Je t'aime
Reste contre moi
Dans la chaleur de mes bras
De ces mots qui se disent tout bas

I love you
Stay with me
In the warmth of my arms
From these words that we whisper

Kakashi awoke the next morning to the sound of someone ringing on his doorbell. Rolling slowly off the couch and making his unhurried way to the door, he wondered who would wake him up so early – Kakashi glanced at his watch: 11 a.m. – in the morning.

Standing on the stoop was Gaara. He was crossing his arms and looking up at him in a stately way, his new tattoo gleaming in the morning light. "Yes?" Kakashi asked, slightly annoyed.

Gaara blinked, unwavering. "We're meeting at your place today."

Kakashi, stone-faced, stared at the wall behind Gaara's head for a second, thinking. Band meeting at his place meant it was Friday, which meant…. Kakashi's foot accidentally brushed against a pair of brown school shoes just inside the doorway. He looked down. Gaara's eyes followed his gaze.

Damn! "I'll be right back," Kakashi said hurriedly, slamming the door in Gaara's face. Slipping out of there and speed-diving to his room, he found Sasuke still peacefully asleep in his bed, unaware of any of the goings-on outside. Sasuke had ended up hugging one of his pillows, and the blanket was half sprawled out on the floor. He had to somehow…get Sasuke out of there in the space of two minutes, because that was how long he knew Gaara's patience to be.

Someone started knocking loudly on the door, probably Zabuza. Ignoring Zabuza's incessant knocking, Kakashi tried to think of a plan. But they all somehow involved throwing Sasuke out of the fifth floor window, and he didn't want to be charged for both child murdering and molesting just yet. Taking the blanket, he flung it over Sasuke, just as Zabuza barged in through the front. Then he closed the door to his room and looked up calmly as Zabuza stood in the living room, fuming. He had an even shorter fuse than Gaara. Gaara calmly walked in behind him and poured himself a glass of juice from the fridge. "What happened to your ears?" was the first thing that Zabuza said.

"I got them pierced," Kakashi said, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't wake up…yet.

Zabuza looked at his studs suspiciously. Both Kakashi and Zabuza came from an older generation of rock music lovers in which bodily piercing was practically unheard of. Under Zabuza's scrutiny, Kakashi realized how alien these blazing diamonds must look to Zabuza. He suddenly felt almost ashamed of wearing them. But what did Zabuza's opinion matter now?

Zabuza did not say anything and merely sat down at his kitchen table. Kakashi could have handled a scolding, anything, but not this uncaring response. It was almost as if Zabuza was giving up on him, writing him off as a lost cause. No different from anyone else. Fights were easy to overcome, but the aftermath was always what bit it. Kakashi silently went over to his fridge and accumulated bits and pieces of leftovers and, without offering anyone any, ate them for breakfast. Lunch. Brunch.

"We haven't all day, you know," Zabuza said, crossing his arms. Kakashi ignored him and continued eating in a stately way while Gaara examined his porn tapes. They didn't start discussing music composition until noon.

Leaving one of Kakashi's porn tapes on, they sat around the coffee table, examining some of the lyrics that Kakashi wrote last week for a song he was working on. Kakashi knew he had fallen greatly behind this week, so he was up for any opinions.

"Actually, you know. We could open like this…" Gaara said as he played several experimental tunes on his bass guitar.

Kakashi quietly strummed absently, mind not really there. He was watching his bedroom door, inspecting it for any signs of life. He thought he heard the tap running.

As if to confirm his opinion, Zabuza perked up. Just then, an exceptionally luscious and juicy portion of his porn tape came on and they could all hear the actress' voice screaming in ecstasy. Zabuza inadvertently looked at the screen and Kakashi sighed, relieved.

They all heard a loud thump coming from Kakashi's bedroom. "Is someone there?" Zabuza asked. "A woman?"

If Gaara chose to comment on that statement, he didn't. "No," Kakashi said. Technically, he wasn't lying.

Sasuke ruined it by coming out of the bedroom at that exact time. All three of them turned to stare at him, including Kakashi.

