Serendipity
Chapter Seven:
Pain entered Itachi's office with a frown on his face.
"Itachi, I'm sending you and Kisame to look into this case." He said, handing Itachi a new file. Itachi looked it over, trying to keep his nerves on check. He couldn't shake away the feeling that something was wrong. "You only have to look into it. We don't want to act too hasty and draw attention to ourselves…"
Itachi couldn't focus. His mind kept going back to how Kitty looked like he hadn't wanted to stay home alone. Kisame was right, the kitten was probably still not ready. This made him feel guilty, thinking that he was wrong.
He should go back and get him.
They can try again another time.
No, he had to stand strong…
Itachi clenched his hands, trying to focus on what he was being told to do.
"…Understood?" Pain asked when he noted that Itachi was distracted. Itachi quickly nodded his head, looking at Pain in the eye. The red headed man gave him a look of pure disbelief.
"Scout the area, and report back. Got it," Itachi responded to make himself clear. Pain sighed, but figured Itachi was smart enough not to botch this job. Itachi was also one of his best employees, he trusted him.
"Get to it then," Pain walked out of the office.
Itachi sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he glanced at the folder once more. He got up. He needed to do something to distract himself before he drove himself crazy. Kitty would be fine. He was at home safe.
Of course he will be fine.
Sasuke flinched as his tiny arm was twisted, and was told to shut up. His eyes widened when they reached what looked like a community of makeshift tents and dirty bed pallets. He scrunched up his small face at the stench, and cried out when the scary man easily picked him up, throwing him inside of a hot metal cart.
Sasuke looked around, panicked. He scrambled over the dirty rags that lined the bottom, and reached to look over the edge of the cart.
He thought about screaming for help, maybe transforming to run away, when his eyes locked with the old man's. His eyes were a milky clouded color around the pupil, and a sclera of jaundice. All rational thought left his head as fear became the prominent emotion.
Sasuke small body shook, shrinking into himself, too scared to say anything. His bottom lip wobbled as he tried hard not to cry.
The man huffed, hands on his hips. He was satisfied when the boy didn't try to jump out like he had expected. He then proceeded to pick up a small rabid dog, and set him beside the trembling boy.
The dog growled making Sasuke jump away from it, but the boy understood that now there was no escape from inside of the smelly cart. Sasuke's small fingers curled around the thin metal bars, keeping to a corner as the dog threatened to bite him if he made any sudden movements.
"Gin-gin, be good!" the man called jovially as he started to push the cart forward, "We will now go and use this kid to get us some yummy food." The man grinned, doing a little dance as he walked.
In the shelter to have a child meant larger portions of food given to you. Some of the volunteers were suckers for small children. He just had to make sure he got to the right ones, the soft ones. He could already picture the large bounty he was about to make.
Sasuke flinched as the dog simply continued to growl at him. It would sniff him, and snarl harder, its teeth bared, unrelenting.
"Hey, I want to go back to Itachi!" Sasuke called, trying his best to stop shaking so much.
The man pushing the cart didn't seem to be listening to him. Instead he loudly started to hum, and making the cart jolt this way and that with force.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying once more. "Itachi is my owner. He's going to be super mad if I don't go back to him!" Sasuke called louder, trying to get this man to listen to him.
"Really now," The man drawled before laughing. He was mocking the small boy, although Sasuke didn't realize that.
"Really, really, so let me go!"
"Then why would you be left all alone at a bus stop? You are lying. I don't believe you. No child would walk around without shoes if they had a family, and your clothes don't even look like they fit you," The man cackled, "No no, you are not fooling me," The man licked his lips, "You're my meal ticket, either that or you become my meal," The man's teeth sharpened, his eyes focused on him suddenly looking more blood shot.
Sasuke jolted back, realization hitting him hard. A rat.
This man was rat demon!
A large one at that, Sasuke wouldn't be able to take him on with his small body structure. The man wasn't alone. There was a dog on his side that had him cornered right now. Sasuke was sure the dog was not a shapeshifter or anything like that, just a simple creature.
No…perhaps a familiar…
The dog's eyes flashed a dirty green color, showing that he was more than what he seemed. It was going to be hard to get away.
