'Damn, Fukagu is gonna be furious…' was Itachi's last thought before he fell the flight of stairs.

Minato's head turned at hearing the sound of the loud thud which came from the direction where Itachi was going to. He was just about to sprint towards it when Kakashi caught his arm.

"It's better if no one from the Uchihas see you here, Hokage-sama. I'll check it out." Kakashi let go of his arm.

Minato hesitated for a second then nod and disappeared without a pop or anything.

'His freaky shunshin no jutsu (body flicker jutsu)' Kakashi thought and sprinted toward the house.

The sight which Kakashi came upon wasn't very appealing. Itachi was sprawled on the lower steps of the main hall, his head was on the ground and there was a thin line of blood on his face, while his legs were on the steps, his right leg in an unnatural angle.

Fugaku was standing on top of the stairs, from his expression, it seemed he wasn't sure whether to be concern or angry. But upon seeing Kakashi at the entrance, he decided on the latter.

"What are you doing here Hatake Kakashi?" Fugaku said, obviously annoyed by Kakashi's presence.

Kakashi just ignored him, ran to Itachi's side and checked for his pulse. When he was sure that it was there he carefully cradled his head and lightly brought it up to stop the flow of blood to his head.

"I said, what the hell are you doing here?" Fugaku shouted. Kakashi held the limp body of Itachi closer and didn't answer.

Fugaku clenched his fist and stomped down a few steps. Just then Kakashi raised his head and said "We should take him to the hospital."

"You didn't answer my question?"

"I can answer you any time but now we should go to the hospital." Kakashi was trying his best to stay calm and he was about to get up with Itachi in his arms when Fugaku's dangerously law voice stopped him.

"You put the demon down now. It's already decided, I AM the one who make decisions concerning him."

"He is not a demon. And if I were you now, I would be more concerned on my answers to the Hokage concerning this current situation." Kakashi was standing now, Itachi securely in his arms.

The sound of footsteps was heard and suddenly the room filled with about fifteen Uchiha, and a sleepy looking Sasuke.

"Say Hatake, are you implying that I deliberately caused the boy's injury?" Fugaku look bewildered for a second, then grinned and said "Even if that's the case, neither the Hokage nor you have the right to intervene."

"You're right, we don't have the right to intervene." Kakashi said, Fugaku was about to smirk when he added "Unless your actions, in any form, cause a disturbance on the seal and thus endanger the safety of the whole fire country. And if you haven't noticed YET, damaging Itachi is one of the causes of disturbance."

Fugaku was fuming and Kakashi, on one of the rarest sight, was truly angry. Just then, after mentioning Itachi's name Sasuke noticed the limp body in Kakashi's arm, he dashed toward them.

"Itachi? Itachi? What happened to Itachi, Kakashi-san?" he nearly shouted in Itachi's face.

Itachi who seemed to be disturbed by Sasuke shouting, twitched and let out a small moan, but didn't wake up.

Kakashi's attention turned back to Itachi. "I'm gonna take him to the hospital." And he turn to leave the room.

"You can't. It might take more than Safe Hours to treat his injuries." Fugaku calmly said "And if I'm not mistaken passing the Safe Hours is also one of the causes of disturbance."

Kakashi ponder this for a second. "Then call a medic. I'll put Itachi in his room." He slowly went in the direction of Itachi's room.

Fugaku contemplated ignoring Kakashi, but then decide against it. He nod his head to Shisui who was one of the first one who came into the house. He got the hint and hurriedly left the room.

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Itachi slowly opened his eyes.

"I will stay here until I be sure of Itachi's condition, AND ask him what exactly happened last night."

Itachi could hear Kakashi's raised voice from somewhere, but he wasn't sure where.

"I see you're awake."

Itachi turned toward the source of the voice. His vision was blurry but he could make out the outline of a person with long black hair, and behind this person, a white haired figure was standing.

"Ka… Kakahi-san?" Itachi tried to say.

"Kakashi-san is outside waiting for you to…" the person was saying when a load shout interrupt him.

"Don't make me use force Hatake. Even your presence here is penetrating private property. And now you WILL stay to make sure the demon is ok?"

'The demon… Kakashi want to be sure a demon is ok? It seems he is not worried about me." Itachi thought. His mind was still a little hazy, but his eyes were clearer now and he could see the smiling face of Orochimaru, the doctor who came to Uchiha 's mansion to give him a check up every once in a while, and his assistant Kabuto.

"It's you who are making me use force Uchiha-san, I'm here on direct order of Yondaime, and therefore I'll remain here until I am sure that ITACHI is ok."

'Ah… he is worried about me.' Itachi smiled, 'so I am the demon.' He frowned.

"Kabuto-kun, please tell those two to stop shouting outside of an injured person's room." Orochimaru said. Kabuto immediately leave the room and closed the door behind him. "So where was I? Oh yes, say Itachi-kun, can you tell me how many fingers I'm holding up?"

"Two. I'm fine Orochimaru-san. I have a little headache. But everything else is fine." Itachi said.

"As expected from you Itachi-kun, well it seems there is no danger of concussion. Everything is ok for now, but you should remain in bed for at least one week, then you can start walking small distance, with the help of crutches of course. I don't want to discourage you, but your leg is broken in two places. And there is a noticeable bruise on your chest." Itachi smirk upon hearing the last part "I'll come to check on you in two days." Orochimaru stood to leave, when the door burst open and Kakashi walked in, Fugaku close behind him.

"How are you feeling Itachi?" Kakahsi asked Itachi when he was near his bed.

"I'm…"

"Make it fast, Kakashi-san have missions to attend to." Fugake all but snarled.