Sasuke was wearing his school uniform from yesterday and he was trying to put on his socks. All three of them watched Sasuke's theatrics until he finally realized that he wasn't alone in the room. Sasuke looked just as bewildered as Kakashi.

"Explain," Zabuza said to Kakashi, slapping his head. Gaara was still giving Sasuke the once-over and the two boys inspected each other as if wondering how each could have been related to Kakashi.

"A friend," Kakashi said. He winced, the words sounding lame even to his own ears.

"Are you Insomnie?" Sasuke asked, eyes widening in recognition. Gaara nodded. Sasuke smiled. He looked very young when he did so, and Kakashi suddenly realized how pretty the boy looked in the morning sunlight. Under Zabuza's scrutiny, Sasuke slowly shuffled away sideways and towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Kakashi asked gently.

"S-school," Sasuke said. "I'm late." Slipping on his shoes, he let himself out the door.

Zabuza finally turned to Kakashi. "Well?" he asked.

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to drive him to school? It's a long way off."

Kakashi looked at his friend, and realized he was smiling. Kakashi looked back and forth between his band mates, before getting up and running through the door, grabbing a couple of snacks along the way.
Sasuke sat beside Kakashi in his convertible, munching on some of the snacks that Kakashi gave him. Kakashi suddenly realized that the kid probably hadn't eaten breakfast this morning. Or last night's dinner, for that matter, if he had, indeed waited for Kakashi outside his stoop all night. Feeling incredibly guilty, Kakashi speed-drove to the high school he knew so well, even though Sasuke was horrendously late anyway. He screeched to a halt in front of the gate, creating a large cloud of dust.

"Thank you," Sasuke said.

"You'd better hurry, or else Iruka would get mad." Actually, he knew that Iruka probably wouldn't. But he said it anyway, feeling particularly paternal this morning. Afternoon.

"I mean…thank you for last night," Sasuke said, hopping out of the car. He gazed at Kakashi shyly and Kakashi suddenly remembered their moment yesterday, and everything they had been through.

"I'll…pick you up at three?" Kakashi asked.

At Sasuke's widened gaze, Kakashi winked and backed out of the school lot. He drove back to his flat. He would have a lot of explaining to do later.

At 4 p.m., Kakashi drove back to the high school in a good mood. After surviving Zabuza's incessant teasing and Gaara's uninterpretable stony gaze, Zabuza had somehow found it in his heart to forgive him in the space of that afternoon. He never realized how deprived he had been until Zabuza slapped him on the back and supported him in his usual brotherly fashion. And now he was picking up Sasuke after school. It didn't matter that he was highly late, because he was in a good mood.

His good mood lasted up until the part when he turned in front of the gates and saw Sasuke…standing with Iruka. Iruka had his hands on his hips and he did not look pleased.

Killing the engine, Kakashi got out. "Iruka, what—,"

"What are you doing, Kakashi?" Iruka hissed, cornering Kakashi against the trunk of a tree.

"I don't understand what you're saying," Kakashi said. He glanced at Sasuke, who had fearfully clung onto the car's side-view mirror, watching the brothers fight.

"To Sasuke! First, the boy comes to class in a tardy condition and late, and I see him coming out of YOUR car through the window! What are you doing with him?"

"I…just drove him to school," Kakashi answered. He had never seen his brother as angry as this. "He just stayed over at my place…." Oops. Wrong answer.

"He…slept over?" Iruka's voice was rising. Iruka was a very traditional family man. The concept of two males in a special sort of relationship could not be formulated in his mind. "He just…slept over?"

Kakashi tried to defend himself. "Yes," he said, standing tall. "Is there a problem with that?"

Iruka turned. "Sasuke," he asked kindly. "Is what Kakashi saying all true?"

Sasuke slowly nodded. "Kakashi…is very kind to me. He takes care of me well." Sasuke looked away, afraid of what Kakashi would say. Kakashi did not say anything.

Iruka held his head, getting one of his headaches. "I still can't believe you're doing this to my student, Kakashi. I'm very disappointed in you."