Sasuke jolted when the cart was drag across uneven ground, feeling more tears welling into his eyes. His mind rushed through thoughts of Itachi's warm touch, his strong arms, his nice bed, Itachi's scent…he wanted to go back so badly.
He was hungry, scared, and he wanted Itachi.
Whimpering, he snapped his eyes closed as his small body crashed against the heated metal of the cart. He hissed, trying to curl more into himself before opening one eye to look at the dog that was growling threateningly at him again.
Sasuke's eyes flashed red in anger, his little fangs flashing at the dog, but it only seemed to put it more on edge.
The man suddenly waved his hand, and Sasuke looked towards where he was heading, more fear entering him when he saw similar looking men. There were five others, one tall lanky, one big bulked up one, and three that looked average built, like the one that currently had Sasuke.
"My, what did you find here George?" The tall lanky man looked down at Sasuke with pure interest. Sasuke shrunk back when his face came too close.
"Meal ticket Bob, paws off. I plan on racking a large haul at the shelter with this little one," The man, George, said with a large smirk taking over his face. "He was abandoned all alone in the bus stop, can you believe it!"
"No way, that's not fair man. I want to score food too!" The large bulky one sulked, looking like he wanted to snatch the child for himself.
"Carl, you eat better than us, bugger off you pig," George bared his teeth making Carl hiss and step back submissively. "Once we're done with him, we can eat him as a bonus." The man winked, and they all fell into a fit of cackles.
Sasuke trembled as he was watched by the strangely yellow blood shot eyes of all six men. All of them were the same species of demon, rats.
"Itachi will kill you if he finds out that you've been bad to me, but if you let me go you'll be okay!" Sasuke tried to reason with them, wishing he could sound even more confident than he did. He was doing his best not to stumble on his words. "Itachi is the strongest demon ever!" he proclaimed.
"The boy keeps talking about a weasel," George laughed, "You think a weasel can win against us, fat chance," All the men laughed loudly, mockingly.
"The boy is delusional. It's what he is, the strongest demon that would be Condoriano," One of them said, whipping his tears at the hilarity.
"A weasel, ha,"
"Oh this is such a good joke."
Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger, offended that these fools thought that Itachi was a joke. "I'm not lying!" he snapped. "Itachi isn't a weasel. He's the strongest demon in the whole world!"
"Enough! Let's get going, otherwise we won't get the best meals." The men agreed and started walking to their destination. They kept loudly talking and cheering, making people move away from them. It was like they were feared.
No one wanted to associate with them.
Grinding his teeth angrily, Sasuke looked around but he didn't recognize anything. He couldn't even tell what street he had used when he left Itachi's house.
How was Itachi supposed to find him?
Damn it, he was never going to see Itachi ever again, and that thought alone had Sasuke's tears spilling over his cheeks.
Reaching the first shelter Sasuke was petrified as even more scary men and women now were around him. There were arguments, people snapping at others about being stingy and unfair with the food. It felt like hours standing on a slow moving line, of complaints about the food not being enough, and how ungrateful these people were.
When they reached the server, Sasuke was pulled forward by his arm, "I have a child, I deserve even more food!" George snapped, making the person on the other side roll their eyes.
"I'm not his child, I'm being kidnapped!" Sasuke cried, hoping to get some help.
"I can only provide you with one more meal for the child," the person said, a bored look on their face.
"Can't you see he's not that big, you want my son to die of hunger," George made it sound like the woman just had the gall to say his son was not worth anything.
Sasuke was devastated that he had not been heard. He was thrown into the cart, his back hitting the metal harshly and it left him feeling hopeless. He was going to die here. There was no doubt.
Why weren't these people helping him?
Itachi always went out of his way to help others, why weren't they?
"Alright, hand him two extra meals please," The woman looked like she didn't care as she marked how many more meals were being handed out. The person handing them out placed them on the table before him, crossing his arms to signal that George could claim his spoils.
George grumbled, unhappy that he was not given as much as he thought he would score. Tossing the food in the front portion of the cart, he limped away.
