What was supposed to be a relaxing morning swim in calm tropical waters had turned out to be a disaster. Uchiha Itachi had woken up early like the morning person he was and headed out to the beach. The rolling waves gave no indication of the current that was ahead; they just enticed him to join them in their movements. It was within a matter of minutes that the elder Uchiha found himself pushed further and further out in the ocean. Land was slowly yet steadily disappearing. Alarmed, he did everything he could to head back; but the current was too strong. Any second soon, he'd be approaching the continental shelf. And after that, heading back would be near impossible. The situation was dire enough to cause the normally stoic man to panic. Even after calming himself down and analyzing his predicament from different angles there seemed to be no way out. The current was too strong. Fighting against it was of no avail. There were no other islands in sight. This was apparently the only anomaly on an otherwise smooth ocean surface. There was nothing he could signal with. His only hope was Naruto. But the blonde would not be up for another two hours and who knew where he might be floating at that point in time? He floated on, wondering if he was going to die here. It would be a fitting end, he thought bitterly. I who was lost much through my life, will now die lost in an even more vast ocean. Just as I was beginning to find someone I...loved? How ironic. Yes, his feelings for Naruto were no more platonic. How could they be, when the blonde was such a beam of light? A beam that had complemented the dark reality of the Uchiha. And now, would his feelings even be realized? Would he ever have loved Naruto or even just told him how he felt? It was probably too late. Death would come calling in the next 2 days - it would be a lonely death. He would either die from water deprivation, a shark attack or merely sink when the energy to float would run out. A painful way to go.

He wondered how Sasuke would react to the death. Would his otouto feel guilty. Well, he had no reason to. His death was no one's fault but his , just as his life was no one's fault but his. What about Naruto? The blonde would probably blame himself too. Would he miss him? Definitely not, he thought sardonically. With a personality like his, he could make a thousand friends to replace me. I will not be missed. Maybe his mother would shed a few tears. She had always loved him. His father would fume that that the corporation was no more in capable hands. The Akatsuki would drink to him. But other than that, he hadn't particularly influenced anyone. That wasn't his forte. He had merely dominated them. So he would probably die unloved though thousands would visit his funeral.

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Naruto woke up with a start. Kyuubi was pawing at him desperately, nipping away at his boxers. Stupid fox, he thought dazedly. Kyuubi looked at him, his normally bright eyes were filled with an emotion Naruto could not comprehend. It was a sense of...urgency? The for darted to the door and looked back, as if he expected Naruto to follow. I might as well take a swim, the blonde realized. And surprise Itachi with breakfast. Will he smile at me again if I do so? he asked himself, sighing happily. Itachi had been noticeably nicer compared to the first week. He actually talked, which was normally an Uchiha no-no. Naruto found himself always wanting to be with the older man. He thirsted for the Uchiha's approval or for his mere acknowledgment. Itachi had grown on Naruto and he wondered if he would see the other man once they were back home. Naruto was brought out of his musing by a bite from Kyuubi. The fox growled and ran outside. Naruto cursed, but he grudgingly followed the animal.

"Itachi?" he yelled, wondering if the elder Uchiha was in the house.

He safely surmised he was not, when he wasn't answered by a Hn.

Naruto peered in all the rooms just to be sure. His grin grew, realizing that now was as good a time as any to prank the Uchiha. Itachi hadn't been subjected to one of Naruto's practical jokes, but the blonde wouldn't make an exception for the man he crushed on. He has to like the full package, thought the Uzumaki wickedly.

But Kyuubi had other ideas. He did everything in his power to make the blonde exit the house. Naruto gave up,; the fox seemed to be as persistent as he. A swim would be nice. He lolled outside, putting his arms over his head. It was too early to be up, but the sunrise was rewarding in itself. Kyuubi scampered away and arrived panting at the waves panting. Naruto followed his fox. He frowned when he saw clothes lying on the beach. They were definitely Itachi's. Was the raven swimming? Naruto couldn't see neither hide nor hair of him in the water. Kyuubi yipped urgently. Naruto uncertainly started to enter the water, but the fox prevented him; latching on to his leg. Itachi was nowhere in sight. Naruto's blood ran cold. He knew there was something wrong. He glanced into Kyuubi's eyes and saw the same panic. Itachi was out there, somewhere in those treacherous waters.