Orochimaru take one glance at Itachi's blank face and turned to Fugaku "There is something I need to talk to you about on Itachi-kun's condition." He said.

"It can wait a little."

"Yes it can, but I need to get back to my lab." Orochimaru said, his smile stretched slightly farther than it should facially be possible for normal human beings.

Fugaku hesitated a bit but then gave in and followed Orochimaru.

"You're going on a new mission Hatake-san?" Itachi asked.

"Kakashi. I asked a question first." Kakashi said, already back to his nonchalant, easy going nature.

"I am well."

"I am going on a mission."

There was silence.

"How long will the mission last?" Itachi asked when he saw Kakashi's intentional silence, not really in a mood and way too distress by his departure to cope up with his hoaxing ways.

"Huh? I'm going on a mission which I might die on, you know? And THAT's the question you ask? You are so selfish Itachi-kun."

Itachi was taken aback by this for a second, but then he look at Kakashi and saw the mirth in his visible right eye.

"I'm really not in the mood for this now, Kakashi-san."

It was Kakashi's time to be taken aback by itachi's usage of his name.

"Ok Itachi, so let's get serious. I'm going to go on a six weeks mission and before that I want to be sure that everything is right here, that you are fine here. So if your father actually did something last night just tell me."

"He didn't push me on the stairs, if that is what you mean. I just fell. I was too distracted by the night's event."Itachi turned his face and looked at the ceiling, "Why he calls me a demon?"

"I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Sorry Itachi." Kakashi's voice was dejected.

"So you don't deny the demon part." Itachi said, His voice completely emotionless.

Kakashi was startle. "No. That's not it. It's just he keep saying that and…"

"It's ok Hatake-san, it' not like you called me that. Have a safe mission." Itachi said. He then pulled the covers up and buried himself in its warmth.

Kakashi waited there for a few minute, but he knew that he screw up and there is nothing more he could say to change that. 'Itachi is tired and injured now, I'll talk to him when I get back from the mission.' He told himself.

"Well then, feel better Itachi." He wasn't going to face Fugaku again so he just jumped on the window sill, "I'm really sorry about that Itachi."

Itachi suddenly felt guilt grip at his chest, he throw the covers and sit up in his bed, but Kakashi wasn't there. He clenched the cover in his fists.

'You are an idiot Itachi. Why did you say that? Stupid Fugaku was calling you names for years now, they all did, all the fucking Uchihas, why should you bring the topic up now?' Itachi could feel the tears, but he refused to let them fall, 'and he brought Hokage-sama for my birthday and used his debt to ask him to fight me AND he remembered. No one, NO ONE, from all those egomaniac Uchihas ever even remembered my birthday. And to think I didn't even thanked him.' A single tear dropped from his eyes. But he furiously rubbed at his eyes.

There was a footstep behind his door. Somebody was standing there. Itachi knew it was Sasuke, his heavy steps couldn't be mistaken with anyone. He stand behind the door then left without even knocking or seeing if Itachi was ok or not.

'He is just like other Uchihas. I wish I could knock some sense into him, telling him he is just Fugaku's vessel for his only ambition: bringing Uchiha to a greatness which only an Uchiha can see. Where he wants to go with this Uchiha's greatness, it's not like he can take it to his grave. Maybe I should let some of the Uchihas test and see that they can't actually take their ego with them into their next life.'

It was odd. In all these years Itachi never thought of things like this. But all his obedience, all his silence seemed useless and unnecessary now. Why should he obey his father? Why should he listen to Uchiha's whispering? Why should he tolerate his little brother's sympathetic look?

For Kakashi's always late visits. A little voice in the back of his mind said. But Kakashi isn't here, and won't be for the next six weeks.

Itachi suddenly got off the bed. He expect a lot of pain in his broken leg but it seemed Orochima had injected him with some painkillers while he was unconscious, cause the pain was dull and tolerable. He knew the pain will be back tenfold when the painkillers wear off, but it was a future concern.

He take a look around his room, there was nothing in the room which he wanted to have with him. So he just put on his casual black clothes and jumped out of the window.

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"The demon host just left the house."

"So last night accident wasn't life threatening?"

"Nah, he is just limping like a puppy."

"Is he going to leave the whole Uchiha compound?"

"Yeah, it seems so."

"Follow him."

"What? You said today is my last day watching the brat, Zetsu was going to take my place."

"I said you are going to change yesterday, NOW I am saying you WILL follow him. Is there any complain?"

…………….

"Good. Follow the host, and don't let townspeople see your freakish blue skin."

……………

"I didn't hear you."

"Yes, sir."

Freakish? Did he just say FREAISH? There is a human eater, plant-like, thing and two undying zombie in this group and my skin is FREAKISH? And to top it off, everyone is out killing people and destroying village, while I am here, stuck with following a limping puppy.

Yeah, being an Akatsuki never been this great.

TBC…

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Hi everyone, hope you like the second chapii. There are some things about this chapter I want to mention.

1. This chapter came out this fast thanks to MogamiAmu who was the first (and only one) to review my story. I was really flattered by your message Amu-chan, I wish you enjoy this chapter too.

2. 'Safe Hours' will be explained in later chapters.

3. Orochimaru is a wonderful character, I just love his sound jonin appearance, although I haven't decided yet, whether he will remain a good character or not, I might change that depend on the reviews.

3. Kisame is also one of my favorites, I really believe he and Itachi make a perfect couple, not that it's going to happen in this story ;)

4. Next chapii will be out in about two weeks.

Review of next chapter: Itachi staggered toward the blond. "Hokage-sama?" and he stumbled, the only thing keep him from falling over was the blond's hand, who definitely wasn't the Hokage.

RR

Chii out.