Spoilers from the more recent manga chapters. I have warned you so don't get mad at me. I do not own Naruto. Enjoy! Review please!
The next day, Haku left early in the morning to go sit on top of the cliff that overlooked the Akatsuki hideout, staring down at the river that rushed by below him. He still felt a little weak but other than that, he thought he would be able to continue training without any problems. Besides, he was eager to learn how to beat Itachi's Sharingan.
"So this is where you were," said a voice, causing Haku to whirl around, startled.
It was Itachi and Haku was surprised when his hand slipped beneath the mask and tugged it off, setting it on the ground as he sat down beside him.
"Um…good morning Itachi-sa…Itachi," Haku greeted.
"Morning. Are you well enough to train?" he asked.
"I think so. I feel fine," he replied.
"Good. I'm going to teach you three techniques today. They are part of a ten step process I developed to know when the Sharingan is being used on you," Itachi told him quickly.
"Ten steps?" Haku mused.
"At least there's a way," Itachi said.
"I wasn't complaining," Haku said hurriedly. "Never that. I just didn't think it would-"
"Calm down. Now get up and let me teach you."
Haku scrambled to his feet before following Itachi deeper into the forest above the hideout. When they were about half a mile away Itachi leaned as close to him as possible without touching him.
"Okay. There is a very high chance that Zetsu is watching us so I don't want him to know this technique. So I'll tell you verbally the signs and you hide them in your cloak to perform them. Is that clear?" he hissed.
"Yes Itachi."
Itachi quickly whispered the signs, scarcely loud enough for even Haku to hear and Haku quickly made the signs within the folds of his cloak, shocked when he felt a sudden rush of power course through him. Itachi drew away, the Sharingan showing in his eyes and he quickly looked Haku over, noting that his chakra level had increased, but only a little. So it really does work.
"Does it always feel like this?" Haku murmured, marveling in how…powerful he felt.
"Yes. But that's only the beginning. Do that a couple more times until you have it memorized," Itachi ordered. "I want to see the effects of what happens when used multiple times as well."
Haku shrugged and did as he ordered, a small smile appearing on his lips when the power intensified. Itachi noted this as well, storing the small tidbit in the back of his mind for future reference.
"Alright, here are the next seals."
For several hours they continued like this and by the end, the power began to drain out of Haku, leaving him to feel drained and tired. Itachi let them rest, amused at how Haku just slumped against a tree trunk and fell asleep in seconds.
Itachi sat down beside him, unable to help himself. He closed his eyes and deactivated his Sharingan, and then kept them close, trying to rest them as much as possible. Although he still refused to let on, his eyesight had finally begun worsening. Just a little bit at the moment, but he knew it would only get worse as time went on. But no one needed to know that.
At least an hour passed and finally Haku woke, turning to see Itachi beside him. "Sorry…was I asleep long?"
"You needed the rest so it doesn't matter. We'll head back now, or at least I will. I'm done," Itachi told him.
"Me too," Haku said, scrambling to his feet as Itachi rose and began heading back for the hideout.
Once they reached the tunnel, Haku slipped his mask on again, just in case they came across any other members. Itachi thought about Haku's mask as they walked. It was almost as though he needed the mask when he was around people he didn't trust. It was as if the mask were some sort of last resort defense against those who he thought would hurt him and Itachi couldn't help but pride himself in knowing that Haku was willing to let that barrier down with him.
"Is that a smirk I see, Itachi-san?" cooed a voice.
Itachi glared up at whoever it was. Haku hid a smile when he saw how Konan was smirking down at him, eyes all knowing, as usual.
"Leave me alone, Konan," he ordered, brushing past her and continuing on without waiting for Haku.
"Aw…looks like I scared the poor kid away," Konan giggled, turning to look at Haku. "So where were you two all day, hm?"
"Training, Konan. Just training," Haku sighed.
"Right. Well, I'll see you late Haku," she called as she continued on her way down the hall.
Haku sighed again and continued on towards his room. He entered it before exiting and instead, knocking on Itachi's door. The door knob turned in his hand as Itachi opened it, not looking at him, but letting him inside nonetheless.
"Um…Itachi?" Haku asked, following Itachi to the edge of the small pool.
Itachi didn't say anything in response, instead folding his legs as he sat down and staring into the water.
"I guess…I'll just keep talking then…" Haku trailed off, waiting for an objection. Hearing none, he continued. "Is there something wrong?"
"No."
"But you seemed so…I don't know…mad at Konan for pointing out that you were actually showing some emotion," Haku mumbled, knowing very well that he was traveling in dangerous territory now.
"It isn't any of your business how I feel Haku. I recommend you drop it," Itachi answered coldly.
"She told me you and Kisame were lovers!" Haku blurted. "I just wanted to know if that's why you're always so emotionless now."
Itachi's eyes flashed angrily and he rounded on Haku, pinning him to the ground in one swift movement. "I've been like this so know one knows the guilt I feel for murdering my whole clan! Do you know how hard it is not to kill myself every night?"
Haku stared at him for a few heartbeats before slipping off his mask and letting it rest on his chest. Their eyes remained locked for several more tense heartbeats and Haku could feel Itachi trembling above him.
"Are you done now?" he asked calmly.
Itachi stood up abruptly and walked back over to where he had been sitting, refusing now more than ever to look over at Haku. To look at that trusting face…it tore him apart. It was the same look Sasuke always had until that night. That trust had been shattered and hatred had been born, just as Itachi wanted it to. He knew what he had done was wrong. He also knew that Sasuke was supposed to have died that night too but looking into those hurt and betrayed eyes…he just couldn't do it. So now, as payment for his brother's life, he tormented himself nightly, trying to get over the pain.
"Who was the boy in the picture?" Haku suddenly asked. "Was he your younger brother?"
"What…picture?" Itachi whispered.
"The on that was in that cloak you gave me. A picture fell out but I put it in a different cloak somewhere in your closet…did you kill him too?" Haku wondered quietly, still lying down on the floor.
"No. I couldn't bring myself to," Itachi whispered painfully, draping an arm over his eyes.
"I killed my father," Haku told him quietly. "When I was really little. He was trying to kill me because I was different."
"I…I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It was a long time ago. It doesn't matter anymore."
"He left you alone."
"I found Zabuza."
"Zabuza is dead."
"I have you."
Silence. Loud, thundering, booming silence. It echoed around the room as Itachi let those words sink in. And then arms were wrapping tightly around him, holding him as close as possible, and a face was buried deeply into his neck, tickling his skin with small puffs of breath.
"You have me too, Itachi."