Title: Life Goes On

Author: nikki (nikkichan0829@yahoo.com)

Chapter: 1/?

Chapter Title: Reflections and Ramen

Genre: Romance

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Enough said. The title was from the song, "Life Goes On" by Leanne Rhymes (is that the right spelling?).

Warning: YAOI. OOCness?

Author's notes: Err... I'm really screwed. I'm not gonna make the deadline for the Disney Parody. Will have to withdraw. Erg... But since we've already done the first few parts, we might as well finish it. Anyway, here's another chapter for you to enjoy!^^

~Chapter 1: Reflections and Ramen~

Weeks after Obito's death, Kakashi found himself feeling a bit better, lighter. After all, he wanted to be able to show Obito just how strong he was. He would live on for him just as Itachi had said.

Speaking of Itachi, the boy had been there, always watching him. That poker face of his was annoying. You couldn't tell what he was thinking. He comes in for work, just stands there and does nothing but watch. It was unnerving.

Little boys aren't supposed to be that creepy. Well, he wasn't sure if Itachi was even a little boy still. With the way the boy acted, he was even more matured than most adults were. It was as if he was never a child to begin with. How bleak his life must be not to experience the joys of youth.

Gah! Kakashi shook his head. His thought sounded too much like Gai's for his own comfort.

But seriously, Itachi needed to get a life outside that of the shinobi and relax. It shouldn't be too hard to do now... right? Yeah right. It would be like trying to convince a brick wall to roll over and fetch.

Obito had always made an effort to be close with Itachi. From what Kakashi knew, Itachi had been close to Obito aside from his brother. Maybe Kakashi could make the same effort as Obito had and maybe even understand the enigma that was Uchiha Itachi.

Kakashi sighed. How deep a hole was he digging for himself by doing this?

~~~~~

Itachi cocked his head to the side, amused. He had been watching Kakashi for a long time now so he could easily read the man's gestures. He didn't know why he kept this up. He was fascinated with the older man. Well, attracted to the guy was more like it. But he would never have him.

Kakashi loved Obito. And loved him still. Itachi knew that he would never have a chance. But he was content to stay in the sidelines and make sure to keep the jounin happy. That was all he wanted really.

The Uchiha sighed and looked out the window, watching the people come and go. They all looked like bugs, waiting to be crushed...

He snapped out of his dark thoughts when he sensed someone approach him and tensed. Then he realized that it was only Kakashi and relaxed somewhat. He looked up, his head tilted a bit to the side as if asking, "What do you want?"

Kakashi sheepishly grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Ah... I was wondering if we could have lunch together. My treat. Uhm... Not unless you already had lunch... Hahaha! I'm babbling aren't I?"

Itachi nodded. "Okay. I'll go with you." The older man had looked surprised then relieved at his answer. It was the first time someone other than Sasuke and Obito had asked to eat with him. His parents didn't count.

His parents... a frown made it way to his lips. Truth be told, he had brought lunch courtesy of his mother. Everyone would think that it was awfully wonderful and sweet of her. Unfortunately, they don't know what was in it. It was tasteless, odorless and colorless but it was lethal when ingested. Poison. Not in a lethal dose though. There was just enough to slowly kill him.

It was the testimony of his family's fear of him. He knew the entire clan except for Sasuke knew what was going on. Ever since he had found out about the poison, he had always thrown the food away come lunchtime, making sure that none of his clan members ever found out. He either skipped that meal altogether or brought himself some food, explaining to his clan members when questioned that he was a growing boy.

Obito... Obito knew about it too. But unlike everyone else, he helped Itachi get rid of the packed food made by his mother.

Itachi closed his eyes and took long, deep breaths to calm himself down. No matter what happens, he would not lose to them.

~~~~~

Ichiraku Ramen got surprisingly full as Kakashi watched the girls walk in, blush and rush to get seats. It was still a mystery to him why it was when he was here that it was full and was half-empty when he wasn't.

Kakashi risked a glance at Itachi only to find the boy smirking. Raising a brow, he asked, "What's so funny?"

The smirk curved into an amused smile. "You don't know, do you?"

Cocking his head to the side, Kakashi's expression was one of confusion. The boy merely chuckled and shook his head. Yup. Itachi was definitely an enigma. Even if he was confusing him, the boy was still fascinating nonetheless.

It certainly presented a challenge and it kept the older man on his toes. Maybe this was one of the reasons why Obito tried to get closer to him. They were distantly related but related nonetheless yet they were too different and more importantly, they knew nothing about each other.

Sure, they would know each other's names, vital statistics that gets circulated at least once to every shinobi but nothing personal. They might as well be strangers rather than relatives.

Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted with the arrival of their orders.

"Itadakimasu!" he cheerfully said. Itachi bowed silently before starting.

Kakashi smiled as he happily slurped the noodles. Well, more like inhaled really. It was just the thing one needs: warm food. Delicious too. Working on an empty stomach was definitely not workable. He had to hide his growling stomach every now and then.

In the middle of slurping, he noticed his companion's complete silence. Itachi raised the noodles to his lips and chewed silently, his eyes downcast. It all seemed so graceful and sophisticated but at the same time, it appeared too mechanical. There was no indication of any sort of appreciation for the taste, the aroma and the texture of ramen. It seemed as if he didn't really taste what he was putting in his mouth. Just taking it and swallowing because his body needed it. It was like he was merely a puppet on a string. A porcelain doll, beautiful and fragile.

It was then that Kakashi first realized that Itachi was... beautiful, for lack of a better term. A slender yet well-built body, smooth, pale skin, graceful hands, raven-black hair, a delicate face, a pair of obsidian eyes, and those supple lips... Kakashi felt heat rise to his face and shook his head.

The young Uchiha had an aesthetic beauty that turned heads but deep down, there was an inner beauty that rarely shined. It was all suppressed by the sheer will of a boy that was merely eleven years old.

To be forced into such a cold facade, it must be painful, to be obedient and not being able to express one's own thoughts without being reprimanded. His every move was watched by at least one member of the clan.

Itachi was a bird in a cage, a bird that had yet to spread its wings and fly.

The said boy stopped eating to look at him, probably wondering why he was staring. Kakashi grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

If he could, one day, he'd open that cage and let the bird fly.

~~~~~

Itachi stopped eating, noticing that Kakashi was staring at him with a strange expression. He tilted his head and wondered why the man was staring at him like that. There was nothing to see, just an empty shell, a living doll without a heart, mind and soul of its own.

If everyone could strip away his facade, he knew that they'd also see the monster. Only the clan saw that and Itachi was beginning to believe them. He wasn't a genius. He was a monster that shouldn't have existed.

Only Sasuke, his cute and innocent little brother, still saw him as someone to look up to. His little brother had the potential to surpass him but first, the little boy had to step out from being Itachi's shadow to be able to grow.

The ninja opposite him grinned sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.

Kakashi wasn't like everyone else. Maybe that's why Obito liked him so much. The man could see things in people, the good and the bad, and still accept them for that.

Obito had told him once that being acknowledged by Kakashi brought a feeling of warmth and love, both things that Itachi had long forgotten. But he wanted it, being acknowledged by this man and feel what it was that Obito felt. What it was that he felt was worth dying for.

~~~~~

*TBC*

Author's notes: *sighs* There are parts where Itachi's thoughts were particularly dark but they seemed to fit his person ne?^^ The "bird in a cage" statement... Well, I kinda got the idea from Neji. Hehehe.^^;;;

Anyway, please review. Flamers can go to hell and kiss Zabuza's ass.

Started: October 23, 2003

Ended: October 24, 2003