Sasuke turned his head when the server muttered, "Fucking scumbag creatures, thinking they and their children are worth shit,"
"Shut up, keep it to yourself," the woman jabbed the server, and called for the next person to move forward.
Realization of everything his mother had told him. About having to hide that he was a creature because the world could be cruel. It all hit like bricks and it hurt. Sasuke really was worth nothing in this world.
Yeah, why would anyone want to help him?
Sasuke remained silent as he was carted to different shelters to practically do the same- Facing the same disgusted look of the people serving the food as they looked down on him like he was the scum of the earth. Sasuke had never felt more belittled and worthless than he did now. Hopelessness pierced his young heart as the fight left him, and he sat back.
Why would Itachi want him back?
This was probably for the best. He was worthless and wouldn't make a difference anyways.
Itachi probably wouldn't even notice that he was gone.
By the time the sun was setting, he felt exhausted physically and emotionally. He was thirsty to the point that his mouth felt like sandpaper, and starving. The feeling was familiar, reminding him of a time before Itachi. His negative thoughts had consumed him, but also made him wish for more. He wanted to be stronger. He wanted to be someone that mattered.
He had been someone that mattered when he was with Itachi...hadn't he?
He should have never run away.
He should have stayed until he was stronger. Then he could leave properly, it would be for the best that Itachi hating him for who he was. He was so stupid, what had he been thinking?
It was late evening when Itachi and Kisame returned back to their apartment.
Kisame was telling Itachi to calm down, that his kitten was home and safe, where he had left him. Itachi nodded, agreeing with him, but the feeling of worry wouldn't dissipate. It was that annoying nagging feeling in his chest that told him that something was utterly wrong. He needed to hurry up. The faster he got home to his kitten, the fast he would start to feel better.
He was sure.
Kisame was about to tease Itachi about being like a worried parent, when suddenly his words died on his lips. His eyes widened and his face turned white.
Noticing the look on his friend's face, Itachi looked up to what had the man gaping.
That was when he saw it. The door to their apartment was left wide open.
Both Itachi and Kisame rushed to get to the apartment, looking inside to find a huge mess. Itachi ignored the fact that they could have been burglarized of anything. He didn't care, that could be replaced, but not Kitty. He started to call for the kitten, looking at all the places he liked to fall asleep in, but when he didn't find a trace of him, fear pierced his heart.
"He's gone, Kisame, mushkitty is gone!" Itachi said in panic, unable to keep still as he stressed about his kitten being gone. What was he going to do! What if they took him and he will never see him again! Or what if he ran away…
"He…he's a tiny thing! I'm sure he just ran out of the apartment because he was scared, He couldn't have gone far let's go look for him!" Kisame reasoned, wanting to comfort his usually calm friend.
Itachi was distraught, thinking the worst possible thing. His mind racing with questions and no answers.
Why was the fucking door open?
Who could have done this?
Itachi ran out, looking everywhere that he could think of at the moment. His first instinct was to ask his neighbors, but some of them weren't home at the moment. Itachi cursed, calling out before trying the next door.
Kisame slammed their door close, locking it and then followed after.
Itachi's eyes shifter from their dark color to a blood red one, allowing him to see better in the dark.
Kisame's eyes glowed a deep yellow emphasizing his own eyes as he too was allowed to see better. Fuck, if anything happened to that kitten, there was going to be hell to pay. There was no doubt that Itachi loved that little fuzz ball more than anything else in the world.
Trust Kisame when he said that it was hard to say that Itachi loved anything by any means, so that something small had come and given such happiness to Itachi, Kisame couldn't let that go.
Itachi is his best friend and he wanted him to be happy!
Both men called out, hoping against hope that the kitten would come to one of their calls.
Although the day had been scorching hot with all the traveling and the metal of the cart burning his skin, Sasuke was now shivering because of the sudden dip in temperature. He was cold. The sky was now dark and he wasn't sure where he was being taken to.
"Guess who scored some good food!" George called, wiggling his hips as he approached a bonfire surrounded by at least a hundred more rat demons.
