All I am

'Freak!'

'Rat!'

'Do die you faggot!'

Was that all I was? What made them do that? To turn me into something I wasn't before. To decide what I was. A freak, something not worth loving.

Is that all I am?

"Itachi-san? What's wrong?"

'What wasn't wrong?'

Kisame Hoshigaki, my best friend, a labeled freak long before I was, walked over to my kneeled form. He sat behind me and tried to hug me but I jerked away.

"Don't! I'm a freak! A rat! I'm not meant to be loved!" I shouted, tears blinding me.

I felt those strong arms take me in anyway and hold me tightly, a hand going through my hair, the other gently rubbing my back.

"Angel."

I paused and looked at him in shock. "What?" I asked.

Kisame smiled softly. "You, you're an angel, a beautiful person, and I love you,' he said. "I always have."

In my shock, Kisame gently kissed my forehead, then my mouth. I let him and he pulled away.

"Don't let them name you, leave that to me," he said reassuringly.

I stared at Kisame in a new light before sighing slightly. "I'm an angel?" I asked.

"Its all you need to be Itachi," he replied.

And I believed him.