Naruto was grim as he hoisted the motorboat into the waters and started the engine. Would he even find the Uchiha in the never-ending ocean? Kyuubi was yipping away in worry.

"You'll help me sniff him out, won't you?" he asked the fox softly.

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It was noon. Naruto had been navigating the seas for five hours and he was filled with increasing desperation. Itachi was somewhere, and Naruto couldn't see him. What if he was too late? What if he never did find him? Question upon question was plaguing the blonde's mind. Would he lose the one person he thought he could love? What would Sasuke say when Naruto turned up with no Itachi? The Uchiha would probably cease talking to him after that. He knew how much Itachi meant to Sasuke, how much Sasuke respected his brother. Naruto buried his face in his hands. Red-hot tears found their way down and he wiped them away furiously. He refused to give up. He would find the raven or die trying.

Around 10 p.m. that evening, the latter seemed to be a more veritable action. The blonde sailed furiously, Kyuubi sitting forlornly by his side. He was bone-tired. Almost 16 hours of chasing had led to no result. There was no body marring the flawless blue surface that Naruto suddenly hated. But he wouldn't go back. The Uchiha's chances of survival would decrease with every passing hour, more so at night. If the blonde went back and waited another day, the probability of finding Itachi would be next to zero. He brought a pair of magnifying glasses to his eyes and surveyed the blue before him. He had been doing this every 15 minutes. Naruto was brought out of the monotony when Kyuubi suddenly yelped. The fox had been quiet for most of the day; this had to mean something. He was startled when Kyuubi leapt into the waters and looked back, expecting Naruto to sail behind him. The blonde did so, trembling. Hope was rising - but he refused to be swept away by it.

He had followed Kyuubi for more than 30 minutes now and was wondering if the fox's sense of smell was a farce. Then he saw it - a flash of white. He quickly steered around as the nine-tailed fox stopped swimming and climbed its way back into the boat. There was Itachi, but he was unconscious. Drifting slowly amidst the waters, the pale skin of the Uchiha appeared sickly and wrinkled. Naruto wasted no time. He quickly secured a rope around the Uchiha's waist and dragged the body towards the boat. Itachi did not stir, not when when Naruto pulled him onboard. It was hard work; and now Naruto was exhausted. He willed himself to go on, knowing that giving in to sleep wold lead to both of them being marooned in the middle of nowhere. The Uzumaki could faintly make out the silhouette of land in the distance and he steered towards it. Within an hour, they were back - on to firm safe and dry ground.

As Naruto looked up into the star-studded sky, he felt with sick with relief. He then realized that for the first time in his life, he hadn't smiled for an entire day.

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Itachi woke up to a feeling of warmth and comfort. He reached out to find... fur? He frowned, the events of the past morning suddenly in striking clarity. Was he hallucinating? Onyx eyes opened to see blue of the deepest depths - a blue livelier than the waters that surrounded him. The blue receded into the eyes of one relieved Uzumaki Naruto. The furry thing licked him and wrapped 2 tails around his forehead. With a start, he realized this was Kyuubi. Which meant, he was on dry land. A peaceful feeling came over him. He had been saved. Naruto had saved his life.

"How are you feeling?" the Uzumaki asked him softly.

"Stupid," Itachi replied with a small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

Naruto laughed out of pure joy. " Don't be," he said smiling. "You know," he continued, suddenly serious."You should thank Kyuubi. He sensed something was wrong. I wouldn't have gotten up so early and headed out if not for him. He also sniffed you out in the water. He literally saved your life."

"I should thank both of you. Thanks," Itachi said, looking into Naruto's eyes and stroking Kyuubi's fur gently. The fox wasn't so bad after all. He could deal with it, since it didn't seem to mind him around.

Naruto handed him a bowl of steaming ramen and a glass of milk. "Eat, you need to. You've been starved for an entire day."

Itachi obediently took the bowl. The noodles were fresh, spicy and tangy. They reminded him that he was alive - his fears had been unfounded and his personal eulogies useless. Naruto leaned against him and fiddled with the cloth of his T shirt. He stiffened. The blonde's warmth was comforting. Taking a gamble, Itachi lifted the younger male and gently placed him on his lap. They locked eyes - similar emotions playing across both. Naruto smiled, circling Itachi's shoulders with his arms. He buried his face into Itachi's chest. The Uchiha ate quietly, enjoying the new feelings this spurred in him. He stilled when Naruto looked at him, eyes bright with unshed tears.

