So! Long time no see huh? Nah, I don't think it's been that long! But any who, for those of you who actually check out my story statuses on my profile (today) and saw that I wasn't planning to update this until January, well, I lied! Unintentionally of course, I really did mean to update this in January because I was working on other things. Those other things didn't work out, I got stressed out, started thinking about this story again and cranked out a chapter by the end of the day!
Enjoy!
When Kisame received a call from Itachi from the hospital the day before, he assumed the worst. Was Itachi kicking him out again? Was he revoking his decision to let Kisame stay with him rent-free on the premise that he take classes in mechanical engineering? Had he done something wrong again that he didn't even know of? Had Sasuke gotten in touch with Itachi and told him that he suspected that Kisame was trying to overdose again when he proved to Sasuke that he wasn't? Was Itachi's health failing? Was Itachi dying?
All in that order.
He never knew what to expect from either Uchiha sibling. Itachi, on one hand, seemed to surprise him with good news spawned from the depths of his heart every other week whereas Sasuke on the other hand…well…he was bipolar as far as Kisame was concerned. Itachi was the same way, but he had an excuse: he was sick. To his knowledge, Sasuke wasn't physically sick, just mentally sick.
So when Itachi called asking him to do him a favor, Kisame willingly complied. Who knew what Itachi wanted on a Sunday afternoon, and from Kisame of all people.
"Is Sasuke around?" He asked.
He didn't need Kisame after all. Sasuke was the one he wanted to speak to. "Not that I know of. I think he went to work." Kisame said and walked across the living room when Itachi cut him off.
"Good. I have a favor I need to ask of you."
"What do you need?" Kisame had asked, all while trying to hide the hesitation in his voice.
"In the pantry on the top shelf is a round Christmas tin." He said.
Christmas? But it's the middle of July, Kisame thought. Maybe Itachi was one of those people who liked to celebrate Christmas in July. "Okay…"
"Behind it is a small, narrow box." Itachi instructed.
Kisame moved his cell phone from his right hand to his left and reached up to grab the small tin Itachi described and gently placed it on the counter. Behind where the tin had been rested a small, rectangular box the size of a fork with a small, red bow attached on top.
"Were you able to find it?" Itachi asked on the other end of the line.
"Yeah." Kisame answered, turning the box around in his hand, trying to decipher the contents. "What is it?"
"Don't open it. It's a present for Sasuke. His birthday's tomorrow."
The corners of Kisame's mouth turned upwards to form a small smile. "That's nice." So the brothers really did love each other. Well, Itachi loved Sasuke, that was for certain. "Are you going to give it to him?" He asked before his mind could catch up with his mouth.
Itachi sighed. "I was going to ask you for another favor, actually."
And that's how Kisame found himself driving to the hospital the next day with Sasuke's present sitting in the passenger seat of one of Suikazan's automobiles that were still sitting untouched outside of the garage. A few days ago, Kisame wouldn't have taken his chances as it had almost been a month since Suikazan's death but after his conversation with Sasuke, Kisame's worries were starting to fade away. It was only a matter of time before all, if not most, of this could be his.
"Thank you for bringing this on such short notice." Itachi said when Kisame entered the room.
Kisame smiled and uttered a quiet "not a problem" as he handed Itachi the little box. "What'd you get him?"
"A fountain pen with his name engraved on it." He opened the box to reveal a shiny red pen with "Sasuke Uchiha" engraved in fancy gold lettering.
"It's really nice." And probably really expensive. "How old will he be?"
"Twenty-five." Itachi answered, closing the box and setting it on his bedside. "Thanks again for bringing it today."
"It wasn't a problem. So his birthday's today?" Kisame asked.
Itachi nodded. "He won't stop by until after he finishes his shift at the sporting goods store this afternoon." He said. There was a moment of silence between them, neither knowing what to say next. "How is everything?"