The moment that George stepped away, Sasuke was made aware that the dog was still in the cart with him. He glanced back at the men, and how they were breaking out drinks and not paying attention. This was his chance.
He trembled, baring his small fangs and hissing when the dog growled, hair on point, and poised to attack.
Sasuke shifted, his small hand grabbing the edge of the cart to try and use it to propel him into a clear jump. That was when the dog attacked him, biting into his ankle, pulling him towards him, keeping him in.
Sasuke hissed, swiping at it with his claws. The dog growled harder, crunching its teeth until it broke the skin, and threatened to snap Sasuke's bones.
That was enough for Sasuke to shift into his kitten form, fur frazzled as he managed to escape the dog's jaws, but not for long. Sasuke's back arched tail high as he tried to make himself seem bigger than he was, but his eyes were wide in horror.
The dog started to grow in size, surrounded by a deep green aura as he frothed at the mouth.
Claws and his own teeth bared Sasuke did his best to fight back as the scuffle got bad. As much as Sasuke tried to scramble away, he was soon pinned under a large paw.
The dog bit into Sasuke's back, pulling at his skin and ripping some fur, tossing him several times across the cart, his head slamming into the metal. Sasuke pushed back, scratching, and biting as he tried to protect himself.
His body was just too small, his bones still underdeveloped, and every time he tried to jump out of the cart he was pulled back inside.
Thinking fast, he aimed at the dog's eyes. The dog cried out, whimpering loudly enough to call attention to them. Sasuke didn't notice.
Instead he focused on jumping out of the cart.
Suddenly the cruel hands of George caught him mid jump and tossed him back inside the unforgiving cart. The man laughed as he commented that he was nothing but a lousy cat all this time, and encouraged the dog to end him.
"Kill him Gin-Gin!"
Sasuke's little heart panicked as he was snatched once more by large teeth, his head going dizzy as he lost blood when they pierced into the tender flesh of his thigh. His mind going briefly to how Itachi's clothes were nothing but tattered bloody rags under him- he was going to be so mad at him if he ever found out.
Heh, what a funny thing to be worried about at the moment that he was going to die.
Sasuke wailed loudly when this time the dog managed to clamp down around his stomach. Sasuke could feel the teeth penetrating the soft underbelly cleanly, and refrained from moving too much. He knew he'd be instantly gutted if he did.
Was this it…?
Was he going to die here?
Damn it. Sasuke hissed, wanting to badly to fight back.
The men around him were calling amounts of money and rooting for the dog to win. The bets ranged that he'd die in the next minute to the next ten. They encouraged the growling dog to snap him in half, and judging by the way the dog's jaw clenched around him, he was considering it.
This fucking dog was treating him like he was some sort of chew toy.
He had to do something. He had to save himself. He had to fight and be strong to prove that he could live out here on his own, if only he didn't feel so dizzy.
Sasuke closed his eyes, concentrating on his core energy that buzzed around him. He let out a small jolt of electricity, enough to shock the dog into loosening his jaw around him. Sasuke sighed in relief, thinking he had a chance as he launched forward.
He twisted around, clamping into the dog's head and digging his claws into his scalp.
The dog growled, shaking it's head back and forth to shake him off.
Sasuke held on, placing energy into his claws to dig deeper. It was like scalding heat, as his claws dug in like the dog's skin was butter all the way to its skull.
The dog whimpered, moving forward to bump into the side of the cart. Sasuke gasped as the air left him the moment he was squished into the metal. He sparked for a second, making the dog hesitate for only a moment.
It wasn't enough. The spark didn't discourage him. The dog moved to capture him around his neck, ready to kill. Sasuke closed his eyes, resigned, but the pain never came. Sasuke slid to against the metal, panting hard as his kitty body fell limp and boneless.
A powerful and bone chilling growl cut through the laughter of the night, and silence fell around them. The bonfire ceased, leaving them in darkness and causing the men to flinch. They looked around themselves, confused and filled with fear that trickled down their spines along with sweat.
The whimper of the dog echoed loudly as it hit the rough ground, not even having a moment to recover. The dog met a gruesome death as his mouth was snatched and pried apart, open until it's jaw snapped and twisted around its head unnaturally. Pouring black flames burned down its throat as he was stepped on, dead.
