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Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

So why am I here? That was something that Itachi was thinking as he sat with his book, glancing across the table at his cousin and the friend who were both avoiding eye contact and sipping their milkshakes. Really. Why did they bring me?

Itachi was thirteen years old so easily old enough to stay at home alone. And yet Obito had insisted that he needed to look after his 'little cousin' and had dragged him along on this ridiculous trip to the zoo.

All Itachi had done was trail along behind them as Obito and Kakashi had awkwardly conversed and wandered the zoo, jumping apart with accidental contact. It was almost painful to watch this. But Itachi had nothing better to do today so he figured he'd just follow them. And observe.

As Obito moved away after accidentally nudging Kakashi with his elbow, Itachi let out a sigh. His cousin was really very stupid sometimes. And really so hopeless. But he was also so nice that it was hard to dislike him.

Go on Obito. You can do it. Just learn to acknowledge your feelings. His cousin was clearly in denial. Itachi was pleased that Kakashi was at least good enough to know how to handle Obito.

"So what do you want to see next?" Obito had decided to address Itachi as if this day was for his benefit.

"…The lemurs." They were cute. And fluffy.

"Lemurs it is." As Obito stood up and started moving, Itachi noticed Kakashi sighing. This had to be difficult for him.

Itachi reached out and patted him on the wrist, earning him a confused look from Kakashi. He only seemed to get more confused when Itachi gave him a thumbs up. Honestly, you try to encourage someone and they just look at you.

"Guys! Come on!" Obito had made it to the door and was waving wildly. Kakashi and Itachi shared a look and then both stood to follow him.

Hmm… Itachi kept watching as they moved through the zoo, Obito awkwardly chattering and pointing out different animals, and Kakashi gazing at Obito's hand. He was apparently more confident yet he couldn't even grip his cousin's hand. Perhaps he was trying to look after him but he could bet that Obito wouldn't mind.

Itachi could easily tell it was mutual here from what he had been observing. It was tempting to tell Obito that he was actually interested but really, he needed to learn to look after himself. That didn't mean that he wouldn't provide him with some aid after all.

Itachi gave a small cough and stared pointedly at Kakashi. Obito with his chatter did not notice this little signal. Kakashi though, looked round and paled slightly at the stare he was being given. Itachi gazed at his cousin's hand hanging by his side, and then at Kakashi.

With a small signal tilt of the head, he gestured that perhaps a move could be made at this point. Kakashi glanced at the hand and then at Itachi. A raise of an eyebrow; a question. Itachi nodded. Permission had been received.

Kakashi slowly turned to face forwards and Itachi could see he was a little tenser than before. Gingerly, he reached out his own hand and took hold of Obito's. It was a clumsy gesture and they were both really sweaty but it was sweet how embarrassed it made them both. Obito quickly glanced down and Itachi had to look intently at the pygmy marmosets in the nearby enclosure so he didn't notice him watching.

When Itachi finally risked another look forwards, Obito had lightly wrapped his own hand around Kakashi's. The pair were walking slowly and in silence but still they gripped hands. Itachi smiled. Another successful days' matchmaking. He was not going to feel bad about asking for ice cream later.

-Page Break-

Oh shit. This was clearly a date scenario! It always is in those girl game things! Why did I do this?! Obito still hadn't recovered from the hand holding earlier and was desperately scoffing a mint ice cream in a bid to calm his frazzled nerves.

What is wrong with me? That was really a minor thing for fuck's sake! He was just weird. It was no surprise he had never had a girlfriend if that was how he dealt with hand holding. And his cousin was there to witness his idiocy. He had to keep some respect as the oldest dammit! He had never had any from Sasuke but at least he had a chance with Itachi.

"Have you got brain freeze?" Obito jumped. He hadn't realised he had been rubbing his forehead in an attempt to clear his brain. It was only lucky that Kakashi had gone to get drinks.

"No! No! Just…" What do I say? Itachi placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's OK Obito."

"What?"

"It's OK." He wasn't sure why he was being patted but it was nice anyway.

"Thanks 'tachi." His cousin was so cute. He was always such a good kid and never bothered Obito. It was karma's way of making up for Sasuke.

"I got some orange juice." Kakashi had returned.

"I need the toilet." Itachi? His cousin sped off, leaving them alone. What is he doing? He's supposed to be a third wheel! Not that he had told him this.

"Having fun Obito?" Kakashi seemed so calm in comparison to him.

"Yeah! It's a nice day…" And he would be having more fun if he could stop feeling so self-conscious and over thinking every action. Like the hand-holding and the small touches he kept getting.

"I definitely prefer that cousin of yours."

"Yeah. He's sweet and smart." Obito practically puffed out his chest with pride.

"Clearly didn't pick it up from his cousin."

"Hey! Ass." That had felt a little more like normal.

"I haven't been here in ages." Kakashi was smiling a little.

"Yeah…. I come here a bit for Sasuke." The little shit did look cute when he got all excited over seeing the giraffes.

"I think the last time was when I was about eight?"

"Fun?"

"Err…. Well dad did try to climb in with the ostriches so we got thrown out."

"Oh… Sorry…"

"It's fine. That wasn't because he was drunk or anything. I had this hat I was wearing and it fell in."

