Fate
After the rather draining evening spend at the library, Itachi returned home only to crawl into bed and fall into a deep sleep. He needed it, and badly after the events of the evening, and he was glad that he did not dream.
However, a week later, Itachi still hadn't come to terms with how he felt about Kisame. There was affection, certainly, but he didn't know if it was simply platonic or if it went further.
He had shared all of what Deidara had told him (except for the part about him) to Sasori, and the redhead had reacted similar to what he had.
"It's just … so strange." Sasori said softly during lunch on the Wednesday. It was beginning to warm up now, as February was drawing to a close and Spring was almost on the northern hemisphere's doorstep. And so, the two of them could sit under their tree together for the first time since October last year. "I never would have considered reincarnation to be the cause of your dreams about Kisame."
"I feel like I'm trapped in a bad science fiction novel." Itachi grumbled and took a bite of his rice ball. "It's very depressing, you know."
"Don't over-react about it." Sasori said, leaning back and eating some more of his own lunch. "I mean, it's not as though in the past Kisame and yourself were lovers."
Itachi thought about that, looking down, and shook his head, "I have a feeling they might've been."
"How do you figure?" Sasori said, shocked.
Itachi blushed and looked over at his best friend, and said, "I've been having … rather interesting dreams …"
Sasori blinked, and his cheeks turned scarlet as well. "Oh. Right."
"And I know it's not normal. I mean … I normally dream about girls and this is the first time I've dreamed about a guy … who had blue skin." Okay, now Itachi's cheeks were flaming
"And the past Kisame had blue skin, didn't he?" The red head asked.
"Yes." Itachi rubbed his cheek, looking down into his now empty bento box. "I mean … none of the dreams I'm having at the moment actually involve sex but … I just know there was more to them than partners, unlike what the book said."
"Well, I doubt as if such a book is all knowing." Sasori leaned back against the tree and looked up at the bare branches. "I mean, if they were ninja, they would have to hide the fact that they were in a relationship, if it existed. So it wouldn't have been recorded in it that they were together."
"Yeah …" The blush having faded, Itachi re-wrapped his bento box in its cloth and stood up as the warning bell went. Sasori did the same, and the two of them headed to class.
While the Uchiha's life had gone back to the normality he was used to before the final year had begun, he noticed that he now looked at Kisame differently since the fated night in the Library. It was to be expected, but even so, when he was doing the written portion of PE, he often caught himself watching the man as he taught, and mentally told himself off for it later on.
If Kisame had caught him … well, awkward wouldn't even BEGIN to cover it anymore.
That day after school ended, he stayed back to do some extra work in preparation for the exams that were to come in June. Call him an early bird, but Itachi liked to write down all of his notes very early so he wouldn't be stressing when it came to the knuckle down. He put it all in a small binder folder that would not be touched again until May, and as dusk settled in, (it had been doing so early due to winter, and was only starting to ease now) Itachi packed his bag and headed off.
It was rare that Itachi would allow himself to wonder the streets at night (as there was no bus or train currently taking him home at this time in winter) but tonight he made an exception. After all, at the moment he thought a walk out would be a good time to freshen his mind.
As he walked along the quiet streets, Itachi felt content at the light breeze, even if it was cold. He was well wrapped up, and he didn't feel the brisk cold so much. It was because of this that he was unaware of being followed. Tensing up slightly, he went even more so when he saw the figure up ahead, waiting for him, or so it seemed.
Orochi.
Itachi stopped, and Orochi sneered at the young man, calling out softly, "Well, well … Itachi-kun …"
Itachi glared at the woman. This whore had hurt his best friend and caused so much trouble at the school in finding a replacement so fast. He barely knew this woman, and already he hated her with a loathing passion.
However, she clicked her fingers, and Itachi whipped around as several very strong looking men ran out from the streets towards him, and the Uchiha didn't stop to think. He ran, but it was too late as one of the goons grabbed him, holding his arms. Itachi struggled and was forced against a wall in one of the alleyways nearby, wincing at the bricks tearing the skin on his cheek.
"Why are you doing this?!" He shouted, kicking behind him at the goon holding him, and he only pushed him tighter into the wall. He heard Orochi's soft sinister chuckle from behind him.
"Sasori was so pre-occupied in our date that I left after I had got what I wanted. It was obvious why that was so." She sneered.
"Why?" Itachi couldn't help but ask, his wrists starting to ache from the abuse earlier.
She lifted her head up and laughed, "Because he's gay, and in love with you! I could tell he was … you're always over at his house or hanging around with him …"
"Sasori's my friend …" Itachi whispered, shaking his head, "He's my friend, and nothing more."
"I don't believe you." Orochi said, and then said to her boys, "Do what you want to him."
The men grinned perversely and came forward, and Itachi felt completely hopeless.
I'm going to get raped … His mind screamed, and he felt his eyes heat from tears then. But he mentally shook his head. NO! I will NOT let them do this to me! There HAS to be a way to stop them!
Filled with nervous determination, he opened his eyes again, and he saw something. Somehow … he KNEW what that skinny man over there was going to do … and the man next to him … and the man behind him. He knew … he could see it. In that second, Itachi knew that he should jump and kick the man behind him in the stomach, using him as lever to jump away …
How Itachi knew this he could not explain, but he did it, much to the surprise of the man behind him. Free of his clutches and feeling himself tremble, he backed away from the men as they advanced, angry and shouting obscenities at him. Feeling the wall behind him again from the end of the alley, Itachi saw that the middle man would attack first … and he did, dodging out of the way as he did for the other man, punching one in the face as he dodged the blows.
