Hey everyone,
I am sorry for the confusion that happened with the last chapter. The odd thing is that the original version was fine, so I don't know happened. Again, sorry.
Okay, just a reminder; Last time, I posted both a random scene and a chapter. The chapter is important for the development of the story, the random scene isn't.
Since, I won't be writing for about two weeks because of my finals, I thought I should publish whatever I have finished from chapter 8. Wish me luck; I have been getting bad news all day long.
Please Enjoy it.
Chapter 8, part 1, "The first step"
It had been a few weeks since the muddle. And although the days didn't lessen the mistakes Itachi had made, it did take the edge of the guilt off. Plus, it had come to know that Kakashi in no way was intending to throw him back into the house of no return, as in Fugaku's house. In short, Itachi so no problem in huddling on the couch with a book all day.
He, however, was distracted occasionally by the sound of chewing, as Obito crunched down the pop corn. Not to mention, the kinder Uchiha had the habit of laughing loudly at even the slightly humorous moments while watching TV.
Another loud chuckle was the straw that broke the camel's back (1). Itachi rammed the book against the coffee table, "I have met quieter donkeys, lazy bum."
Obito turned to face Itachi frowning. He shouted out loudly, "Y-you're the one who keeps scrawling and reading books all day long. You're like a crow!"
The thing was, as the two exchanged accusations of sluggishness, Iruka was the one scraping the bathroom floor. Upon hearing their conversation, Iruka being Iruka, he decided to speak his mind.
He stormed out of the bathroom and into the living room swinging the toilet brush. His left hand clenched by his skin wrinkling the yellow plastic glove. "Stop acting like children. Neither of you does anything except sitting on his hind! You better get working before I shove that brush up your-" He paused gritting his teeth.
"A-" Itachi opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"Brush side first, Itachi, I swear!"
The two Uchiha's started complaining in low mutters, as Iruka went to answer the door.
"I forgot my key," Kakashi mumbled walking in. When he saw their expressions, he raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing..." Iruka looked away face flushed.
Almost rolling his eyes, Kakashi turned his face towards the others and said loudly. "You look tired Iruka, would you like me to help with anything. That's what family does, right?"
He tapped his legs directing his question to the Uchihas. When they didn't answer, he repeated. "Am I right?" He pulled the popcorn bowl out of Obito's hands.
The youngest of the ukes stared at the television pouting, "Maybe I should join one of those secret uke- right's organization they suspect on TV!"
"You do that," Kakashi smiled. "Right after you wash the dishes."
Obito pouted again, as he headed for the kitchen. Kakashi then turned to Itachi who saved himself the humiliation and got to work.
Iruka waved the brush in the air again sighing, "They are driving me insane."
Kakashi took the brush away, leaning down to kiss Iruka on the forehead. "I will still love you." The statement seemed to calm Iruka down instantly.
"Take off your cloves and clean up, there is something I want to talk to you about."
"Kakashi Hatake, if you think you sweet talking me will get you in my pants tonight!" he spoke seriously, "You are completely right."
The silver haired man laughed headed for his room, "I think I like that, although that wasn't what I was about to talk to you about." He raised his voice so Iruka could hear him while washing his hands.
"Are you turning me down?"
"Absolutely not, but lets not talk about our sex life with the bathroom window open," Kakashi walked in shutting down the window to avoid the neighbors hearing their private moments. Some ukes preyed on gossip.
Iruka turned around leaning on the sink, "So?"
The seme lowered his voice, "Shikaku Nara talked to me about something today..."
Iruka raised his eyebrows waiting for the follow up.
Kakashi took in a breath clearly uncomfortable, "He told me that he joined- actually organizing an under ground organization to fight for the rights of ukes."
The brunette's eyes widened, "I thought it was media buzz, not for real- ah-a- He is a seme."
"Being a seme doesn't mean you can't see the inequality and fight against it. That's what he said. They need to gather as much semes and ukes before going public."
Iruka shifted, "If people know-"
"I know. He wants a decision."
Iruka looked away, "Why are you asking me? It's your decision-"
"Are we being unfair to you? Do you feel-"
"I love you."
"That's not what I am asking. I might not be the best husband-"
"You are!"
"You've seen what happened with Itachi. I don't want my son to grow up being miserable like him because his father forced him-"
"You are a good man. You won't do that."
"How do you know?" He spoke quickly. "How do you know that I won't be pressured into it then? And what if I die? Any seme can easily steal from you if your locked up in the house all day."
"I don't know where this is coming from..." Iruka looked away. The strange thing was that members of oppressed groups were the cruelest judges when it came to one of their own. If a uke went out to get an education, it would not only be the semes pointing fingers. The whole community would; semes and uke. Prejudice had always been the worst virus a mind could contact. "People will-"
"Iruka, if I join. I want you to join with me."
The uke froze staring at the tub. The social price was too much to pay for both of them once it got out. They would become like the weird kid everyone bullied in school just because he was different.
"I heard in Suna, a seme threw his husband off the twentieth floor because he suspected he was having an affair. He didn't spend a day in jail."
The brunette looked up, "How about Obito and Itachi? Are you going to tell them?"
"Not now. Obito is too young to carry this burden, and I am afraid of what Itachi might do if he hears about it. Plus, their family would go the extra length to reserve the 'integrity' of its name."
"So what's the next step?"
"Spreading the word, but only to the ones you trust. I would begin with Mikoto."
Iruka nodded.
One the other side of the door, Itachi clutched the mop harder. Although frowning for being excluded once again, he had found a higher calling. The world was about to turn upside down...
- To be continued-
Any thoughts?