When has Iruka not been disappointed in him? Even though Iruka never said so before, hearing that fact verbally, now, hurt him more than anything. Iruka had probably been hiding his disappointment in Kakashi for a very long time, but never had the guts to say it. Kakashi felt played and betrayed.

"Come on, Sasuke," Kakashi said curtly. "We're leaving."

"Sasuke?" Iruka asked, hopefully. "You wouldn't really leave, would you?"

Sasuke stared back and forth between the brothers for a moment, torn. On the one hand was his teacher whom he considered almost a father to him and who'd taken care of him and knows him the best. On the other hand was Kakashi, the one man he loved, whom he'd only really gotten to know just a day ago. It really wasn't much of a decision. Kakashi got into his car in defeat, glaring at his brother the entire time. He was about to back out when a hand grabbed the passenger side and opened the door.

It was Sasuke. "Kakashi?" he said. "I'm coming with you."

Then, surprising everyone, Sasuke hopped into the car. Without wasting a moment, Kakashi backed out, leaving a cloud of dust in Iruka's wake. He drove off. He thought he heard Iruka shout, "Take care of him!" but he wasn't sure. At this point, he didn't really care, as long as Sasuke was with him. He looked over at Sasuke and Sasuke was smiling happily, clothes still scruffy. Kakashi shook his head. Nothing anyone said mattered now.

Sasuke was an orphan. Had been for years. He lived in a tiny house by himself and relied off the kindness of neighbours and the temple, which was incidentally how he met Iruka. Both his parents had committed suicide due to some financial crisis, shortly after the disappearance of Itachi. So Sasuke was left with nothing. Kakashi discovered all of this as he treated Sasuke to ice cream at a nearby parlour. They sat on two candy-cane striped stools on this sunny day.

"So that is why you want to find Itachi," Kakashi said, eating neatly from his green tea ice cream cup.

Sasuke nodded after licking some of the ice cream off his fingers from his double scoop fudge cone. "He's the only family I have, and I really want to see him." Sasuke was getting chocolate all over his face and Kakashi smiled inwardly. Everything this kid did was cute. "I already have some idea of where he might be."

"Oh, do you now?" Kakashi said, raising a brow.

Sasuke nodded again and looked down and away. Kakashi long recognized this as a cue that Sasuke did not want to talk.

They ate in silence for a few more minutes. Kakashi made Sasuke wipe up his face when Kurenai called.

"Kakashi?" she said over his cell phone. "Are you busy right now?" She sounded really anxious.

Kakashi watched as Sasuke unsuccessfully wiped the chocolate off, missing a dozen different spots. "Ah, no. What's up?"

"I…I think Zabuza may be cheating on me." On the other end, Kakashi could hear Kurenai breaking down into tears.

"What makes you say that?" Kakashi said, trying to sound the innocent friend.

"I…I can't say right now. Can I meet you up somewhere? In person? I just don't know who to turn to."

Sasuke had finished wiping and now had taken to swinging his legs on the stool. "Hold, on." Kakashi cupped the phone. "Sasuke? Do you have anywhere to go right now?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes up to the air, thinking. "Well, I did promise Naruto and the other boys that I'd play soccer with them."

"And where is that?"

"Just that park over there," Sasuke said, pointing off in a general direction.

"Okay." Kakashi uncovered the phone and gave Kurenai the coordinates. Then they hung up.

"Let's go," Sasuke said, hopping off the stool. Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder, grabbed a moist towelette, and started wiping off the rest of Sasuke's face. Sasuke looked too shocked to move. Kakashi held his hand under Sasuke's chin, feeling the smoothness of the boy's cheeks as he wiped. Sasuke probably never had anyone take care of him like this. He smiled fondly. Well, he had plenty of time to learn.

Sasuke ran on ahead, beckoning Kakashi while Kakashi walked to the park at his general, slow pace, hands in his pockets. He was enjoying this afternoon tremendously.

Kurenai arrived half an hour later. Kakashi sat on a bench facing a wide soccer field, watching Sasuke play. Kurenai touched him on the shoulder and he looked up, then immediately went over to her.

