Promise
Summary: Kakashi had one wish that night. One wish! And Itachi didn't comply; Itachi didn't say, I love you too…
~?~?~?~
Kakashi was silent as he jumped from tree to tree; the images of a blind mangled body in his mind. They, himself and a retrieval team, were looking for Itachi Uchiha, who was now dead, and for Sasuke Uchiha, who was near.
Sasuke…
Kakashi paused in a field, remembering the horrible night from so long ago.
It was cold and raining. The sky seemed to sense the horror and despair of that day. The rain did little to hide Kakashi's tears.
"Why Itachi?!" Kakashi demanded. "Why did you do this alone?! You didn't need to suffer this much! I would have helped you-!"
Itachi turned sharply, sharingan blazing. "Then Sasuke will truly be alone!" he said.
Kakashi barely held his flinch, looking away. "That boy really means everything, doesn't he?" he asked softly, disappointment in his tone.
Itachi dropped his glare but was still firm, confident in his reply. "Yes. I love that boy more than anything, even more than this village. He is everything," he said.
This time Kakashi did flinch, hurt worse than any wound he'd ever received. "Do me a favor, and promise me something," Kakashi said weakly.
Itachi tiled his head curiously. "What is it?" he asked.
"When-," Kakashi swallowed, "When you know you're going to… die… please, please send word. I… I need to know…," he begged.
Itachi considered the words carefully before nodding. "I promise," he said solemnly then frowned, "the favor?"
Kakashi looked at him. "Kiss me," he ordered.
Itachi started, a blush creeping on his cheeks as he nodded. Kakashi pulled his mask down, keeping his eyes on the weasel as they walked to each other. When they met, Kakashi put his fingers in Itachi's hair and Itachi copied, pulling Kakashi's head to him. Their foreheads tapped together.
It was a peck at first, a simple show of affection, but it was quickly followed by another, and another. Moments later, they are locked in a passionate battle, conveying hundreds of emotions in the embrace of tongues.
"Nii-san!"
They broke apart quickly, turning or glancing in the direction of the frantic call. Kakashi turned back to Itachi.
"There's still time," he said desperately. "You can fake it! Stay here, with me-!"
"Kakashi."
The copy-nin paused, looking up in time to see those red eyes shift to the onyx he loved, Itachi smiled softly.
"It must be done," Itachi whispered.
"I love you," Kakashi whispered softly, the first time he'd ever said it to anyone.
Itachi's reply was to give a rare gentle smile before he hardened and jumped onto a roof. Itachi looked into the distance, lost in thought.
"I will keep your promise if you keep one for me," he said.
Kakashi looked at him.
"Watch Sasuke."
In that instant, Itachi was gone and soon after, so was Kakashi. All Kakashi saw and heard that night and long after, was the look of agony on his lover's face, and the sound of Sasuke's screams.
Kakashi looked into the eyes of the sharingan; he watched as it shifted to a six pointed star.
"Hn, Sensei."
Kakashi gripped tightened at the paper in his hand, ink smeared from tears. 'Sorry Itachi, I can't forgive him. I can't keep my promise.'
End.