Sasuke could barely see how something ripped through the backs of those rats. His red eyes struggled to remain open as he tried to figure out what was going on.
The red aura was so familiar. Like a warm embrace and the silken lining of heaven itself, but his mind was so lost in the fog with fear that he wasn't sure if this was friend or foe. His fast beating little heart wouldn't let him relax.
The rats continued to have their spines twisted in their own bodies as they were trashed around like they were nothing. Their minds locked away in a world of pain, slowly driving them insane, the last thing they saw the red eyes of the weasel that cat boy had warned them about.
He could hear a maniacal laugh follow the cries of horror and pain.
Sasuke was so weak, thinking how the world was so cruel and he was going to die here without being able to see Itachi again. He was the only one besides his mom to ever show him kindness, despite knowing that he could be nothing but a pet.
He just wanted to feel Itachi's warmth one last time, just once more.
Itachi, Sasuke thought of him as he let the darkness of unconsciousness finally took over him.
Itachi and Kisame were desperately asking around if anyone had seen a tiny black kitten around. None of their neighbors had seen anything. Noting the cameras surrounding the apartment building and the signs, Itachi ran for the security room.
Reaching the security room they asked to see if there was footage of the culprits that broke into their apartment.
What they learned was that their security was shitty.
There were no recording cameras and the person in charge of keeping an eye on the screens had slept the day away and was packing up for the night.
"Complain to the land lord not me, I'm just doing my job," The man growled, as he moved to leave. He motioned for Kisame and Itachi to get out of the way, glaring at them with irritation. He just wanted to go home for the night.
Pissed, Itachi grabbed him around his throat, "Your fucking job, what a joke. You've done jack shit with your job, you useless piece of meat space," Itachi threw him against the nearest wall, effortlessly. The man trembled as he was met with red eyes, and then he let out a scream.
Kisame didn't move to stop Itachi as they left said security guard convulsing on the floor. Kisame made a mental note to confront their land lord about this issue, but for now, followed his friend. They had more pressing matters to attend.
The two ran out of the building, asking people on the street if they had seen the kitten, and even showed pictures of him. When they realized that they were getting nowhere fast, they decided to look where a kitten might run to hide.
They weren't having any luck and it was starting to seem like a hopeless situation.
"We will find him, don't worry Itachi!" Kisame said, trying to comfort his friend.
Itachi wanted to snap at Kisame to shut up and stop saying that things were going to be okay. He didn't want to hear it.
Itachi knew he was losing his cool and composure and didn't care. He just wanted his kitty back. But he knew that getting mad at Kisame wasn't going to help and wasn't going to bring his kitten back. He needed to think rationally and calmly.
"Let's head to the back alley way, maybe we can see if someone saw him there," Itachi suggested, nervously tugging at his necklace. Kisame nodded, and they headed to the back of their apartment building. This place wasn't all that secret, but it was were the homeless had started their encampment community and sought shelter together.
As they neared the area, Itachi's ears picked up the familiar meows and cries that his heart would know anywhere.
Those were the cries of pain of his kitten.
Itachi wasted no time in running towards the sounds of pain and loud laughing. He was shocked to see a bunch of old men cheering around a metal shopping cart. Inside, a dog was mere centimeters from kill his kitten.
What was his mushkitty doing there!
Not hesitating in the least, Itachi jumped into action. Within seconds he had appeared at the cart, a wave of energy followed him as he removed the offending dog from his kitten before it could clamp its jaws around his small neck.
His aura had swooped around him with enough force to kill the fire that had lit the area, leaving darkness and silence.
The sudden fear hung thickly in the air, but they weren't getting away from him. There was nothing they could say to him that would spare their lives. How dare they place his kitten in danger?
His eyes could see them clearly, and launched at the one standing the closest.
He pierced right through the rat's chest, digging his hand deeply until his fingers curled around the spine. The rat demon chocked, blood convulsing past his lips. Itachi kicked him away, spine in hand as he reached for the next one.
