her and made me watch as they took her head. I never thought I'd recover... but I did. I think I learned everything the hard way. They don't treat the staff here nicely, so it's best to earn their favor and be cruel like Anko. Life is easier that way for people given the opportunity."

"I'd never be able to act as cold as her," Kiba admits.

"Pity," Sasuke murmurs. "I like you and I don't want you to die."

"I won't," Kiba promises.

Sasuke forces a smile. "All right."

Kiba pauses, looking like he has something else to say but for many long moments he remains silent, trying to figure out how to word the question. "Can I ask..." he stops. "Can I ask why?" The question is vague, but Sasuke understands.

"I've never made a choice before," he admits. "I'm forced to give myself away to anyone who can afford me. For once, I wanted to decide for myself... and I wanted to have this experience before I die. I wanted to do it with someone who cared about me – someone I like."

"You're not going to die any time soon," Kiba promises. "I won't die and you won't die. We'll both live and someday we'll be in a better place than we are now."

Sasuke lets out a soft laugh. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I'm not," Kiba insists. "This time, I'll be your protector."

"Your job is to hurt us," Sasuke points out. "How can you protect me at the same time?"

"I'll... I'll figure out a way," he tries.

Sasuke smiles piteously, but it gives him a warm feeling in his chest nonetheless. "All right," he relents.

"So, what's the Red Room like?" Kiba asks with caution.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Sasuke teases lightly, even though the situation is hardly comical.

Kiba frowns, but nods nonetheless.

"It's basically... a torture chamber," Sasuke explains to him. "It's red because of all the blood stains. It smells foul and you're treated worse than an animal about to be slaughtered. That's kind of what it feels like. They may as well be slaughtering you... but no, they don't grant you with the mercy of death at the end. Instead, they mutilate you and you keep suffering. They chain you up naked and do sick things to you. It's the most humiliating and degrading experience you can imagine. My first time down there I threw up on myself. I probably pissed myself, too. When you're in that much pain you lose control over your body. It's the fear, too. I truly thought I was going to die. In fact, at that point I was welcoming it."

"Shit," Kiba grimaces. "I'm sorry..."

Sasuke shakes his head. "Don't be. This is my reality. There's nothing I or you can do about it..." he pauses before continuing. "I was covered in piss, vomit, blood... and in the end they threw buckets of cold water on me in attempt to clean me up. Then the healers came to try and fix me."

"That's so inhumane," Kiba growls. "No one deserves this..."

"Anyway," he whispers. "We should be careful what we say when we get back to my room. Certain topics are forbidden."

"Right," Kiba replies quietly, remembering the cameras.

The two of them leave a minute later and walk back down the hallway. In Sasuke's room, they talk about simple and seemingly pointless things. Nothing that would catch the attention of Koharu or her lapdogs.

||XxXx||

In the middle of the night, long hours after Kiba leaves, Sasuke's door creaks open once more. Sasuke sits up fearfully as a large shadowy figure emerges, moving closer and closer towards him.

"Are you the Uchiha?" a masculine voice questions him.

Mildly taken aback, Sasuke nods slowly before realizing it's too dark for him to be seen. "Yes..." he nearly chokes out the words and a split second later, a match is lit, revealing an orange-haired man whom Sasuke has never seen before. He stares at Sasuke and then does does something that surprises the brunet further. He smiles and there's something kind in it.

"I'm Jugo," he introduces himself.

"Jugo..." Sasuke repeats the name weakly, recalling what Anko told him. She said the new guard's name is Jugo and that he's violent. "What do you want?"

"Nothing as of yet," he explains. "I just wanted to make sure you were the right man. I don't want to fuck up and snatch the wrong kid."

"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asks, growing somewhat impatient yet too scared to show it.

"Can you swear to secrecy?" There's something sincere about his tone and Sasuke only nods, unable to find any words. The large man smiles softly once more before leaning in and whispering, "I was sent to get you out of here."