Kurenai looked like a mess. Her eyes were puffy from crying or lack of sleep and some of her makeup had smudged, giving her a smoky eye look. She was still sniffing as Kakashi stepped forward and gave her a hug. He patted Kurenai on the back of the head.

"Oh, Kakashi. I can't believe he would do something like that." She shook her head.

"Come, come. Have a seat," Kakashi said gently, leading Kurenai over to the bench. Far off, he could see Sasuke looking at them curiously, but he continued to play.

"So, what happened?" Kakashi said, even though he knew very well what happened.

"I always knew something was up from the night I came home from Taboo. I don't know if you knew, but Zabuza never returned to my place that night." She started crying again and Kakashi looked on helplessly, not knowing how he should comfort her.

"How do you know he might have cheated?" Kakashi asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"I just know," Kurenai said, nasally, blowing her nose. "Call it a sixth sense, but women just know these things, Kakashi. They just do." Kakashi added that to his list of Womanly Things That He Would Never Understand, including Ino and Sakura's penchant for doing EVERYTHING together. Kakashi scratched his head. Thank god Sasuke wasn't a woman. He was still missing some womanly attributes, though, Kakashi thought in regret. "And I have a feeling I know who it is."

Kakashi was surprised. "You do?" This womanly sixth sense was a very dangerous tool.

"I recognize the perfume. I know it probably came from someone you guys worked with, because it hung around you three all the time, but I haven't smelt it again since. And now it's emerged again." Kurenai had a very determined look on her face. "I know it's pretty much useless of me to ask a man this, but do you remember anyone of this smell?" And she took out Zabuza's still frumpled, unwashed shirt from her purse and held it out to him.

Kakashi took a cautious whiff. "All I smell is the musty scent of Zabuza."

"Oh, I knew it wouldn't work," Kurenai said, putting the shirt up to her face. "It's so obvious!"

Kakashi gave her a blank look. Being a stupid man, his nose just wasn't as sensitive.

"But you must remember something! Isn't there a woman you used to work with closely? Anyone?"

"There was one. But he was a man."

Kurenai sat back in defeat. "If I ever find out who it is…." He could see Kurenai wring the shirt in her hands, red manicured fingernails digging deeply. He shuddered.

"Why don't you try directly asking him? He's right here."

"What?"

And that was when Zabuza rounded the corner, along with…Haku. Zabuza was holding Haku's hand while Haku gazed prettily at the sun, holding a slender hand over her fine brow to hide in its shade. At the ice cream parlour, Kakashi had called Zabuza and told him to meet here as well, hoping that he would be able to reunite the couple, but he didn't expect Zabuza and Haku to still be together. After all, he and Zabuza had been out of touch for several days. Kakashi's plan was severely backfiring now. Zabuza started, "Kakashi, what…." Zabuza stopped short when he saw Kurenai.

Kurenai slowly stood up, wiping off her sniffling nose with a hand. Both women were very beautiful, Kurenai in a more mature, sensuous, and sexy way. Kakashi finally got his first clear look at Haku. Haku's face, previously feminine before, looked more so now. Her skin was very fine and white and her face was very youthful, features small and petite with a delicate figure, to boot. Recognizing him, Haku waved and Kakashi waved slowly back, at a complete loss. Haku did not look like a young man at all. No wonder Zabuza had…slept with her.

Kurenai marched up to Zabuza in her heels. But no, she didn't stop at Zabuza, she walked past Zabuza and over to Haku, who had no idea what was going on. Kurenai raised a hand and….

"Stop!" Zabuza shouted, grabbing Kurenai's hand at the last minute. Kurenai struggled viciously, hitting Zabuza uselessly across the chest in general frustration. Kakashi would have helped hold her back, but he didn't want to be anywhere near her right now.

"Zabuza," Haku asked, tugging on his sleeve. "Who is this woman?"

Kurenai spat in Haku's face and Haku stepped back, surprised. "I'm his future wife, cunt. Who do you think you are, stealing my Zabuza away?"

"My name is Haku," Haku said proudly, stepping forward. "And it wasn't me, sleeping with your man. He was the one who approached me, isn't that right, Zabuza?" she said, hanging onto his arm.