A large fiery red ribcage surrounded Itachi, along with a large skeletal hand that swooped fast, and hard, catching several rats in his grip. His power easily incinerating them to ashes.
Kisame laughed as he moved to help Itachi in getting any of them that thought that they could run away from the massacre that was happening. Kisame knew Itachi would be able to catch them, no problem, but they had much more pressing matters to deal with.
"Useless rats," Kisame hissed, finishing off the last one.
Itachi ran back to his kitten, gently checking him. The kitten was unresponsive. He picked him up from the cart and flinched at the bites and blood matted fur. His kitten didn't look or feel good in the least. Tears threatened to fill his eyes as he brought the bloody limp kitten to his chest.
He felt so fragile and broken, nothing like his soft warm goo.
"Itachi, let's take him home and treat him, fast!" Kisame urged when he noted the condition the kitten was in. This shook Itachi out of his thoughts and got him into action once more.
Itachi nodded, rushing back to their apartment, and he prayed.
Please, please don't die on me…
Itachi trembled, cursing at himself to keep steady.
Carefully he placed Kitty into the sink that was warmly filled with warm soapy water. He gently washed the matted fur, his fingers parting it to access the wounds. He sighed shakily when he saw that some were deeper than others, and the blood didn't seem to want to stop.
Itachi anguished when he realized the water was nothing a deep red. He pulled the plug and turned the water on again, trying to wash it all away. Not that it mattered, it just wasn't going to stop but he focused on making sure that the wounds were clean and ran fresh.
Gritting his teeth, he reached for the emergency kit that his mom had prepared for him when he moved out.
Kisame held a fresh warm towel close as he watched Itachi further disinfect the wounds. The angry bite marks were jagged and tearing flesh so disturbingly. He actually felt bad for the little guy.
Finally, Itachi rubbed the healing salve over the wounds.
The salve was a special cream that his mother had made for him with her own energy, infusing it with magic that would help even the worse of wounds heal at a relatively fast pace. Itachi feared though that his kitty had lost too much blood.
What if he was too late?
Why couldn't he know that his little one was in danger way ahead before all of this happened…
If he had not left him home alone none of this would have happened. His kitten would be safe and in his arms, never having to experience this. This was all his fault. He knew Kitty wasn't ready and yet he forced him to stay.
He shouldn't have done that!
Itachi blinked when his tears landed on the kitten. Fuck, when did he start crying? He brought his sleeve to his face and angrily scrubbed, trying hard to stop himself from crying.
Kisame blinked, watching how Itachi's tear reacted with the salve, making it momentarily glow a steady purple color before it infused itself into the kitten, knitting the torn skin until It looked like there had never been a cut there.
"Itachi, he's okay," Kisame gently said.
Itachi sniffled, taking a look at Kitty who rested against his hand that held his little head steady. He noted that the salve was working. Caressing the wet fur, Itachi sighed in relief as the rest of the wounds closed.
He silently thanked his mother for forcing him to take the kit. Itachi didn't think he would ever need it. He had even told her that all it would do was accumulate dust.
In the end, it saved Kitty.
"Here man, come on. Bath time is over." Kisame held out the white fluffy towel that belonged now to the kitten, and Itachi turned to place him within it. Once wrapped, Kisame easily handed off the kitten to Itachi.
Itachi took a seat at the edge of the bathtub and much like the first time when he'd met Kitty, the hair dryer was turned on in order to help the kitten warm up and dry.
Kisame watched sadly as Itachi looked like he was refusing to look away from the kitten in his arms. He had never seen his friend look so broken before. He already knew that Itachi loved this little monster so much, but he had not realized that it was too the point that Itachi would look so lost and distraught at the thought of its death.
That was why he couldn't help but chuckle, tears in his eyes, when the damned kitten started pawing at the soft towel, releasing soft meows as his consciousness returned.
Of course he was going to live.
Anything that belonged to Itachi would be just as stubborn as him. There was no way that mushkitty was going to be dying today.
Itachi immediately started to whisper at the kitten, telling him that he was alright, and safe now. Red eyes blinked open, flinching when they locked on Kisame.