"Good, good." Kisame said, walking around the edge of the bed to take a seat. He didn't have to drop off Suikazan's car for another twenty minutes or so and would spend the rest of the evening on his feet so why not take it easy for a few?
"That's good." Itachi sighed, in relief or out of fatigue, Kisame couldn't tell. "I know you didn't sign up to live with my younger brother, but he was adamant about moving back in during the course of my treatment."
"He's a good brother. Very mature."
Itachi released a short laugh and shook his head. "I don't know. Just a few months ago he and I were arguing about his decision to move out on his own and now he's demanding to move back in. I wish I could figure out why the change in heart all of a sudden."
Although Kisame had known Itachi for over a month, the two hadn't shared many personal conversations. Kisame told Itachi about his childhood and he learned a few details about Itachi through Sasuke the other night, but Itachi didn't often discuss his feelings with Kisame. Thus, Kisame didn't know if he was overstepping his boundaries or not by pointing out the obvious to him. "Well you have cancer which is a pretty serious disease." He said. "If I had an older brother who was in the hospital with cancer, I'd move closer to home to be by his side too."
"But Sasuke doesn't live more than an hour away."
"But if something happens to you, don't you think he'd want to be by your side as soon as possible?" Kisame argued.
"I suppose so." Itachi relented and looked up to meet Kisame's gaze. "How are things going between you two?"
Kisame nodded. "Oh yeah, things are going smoothly. In fact, just the other night he was helping me sort out a legal issue I had questions about."
"A legal issue?"
"Hm-hm. I moved out of Suikazan's place when he died because I didn't know what would happen to it. I was worried that the police or some government employee would come by to sell the house and arrest me for squatting even though I'd lived with Suikazan on and off for a little over twenty years or so." He explained.
Itachi bit his lip. "Did you specifically ask him to help you with this? Or did he volunteer?"
"I asked him." Kisame answered. "Why?"
Itachi shook his head. "It's nothing. I just didn't think that the two of you interacted with each other much."
"We don't usually. But we sat down over a few beers the other night while watching a crime scene investigation show and started talking and the next thing you know we were talking about Suikazan's will and inheritance all sorts of things." He told Itachi who looked at him as though he were dealing drugs on the street. "Is something wrong with that?" Kisame asked.
Again, Itachi dismissed it as nothing. Perhaps the topic of wills and inheritance were sensitive topics for Itachi, especially after that whole ordeal with his mother's side of the family when he was younger. Kisame could only imagine what it was like for him when his father died even though Sasuke hadn't brought it up the other day.
"It's not that I don't like living with you, I do. It's a really nice place, I just…" His voice trailed off as he didn't really know what he wanted to say. I just want to live above the garage again? The auto shop is basically my home? I don't want to burden you while you're in the hospital getting treatment for your illness?
"I understand." Itachi said without waiting for Kisame's explanation.
"Are you sure?"
Itachi closed his eyes. "Yes."
Not knowing what else to say, Kisame rose to his feet. "Well, I should probably get going. Gotta return the car and get ready for work." He said.
"Thanks again for dropping this off for me." Itachi replied.
Kisame smiled and raised his hand to wave good-bye to his roommate. "Take care, Itachi."
"Thanks."
"And say happy birthday to your kid brother for me!"
"I will."
1. It's Sasuke's b-day! Yay! And let the fun continue into the next chapter which will be an Itachi chapter that will take place later that day when Sasuke shows up! Double yay!
2. Goodness gracious it was difficult showing the gears in Itachi's head turning in a KisamePOV chapter! But no worries! We'll see Itachi's side of things soon enough!
****To The Secret Sal: I bet you LOVED Kisame's side comments about Sasuke's mental health in this chapter, didn't you honey? And wow, it took me a solid 15 days to continue (remember how you were mad that I ended it last time? lol!) Hopefully you didn't cry much over the long wait~ ;P
****To AbsoluteAnarchy: Itachi shares your suspicion so you're not the only one! ;)
Until next time!
~Sasori33-001