The kids in the soccer field had stopped playing and were now staring at the drama unfolding before them. Kakashi turned around and waved for them to continue playing and one of the kids held up a hand and pointed at Kakashi. Kakashi had no idea what that meant. He turned back around again, intrigued by the drama despite himself.

"Wait, I know you," Kurenai said, a dawn of recognition from hearing the name. "You're just a boy who clung onto Zabuza last year." Kurenai scoffed. "Whatsamatter? Can't compete with a real woman?" Kurenai laughed, her womanly bosom bouncing with her.

Haku frowned and got angry. "I AM a woman." And, with that, Haku unzipped her shirt.

Far off, one of the boys had dropped the soccer ball and all were now staring in awe at the spectacle before them. Kakashi waved for them to stop looking but, being hormonal teenage boys, they completely ignored him.

Kurenai's eyes widened and Zabuza covered his face in his hand. She turned towards Zabuza. "You cheated on me for that little slut?" she asked, pointing at Haku.

"Kurenai, you know I love only you," Zabuza said, grovelling.

Kurenai slapped him, breathing hardly. "After all we've been through…how could you do this to me, Zabuza?" Kurenai was beginning to cry again. "That's it. I'm having an abortion!"

That snapped Zabuza out of it. "Wait. You're pregnant?"

Kurenai stormed over to the bench and grabbed up her purse and Kakashi stepped back, giving her room. Zabuza had the most elated look in his eyes right now. "You're pregnant…. Kurenai! Wait!" And, ditching Haku, he ran after Kurenai.

Kakashi and Haku stared at one another. Kakashi had no idea what to say, and neither did Haku. Haku sniffed and sat on the bench. "What's wrong?" Haku said, talking to herself. "I thought I did everything he wanted. I even changed my whole goddamn look. Why?" Haku buried her face in her hands.

Kakashi gazed down at her sympathetically. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I think you've made a great improvement from last year."

"You think?" Haku said, looking up at Kakashi with tear-streaked eyes.

"Yeah," Kakashi said, taking a seat beside her. "But I've always been meaning to ask you, though…." And with that, Kakashi leaned over and whispered something into Haku's ear.

Haku's eyes widened, then she slapped Kakashi in the face. "Pervert!" Picking up her skirts, she left.

Kakashi laughed. He knew he'd elicit that reaction but it was worth a try. But he really wanted to know what she looked like DOWN THERE.

Sasuke and the boys took the time to shuffle over to him. "Excuse me, mister. Are you Kakashi?" One of the boys asked, a bleach-blond. Kakashi nodded, still smiling widely.

As one, all of the boys huddled forward and started pawing at Kakashi, asking for his autograph. A ways away, Sasuke grinned at him apologetically.

Kakashi shrugged and started signing. Today had been a very amusing afternoon.

Kakashi and Sasuke ate dinner together by candlelight that night right in the confines of Kakashi's kitchen. For the first time in a while, Kakashi whipped up a home cooked meal and Sasuke was right there, eager to help. Sasuke gazed at a slip of paper tacked to Kakashi's refrigerator with a guitar-shaped magnet.

"Oh, that?" Kakashi said, still cooking. "Someone slipped that under my door a few days ago, and I've been trying to translate the words." Beside the French poem, Sasuke could see Kakashi's messy Japanese characters.

Sasuke took down the poem. "I can't believe you still have it," he whispered.

Kakashi gazed over curiously. "It's yours?"

"No. It's yours now," Sasuke said, smiling and tacking it back up.

"Then…can you tell me what it means? The poem is very beautiful."

Sasuke smiled again, secretly. "I'll let you figure that out."

Which was what Kakashi liked about Sasuke, he supposed – his allure. As Sasuke nodded off to sleep in his bed, Kakashi gazed out his open bedroom window at the lights of the night outside, cars honking, neon signs. While it was busy outside and couples were still out trying to maximize their night time before Saturday morning, Kakashi felt perfectly content staying here. He remembered himself being one of those people down there not too long ago, always on the edge, searching for that one thing that he had been lacking but foolishly thinking that he would find if he just looked a little further. His inspiration. He had lost it a long time ago, just about the time that he hit adulthood. Kakashi almost forgot how great it felt to have it back.