Itachi hissed as he felt claws dig into the skin of his hand, but didn't do anything about it. The kitten's ears perked at the sound, turning to look at Itachi. He couldn't believe his eyes. He never thought he'd get this chance ever. Kitty wasted no time as he started to babble meows at Itachi, desperately.
Itachi, Itachi, Itachi was here and he was safe.
He was alive because of him, no doubt. Sasuke had no doubts as he nuzzled into the sweet warmth of Itachi and dug his claws to remain there. Right now, all he wanted was to stay glued to Itachi.
Itachi let out a breathless laugh, pulling the tiny little creature close to his chest.
"What happened my mushkitty? You had me so worried. How did you end up out in the street like that? It must have been so scary, I could have lost you!" Itachi murmured while caressing the slightly damp fur and holding the tiny thing close to him, "Let's never do that again."
The little thing purred and nuzzled against Itachi face and neck, taking comfort on being safe in the arms of his savior.
Kisame smiled softly at the sweet sight the two of them made.
"Aww man, Itachi, you and mushkitty are so cute together," Kisame teared up, "Why can't I find love so beautiful like this!"
Itachi raised an eyebrow at him, "Kisame you're hopeless, man," Itachi shook his head, holding the trembling kitten against his own trebling body, trying his best to calm them both down. Itachi needed to be strong, he couldn't let Kitty know that he was scared as well. He needed a distraction… "Now, I'm going to go feed him and then we're off to bed."
Kisame perked up at that, "Make spaghetti, no, no Mac and cheese!" Kisame insisted as he walked behind them. Sasuke perked up at this. His own track mind reminding him of how hungry he was now that he wasn't in danger anymore.
Definitely some meat!
"Spaghetti with meat balls," Itachi decided.
He can read my mind…Sasuke thought to himself with awe.
Kisame whooped, moving to help Itachi with his set up. The faster that was done, the faster that he would get food in his belly. Itachi sighed, he only cooked more nowadays because of the kitten, otherwise he wouldn't even bother.
Kisame was really taking advantage.
Once everything was set out for him, he tried to place his kitten down so he could cook but found that it wasn't going to be that easy.
The kitten dug his nails into his shirt, refusing to let go. Not wanting to lose contact with Itachi for even a second.
When Kisame reached to take him, the kitten turned to bite his hand, yowling and hissing, refusing to release Itachi even more adamantly.
Itachi could feel the way the kitten trembled, the way he looked like he was scared that Itachi would leave him or something. It broke his heart, once more, to see him like that. Itachi felt a twinge of guilt return as he petted the kittens tense back.
"It's okay, I'm just going to cook with him hanging on me," Itachi whispered.
Kisame scratched the back of his head with a heavy sigh. Oh well, there was no reasoning with the small creature who tightly buried his face against Itachi's neck and refused to release him.
Itachi moved to wash his hands and working around with the kitten hanging off his chest, he started to cook their meal.
"Oh boy, he's glued to you now," Kisame shook his head. He was softly cursing as he had washed his hand and wrapped it in a napkin. The claw marks were refusing to fully heal, and it was irritating his skin in a strange way. "Damn his teeth and claws are sharp." He said, with a frown on his face.
"I still don't understand what could have happened," Itachi muttered as he did his best to cook. Kisame looked around. "Who would break into our house and what did they take?"
"The door was open, maybe that man broke in because he wanted stuff?" Kisame wondered.
"Why our apartment and why the kitten out of all things, nothing else was touched," Itachi hissed. He had deducted that they were missing nothing in their thrashed living room with just a glance. If anything it just looked like a mini tornado swept past their living room…
"Well, kinda hard to watch tv when you have no home or electricity," Kisame reasoned. "Of course they wouldn't take that. He probably thought we had a stash of cash or something."
"He wouldn't watch it, he would sell it. With money that means he can get food," Itachi elaborated.
"I thought bums like them got free food from the shelters, why would he want to pay for his food," Kisame said thoughtfully.
"You know that food can't be that good," Itachi said matter of fact.
"Compare to yours nope," Kisame grinned and Itachi sighed.
"You know a good chunk of money could even give way to paying for an apartment and betterment of their lives." Itachi said.