I can see … he saw their movements before they even happened, I can see! He dodged another blow, and another, but unfortunately he could not see the one aimed at the back of his head. He flew back into the wall, just as a voice he recognised yelled out,
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Several swooshing sounds followed by screams echoed though the night, and then the sound of running and Orochi screaming as she was thrown to the ground by someone. Dazed, Itachi couldn't open his eyes due to the throbbing of his head, but he heard someone say,
"If you ever come near Itachi or any of the students at the school again, I will make sure to execute you myself."
Orochi must've run then, and soft footsteps came closer. There was the sound of a sword getting put back in its sheath which made Itachi curl up tighter against the wall. The footsteps stopped, and the Uchiha felt a careful, gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Itachi?" The voice whispered. It sounded horrified, and Itachi managed to open his eyes, noticing that he was actually shaking rather badly.
"Kisame … san …" He whispered back, and he pushed himself forward until his head was buried deep in the other's chest.
On any normal occasion, the Uchiha would never have dared to do this with his teacher. To him, it was something that very close friends did, but right now, Itachi was frightened and in a state of shock, and also dizzy from the blow to his head. Right now, he needed something to give him strength as he gripped the other's shirt tightly, shaking from head to toe.
Kisame put a hand on the back of Itachi's head (not the sore spot) and one on his shoulder after a minute, gently prying the young man off, and saying softly, "Come on, my place isn't far."
Itachi looked up into the gold eyes, managing to nod and stand with Kisame's help, saying in a deluded way, "How … how …"
"I must live close to you." Kisame said, making Itachi put an arm around his shoulders, although it was a little hard with the blue haired man being a head taller than Itachi. "Come on …"
It didn't take them long to reach Kisame's apartment. For Tokyo's standards, he lived in a roomy place, with two large rooms and a bedroom/bathroom, which was also cosy. Along with a TV that hung on the wall, there were shelves with books galore, a trophy case, and little personal items here and there.
Itachi sat on the couch with a blanket wrapped around him as he burrowed himself deep into it. His shaking was starting to subside now, and he occasionally looked over at Kisame stirring something on the small stove in the kitchen. Kisame then poured this into a mug eventually, and came over to press it into the Uchiha's hands, who sniffed it. Thinking for a moment, he looked up and said, "Is this that Milo stuff?"
"Yeah." Kisame said beside him, sipping his own cup. "It has milk in it, so it'll help calm you down a little."
Itachi nodded slowly, and carefully sipped out of the cup. He stared at the heater that looked like a fake fire, and sighed softly, feeling the milo slowly but surely take effect.
It was so strange how relaxed he felt with this man, how comfortable he was in his presence. He knew now that he was once partners with him, but it didn't stop the Uchiha from being fascinated by it all. Before he had even known about that he had felt comfortable about Kisame, and he couldn't stop himself from liking it. Tilting his head back, he drank the entire cup, even though it was scalding hot and sighed, licking his lips of the milk and setting the cup aside, feeling the warmth spread all the way to his toes. After a while of content silence, the shaking finally stopped.
He looked up to see Kisame peering at the back of his head where he had been thumped, very carefully touching it. "You've got a bump, but you'll be okay."
He was so close … Itachi felt the other's heat near him, and the touch on his skin made him jump slightly, looking up at him. Kisame stared back, and then rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry, did I startle you?"
Itachi shook his head, looking up at him as he thought. 'He's so caring …' Itachi mused … 'he's such a strong man but he's so gentle. And I know he's my teacher so he's supposed to take care of his students, but …'
Itachi finally looked down and shuffled closer, wanting to be near Kisame more. "Kisame … can …"
"Mm?" The blue haired man watched the other come closer, and inwardly was glad that Itachi was reacting okay with human contact right after he had been attacked. It was a good sign that he was no longer in shock.
In the warmth of the living room, Itachi inched closer before finally pushing himself against Kisame's chest again like before, but this time, he was far more relaxed and aware of what he was doing. He knew that what he could start right now could be dangerous, but hey? He wasn't going to be a student at High school much longer. That, and he felt so normal around Kisame … so … unjudged by who he was, and treated like an equal instead of a child.
He didn't expect Kisame to like what he did, and he was fully expecting Kisame to tell him off for trying to become closer with a teacher, but he didn't. Instead, after a moment, the other wrapped his arms around Itachi gently, stroking his back and holding Itachi close, eventually tightening his grip when the Uchiha shifted in his arms.
Neither knew how long they stayed like that. For all Itachi knew, he could have easily nodded off right in Kisame's arms just then. But right then, he had never felt more relaxed or safe in his entire life. On top of that, Kisame felt so familiar to him that he didn't dare guess it.
He was … familiar … awfully so.
It was cold and wet, the storm not easing in the slightest. The two missing nin had to find shelter, and they did in a small cave. The blue one managed to seal the entrance with a jutsu, and the pale boy set up the traps. Once a fire was lit, the smaller man curled up in the big blue one's arms, falling deeply asleep, safe that his partner would protect him.
The blue one put his head on the other's, closing his eyes and breathing in his familiar scent. He smiled softly, knowing that only he would ever get close to the great Uchiha Itachi.
NO THIS IS NOT THE END! XD I wouldn't do that to you :P Gotta love the cute no? It was HARD to make this IC because I didn't know how Present!Itachi would react to being attacked. But since he's never been attacked like this, I can imagine him being pretty frightened by the whole ordeal, the poor pretty man XD
Orochi's a bitch isn't she? I was tempted to make Kisame skewer her with his sword, but then he'd be up for murder charges XD This was the best I could do, folks! At least now you know why Orochi walked out on poor Sasori. (doesn't make her any less of a whore though )
Seeya soon!