Putting his late-night cigarette out on an ashtray, Kakashi returned back to his bed, and Sasuke's sleepy head nodded awake again. He immediately shuffled over and made room for Kakashi on the double mattress. Smiling in amusement, Kakashi casually lay back and closed his eyes.

"Kakashi?"

Kakashi opened an eye and turned his head to the right. "Yes, Sasuke?"

"Can you take off your mask?"

Kakashi thought about it. He didn't know if he was ready. He could feel Sasuke shuffling a little closer.

Kakashi held out an arm, almost as if to stop Sasuke. He reached to the back of his head to undo the tie, but stopped. "Tell me one thing first," he muffled.

"Yes?"

Kakashi braced himself. "What happened to you that night at Taboo?" Everything significant that happened to him this week started at that one night at that club, didn't it?

At first, Kakashi didn't think Sasuke was going to say anything. The boy lay on his back, silent. Kakashi was about to give up when Sasuke started talking, his voice low and quiet. "I wasn't originally there to see you. I was meeting someone else. But I saw you there, and I felt so happy when I thought you saw me. Then…." Sasuke swallowed hardly. Kakashi turned over on his side, watching Sasuke in concern. "Then I met up with the man I was supposed to meet up with. He says he knew where Itachi was. But he said he wouldn't tell me unless I…" Sasuke's voice became high-pitched. "…did stuff for him." Sasuke continued on, quicker now. "This isn't the first time I did stuff for him. Each time, he would only tell me a little bit, but it would be worth it because I would know that I was getting closer to finding him. It was all I could think about when he used me." Sasuke started crying now, gripping the blankets. "And now I'm so close. But I don't want to, now that you're here."

Kakashi listened to all of this, alarmed. He didn't know that a boy as innocent as him had to endure so much suffering. He reached out to touch Sasuke's face, letting his tears roll down on his hand until Sasuke had calmed down. He could feel Sasuke's heart beating rapidly. He could only imagine what that man had done to Sasuke. How could anyone humane ravage a boy like this? He could feel Sasuke's breathing slowly becoming even. Sasuke gave a little sigh.

"Who is this man?" Kakashi asked sternly.

"I…I don't know his real name," Sasuke said. "He makes me call him Orochimaru."

Indeed. What a name for a sick and twisted man. Sasuke closed his eyes and Kakashi could feel the boy's lashes brushing against his fingers.

"But I know I have to go back," Sasuke whispered. "I won't give up. I'm just so close," he choked.

"Forget it," Kakashi said, banging his hand against the bed frame. "I'm not letting you meet him."

"But…"

"There has to be some other way," Kakashi said, laying back. "I'll look tomorrow, ask around, try to find things out."

"My last meeting with him is tomorrow," Sasuke whispered. "After tomorrow, it will be over."

"You will be over, by the time that man is through with you!" Kakashi shouted, in passion, hanging over Sasuke.

Sasuke blinked, afraid.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi said, hand against his forehead. "I'm really sorry. Just promise me you won't go tomorrow?"

Sasuke smiled weakly and nodded.

Kakashi slowly removed his mask and let it fall to the floor. He faced Sasuke in all his honesty and vulnerability. He smiled.

As he made love to Sasuke that night, one hand pinning Sasuke's arm down and the other running tenderly down his small body, his body protecting and engulfing the boy while they kissed, tongues exploring gently, Kakashi felt like he was the luckiest man on earth. When he fell exhausted to sleep, much later, facing Sasuke with the boy breathing softly against his chest, the tune of a song drifted through his mind, one that lingered in his dreams and faded as wakefulness claimed him. Kakashi woke and realized that Sasuke was gone.

Credits: top verse from Les Nubians - Insomnie. As you've probably guessed, next part will be the last! Unless, of course, it doesn't all fit and I will have to resort to using an epilogue (cries) - Echidna