"That's… kind of cute actually."

"Yeah… There were some good times." He was pleased to hear it. And that Kakashi trusted him enough to talk about it.

"How is he?" I hope he doesn't mind me asking.

"He's… about as good as can be expected. I threw out most of the stuff before I left but I bet he'll have some more stashed away somewhere."

"I'm sorry…"

"I'm escaping to your house so I don't mind. I get a break."

"You know you can come round anytime right?"

"I know. You're a good friend." Am I? But I'm such a dick! He had the guilt of his weird behaviour.

"Thanks…." More awkwardness. And then a hand was wrapping around his once more and Obito went tense. Outwardly he was completely expressionless but internally he was screaming. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh-.

"I'm done." When Itachi made his reappearance, Obito jumped to his feet, pulling his hand free.

"We better get going if want to see the elephant talk!" And with the forced cheer in place, Obito hurried on.

-Page Break-

It wasn't until Itachi went to bed that they were finally alone again. Obito wasn't sure how he felt about this. He had admittedly enjoyed the hand holding again but he didn't if he should since he'd already turned him down.

Why do I feel so weird? And why can't I stop freaking out so much? He was so stupid.

"It feels like we're parents and our kid has just gone to bed."

"Now we just need to watch TV until we fall asleep, feeling terrible about our empty, sexless husk of a marriage that we keep up for the sake of the children."

"That got deep really quickly… Wait. Are you sure you're not secretly middle aged? Is that why you have white hair?"

"Egads! You have discovered my secret!" He couldn't help but burst out laughing at Kakashi's shocked expression. It looked so funny on the normally placid boy. And of course his laughing set off Kakashi.

"Who actually says 'egads'? Seriously." Obito was wiping tears from his eyes.

"Me apparently. I was getting into character."

"But you suck at acting! We've discussed this."

"You've got me there." They shared a small smile and, for a moment, things felt like they always did. Until that annoying voice decided to pop up into Obito's mind.

You should kiss him. What?! I'm not doing that! We're friends! But he looks especially nice right now. I said no! I'm not a cocktease! He needed a distraction.

"Look! A movie about submarines! That looks fun!"

"Does it?"

"Yes!" No it looks terrible you stupid, stupid asshole. What is wrong with you? Why would you inflict this on your friend or yourself?

"If you insist."

Of course the movie was shit and boring and badly made but it meant he wasn't thinking about how the light fell nicely on Kakashi's- No! Stop it!

He didn't want to be thinking this shite. He wasn't gay. Right? No. No he was definitely into girls. Unless… No. Girls. Right?

I keep going around and around in my head and nothing is changing. Except I feel more and more shitty as this goes on. Kakashi had been happier since he'd confessed and talked to him so why couldn't he relax?

"You seem to be shredding the shit out of your sofa cushion." Obito glanced down at the area of sofa he had been destroying in his nerves.

"Oops… Just thinking…" Great job genius. Everyone knows you never think. He'll know it's a lie.

"About?" Curses! Already foiled! He was failing at one of the fundamentals of lying; actually have a lie.

"Snakes?"

"Are you saying that because it's the first thing you noticed?" He hadn't noticed there was a book of snakes on the table.

"No…"

"Obito. Don't be ridiculous. You have nothing to worry about." Not from you maybe! Because it wasn't Kakashi's fault. Perhaps it could be linked to him, but he was not the cause of it all.

"You don't know that." Why did I say that? I admitted I had a problem again.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"I get that this is a personal problem but don't be stubborn if you need help."

"I don't know what this even is." And without knowing that, he couldn't really do anything.

"You feel weird about something and you don't understand so it scares you." Obito's mouth mist have dropped open. "I've experienced it and it sucked. But I learnt to deal."

"You did?" Kakashi nodded. "Um… What were those feelings?"

"How I felt when I first liked another guy." And the relief disappeared, replaced by a cold feeling spreading in his chest.

"Oh." Shit. Is that what this?

"In our first year at school. Guy in my physics class. He was never into guys so I never confessed but I did like him. And it weirded me out."

"And how did you stop it?"

"I didn't. It just became easier to accept." But I can't!

Obito had a vague idea what this was. But he was also confused and afraid. What if he was reading it wrong and he led Kakashi on? Could he actually cope with a relationship? Was it just because the guy liked him? He didn't want to feel that he was being caught up in Kakashi's feelings and then end up hurting his friend. It was difficult.

Obito had no faith in himself. He'd never been this unsure in his life and it scared him more than he wanted to admit.

Obito was still staring at the TV screen long after the film had finished playing and the credits rolled. Kakashi just sat and waited.

The story involving Sakumo jumping into the Ostrich enclosure is based on a true story from when our family went to the zoo when we were younger. My cousin accidentally threw my little brother's favourite hat into the ostrich enclosure and felt so guilty he tried to jump in XD In the end we got it out with a stick.

Kirito1389, Obito and Kakashi are 15, nearly 16 in this story, and Itachi is 13. And Wildtrance, Sakumo and Obito will be encountering each other at some point in this story, and I hope your English paper went well.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this and to leave reviews, I enjoy reading them a lot.