"What's wrong?" he questioned.

"I was so worried," said Naruto quietly, a far cry from his exuberant self. "I thought I was going to lose you."

Itachi didn't reply. "16 hours," Naruto continued. "16 hours I searched for you. Sometimes, I was dizzy with fear. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't find you. Weren't you scared? You look too calm for a man who was in danger of death," he accused.

Itachi sighed. "I wasn't."

Naruto's eyes widened with disbelief. "You weren't scared."

"You know, the only time a man is scared is when he has something precious to lose."

" Are you saying that you had nothing to live for?"

Itachi looked at him with calm onyx eyes. "Precisely," he answered.

"How could you say that?" yelled Naruto angrily. "You have so much to live for."

"Like what?" hissed Itachi, just as angry. "A father who only cares for his name and fortune? A mother who is too weak to stand up to this? A brother who hates me as much as he loves me? Business partners who would be happy to see my rotting cadaver? Acquaintances who secretly long for my downfall? Groupies who would run away if they knew the real me? What do I have to live for, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto looked at him, a look filled with wisdom and compassion. It seemed to say, I understand. I live through that too. He huddled further into Itachi's tall body and tenderly placed his hands on either side of Itachi's face. It was a comforting gesture and Itachi found himself relaxing.

"Did you have anything to live for that you lost?" asked Naruto gently.

Itachi was silent for about 10 minutes, drinking the milk quietly. When Naruto concluded that he wasn't going to answer and made a move to rise, Itachi instinctively pulled the blonde closer to him.

"I had a key once," he whispered.

Naruto looked at him blankly. "A key?"

"Yes. Once there was someone. Someone who continuously reminded me that I could create my own path. That I was strong enough to do so. He was my key - a key to the lock that the name Uchiha placed on me. With him, I was free. It was my own small act of rebellion. He made me lay off work for a whole year. For that one year, I did whatever I wanted. No one to guide me or dissuade me. It was liberating."

Naruto listened quietly, a feeling of jealousy rising strongly within him. "Was he your boyfriend?" he asked.

Itachi's lips curved upwards. "No. My cousin. Uchiha Shisui. Also my lover. The only one I had."

"What happened to him?" Naruto was curious.

Itachi looked at him, onyx eyes clouded in what seemed like...sorrow? "What happens to all of us at some point, Naruto-kun. He died."

"How?"

" A drunk driver. A car accident. When he was coming to pick me up."

"You don't feel like it was your fault, do you? Because it definitely wasn't."

Itachi smirked at him, amused. "I didn't feel it was my fault. But I knew that if things had gone differently, he might still have been alive. So, I was bitter."

"What happened after that?"

"My key had broken. So I was under lock once more. I merely returned, went to college and started working. Like clockwork. Exactly how my father wanted."

"And then you didn't love again?"

Itachi raised a well formed eyebrow. "When did I say I ever loved Shisui? He was merely my escape, a release I'll admit to missing. But it wasn't love, or even lust. It was merely freedom."

Naruto puzzled over this. Uchiha Itachi was definitely an enigma. He rarely gave away anything that permitted people to make a better study of him. Well, even human mysteries have to get their rest, Naruto decided. He tried to get off Itachi's lap and the Uchiha let go, albeit reluctantly. Does this mean he cares about me, Naruto asked himself. He stared at the older man and blushingly placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "You should get some rest," he muttered, taking the dirty utensils to the kitchen.

He was surprised when the Uchiha grabbed him into another kiss. This one was longer, but just as gentle. "Before that, I have one question to ask," the Uchiha started. "Did you carry me here form the beach?"

Naruto puffed up his chest proudly. 'What do you think?" he asked smiling.

"Then, you're stronger than I thought."

"You should never judge a book by its cover," Naruto replied, kissing the Uchiha once again.

"Aaa" Itachi answered blandly, making his way upstairs. "Oyasuumi, Naruto-kun."

"Oyasuumi, Itachi. "