"Dude, you know those bums don't want money to better their lives. They just want it for their gain or drugs," Kisame said offhandedly.
Itachi shrugged, "I guess, whatever."
It was a bit of a challenge, but Itachi managed to cook the spaghetti and meatballs. Once he served the food, he tried to coax the kitten to eat some. Relative silence filled the kitchen as Kisame gorged himself on the food.
The kitten flinched, still refusing to let go, until his hunger won over his stubbornness and began to eat. Even as he ate, he kept one paw over Itachi's free hand, refusing to lose contact with him.
Itachi noted this as he tried to take his hand away several times only for the kitten to tense up and turn to him meowing desperately. Itachi found that he didn't like that distressed sound.
It reminded of when he first met the kitten, the way he seemed so scared and skittish with the world. It seemed that fear had returned to him. So he indulged the kitten in his need to keep contact with him as they ate.
Once they were done eating and Itachi made sure the kitten got enough water, they headed for bed. Kisame was already yawning, and calling a goodnight as he left to his room.
Somehow the night felt heavy and final for the first time ever.
Itachi took a few deep breaths before deciding it was really time to go to bed.
Itachi went to his room, changed and then went to brush his teeth. All the while the kitten remained close to him, becoming the reason he decided to save his shower for the morning. The little thing was meowing pitifully up at him, and finding one way or another to keep contact with him.
Itachi really didn't like seeing him like this.
He missed his happy little mush of purrs.
Once he was done with his nightly routine, he reached for Kitty once more, and went to bed, hugging the tiny body close to him. Itachi stared out the window, silent as he felt the kitten practically burrow himself into his chest, snuggling tightly against him.
Damn, he was so happy to have found him, so glad that his little one was here in his arms, safe.
Alive
Itachi didn't know what he'd do if he had lost him. He didn't even want to think of such a possibility, But it had almost been a reality.
Sasuke silently cried, soaking up the warmth that Itachi radiated, his soft scent filling his senses. The safety he felt here, he couldn't help but think that he was stupid forever wanting to leave it.
So, so stupid, that he might never get to experience this ever again.
The problem now was, how was he going to tell Itachi who he really was?
There was a chance Itachi wouldn't accept him once he found out. The chance that Itachi could turn out to be just as cruel as the world he had seen today. He was worth nothing in the eyes of others, but could he be worth something to Itachi?
He was the lowest class of demon. Itachi might even hate him. As stupid as it was, perhaps leaving once he was strong would be better. Sasuke would be able to stand independently. The thing was that no…he didn't want that. He no longer wanted that.
He didn't want to go away.
He wanted to stay here with Itachi forever. He wanted to be worth something, and he wanted to be good enough to stand at Itachi's side.
Closing his eyes tight, wanting to sleep the horrible nightmare of today away, his heart made a wish.
For Itachi to accept all of him, for him and not judge him based on a status.
"Mushkitty,"
Sasuke looked up as the sound of Itachi's voice cut through his thoughts.
He gasped silently when the dim light of the moon revealed the tears running down Itachi's cheeks. Itachi was crying too, why?
Why would a strong demon like Itachi cry?
Itachi shouldn't be crying. Sasuke didn't like it one bit. He wanted to see him smile and be happy. Just the sight alone brought tears to his eyes, making him go into another round of crying. Soft meows and interrupted purrs were heard from the tiny kitten as soft fingers carded through his fur.
His eyes widened when he realized that Itachi was shaking. The demon was scared…
"I don't know what happened, but I just want you to know that I need you by my side. I think I'd go crazy if I lost you. The thought alone kills me. Please never leave me." Itachi suddenly muttered softly, into the tiny perked ear of the mewling kitten. "I need you by my side, always."
Itachi blinked when he felt Kitty tense a bit before he was purring and nuzzling into him again. HE smiled softly, allowing himself to relax and enjoy the soft sound.
Sasuke closed his eyes tightly, joy dancing in his heart. Was that an answer to his wish? It had to be.
Sasuke wanted to reply, he wanted to let Itachi know as well.
So badly.
I need you too, Itachi. Always.