Disclaimer: Naruto is not ours. Thankfully.

Warning: Please see Chapter 1 for full warnings.

Rating: R

Chapter Summary: Itachi discovers there are some things he can't even tell his best friend.

Notes: This takes place directly after Kitchen Conversations.

Etc: Gossip is bad, don'chya know.

Moments

By: Hana J and Ninjacat

Chapter 3: Unspoken

Itachi's headache was in full swing by 9 AM. Not even hot tea was any match for Sasuke's...news, and by the time Itachi had made his way outside to take a much-needed walk in the fresh air, even sunlight made him feel particularly murderous.

He had very nearly gone back inside, yet the moment he had turned to open the screen did he remember Sasuke was still in the house. He had absolutely no desire to see his brother again for the rest of the day, or he was positive he would strangle the boy. He grit his teeth very quietly, slid his hands into his pockets and walked determinedly away from his front door.

Itachi wasn't entirely sure where he wanted to go, nor did he particularly care, until the sign of a restaurant caught his eye. He'd been there often, it was close to the headquarters of the Anbu and he couldn't count the number of times Shisui had dragged him there for lunch. He paused thoughtfully, curiosity drawing him closer toward the building.

Shisui was balancing a lunch tray on one hand and a cup of tea in the other. He weaved past several tables until he came to one in the shade, away from other customers. He set his food and cup down and paused thoughtfully. He had forgotten a napkin. He turned around and then saw a very familiar face hovering nearby. He grinned, pushed up his Konoha headband which had been slipping over his eye and waved, walking backwards at the same time.

"Itachi-san! Hey what are you--"

His words came to a screeching halt as he tripped over a chair and landed in an ungraceful heap on the floor.

"Ow…" He rubbed his head, looking curiously at a scrape on his elbow that had been caused by the fall. His legs were propped up by the chair, now sitting on its side, and he leaned back on his hands. Someone was laughing. He tilted his head, listening to the quiet snicker. Newly recruited Anbu member, eighteen years old, and clearly stupid. He twisted around, grinning wolfishly, eyes slipping into the Sharingan with ease. "Hey, what are you laughing at, kid?"

The boy froze, face turning pale as he caught Shisui's eyes. "Ah, n-nothing Sir."

Shisui laughed and stood up, dusting off his pants. He smirked and took a piece of sushi off the kid's plate, chewing loudly. "That's what I thought."

Quick as lighting he turned around to face Itachi again, expression melting into one of amusement and pure happiness. Itachi knew better than to judge him by appearance alone. He walked over and slung his arm around Itachi's shoulder, knowing that his friend hated to be touched but not caring. He ignored the warning look Itachi shot at him.

"You came to visit me!" He crowed, pulling him towards his table in the far corner beneath a slender tree. "Do you want anything to eat? My treat, got my check the other day so I have some money to spare." He announced, falling into his seat loudly as he gently pushed Itachi toward the seat across from him. Something was…wrong. He flicked a piece of food at Itachi. "You're tense, Itachi."

Itachi let himself be dragged ungracefully around without a word. He imagined there had to be worse things than allowing himself to be seen practically arm in arm with his best friend with their companions as onlookers - whatever respect they may lose for he and Shisui would most likely be gained back by their next assignment. As clumsy as his cousin often appeared to be, Itachi knew with a grim, pleased certainty that no one would forget his deadly elegance in battle.

Itachi found himself sitting across from his friend, flecking food away from hitting his face without even a blink. There was shade, and they were far from the newer Anbu, he was pleased to note. He could already feel his headache ebbing away. He offered Shisui a slight, however friendly, smile. "I'm not hungry, actually," he said softly. "Am I tense? I hadn't noticed." He leaned forward onto the table, happy to be away from his house. Away from Sasuke.

Shisui raised his eyebrow, knowing the lie for what it was. He took a big bite from his okonomiyaki and idly smeared some mayonnaise around with his chopsticks.

"Mission stress?" He asked innocently, even though he already knew that Itachi had not been on a mission lately and wouldn't have one for another three days.

Itachi watched Shisui eat with a very slight grimace. He really wasn't hungry. His mind slipped over his brother's face and he suddenly cursed himself for coming to a place that surrounded him with family members. He tastefully looked away, but not until he'd given his cousin a wry look and murmured, "Of course not," as though he were offended.

He was silent for a moment or two, staring out into nothing and trying to recreate just that in his mind. "Did you have a good time at the dinner party yesterday?" he asked blandly, propping his elbows up on the table and tenting his fingers.

Shisui stared at Itachi hard before a huge grin covered his face. He licked the excess mayonnaise off his chopsticks. "Ah," he agreed conversationally. "I did have a good time. I love Uncle Tsuyoki's cooking even if he likes to pretend that Aunt Miyohara made it."

He took another sip of tea, slurping loudly. "Did you?" He asked suddenly. Then he laughed and shook his head. "Ah, never mind. Of course you did. I feel bad for Sasuke-kun though. Do you think we should have asked him to come with us? Knowing him, he is probably pissed at you for leaving him there, especially," Shisui continued, voice going deadly soft. "Since you asked him to come in the first place. Funny that, I didn't see him later on." He looked up; face a mask of sly curiosity. "Did you two go home together?"

He then looked down at his food, knowing his perception of whatever problem was bugging Itachi was dead on. He never missed small details, even if he did trip over things or fall on his face.

Itachi gave Shisui a sidelong glance. He often wondered how brilliance could so cleverly be hidden under a seemingly careless facade. It was like wrapping diamonds in rags.

"No, now that you mention it," he replied coolly, "We didn't. I suppose we should have, but I lost track of him at some point and I didn't see him for the rest of the night."

He said nothing more. He rather hoped he wouldn't have to say anymore. He didn't want to think of Sasuke; he cringed inwardly to even think of what his brother had been doing after he'd disappeared from Itachi's sight.

"Mmm," Shisui mumbled around a mouthful of food, looking at Itachi dubiously. He swallowed and bared his teeth in a smile. "Well, that is easy to fix, yeah? Go apologize to the little brat, he adores you and he'll accept your apology and then everything will be dandy." He shrugged and then peered at Itachi beneath hooded eyes. "Then again, you and apologizing don't go well together." He huffed with laughter. "Heh, just tell him you have a jutsu you want to train him. That'll fix the family tension."

He drank the last of his tea, and leaned back in his chair, setting his feet on the table. "I don't like seeing you unhappy, yeah? If I can do something, ya know, let me know…"

He let the sentence trail off suggestively, knowing Itachi would get the meaning beneath it.

Itachi laughed softly, nodding his head. He turned to Shisui to swipe at the young man's feet, knocking them gently from the table. He didn't think he needed to reply. He imagined Shisui understood; they were alike in many ways that their family never truly comprehended.

"I'll...apologize..." Itachi said, tasting the word with a wry smile ghosting his lips, "when the time comes. He..." and he trailed off, wondering if he could possibly share this with Shisui. Sasuke's words still nudged angrily in his chest, and wildly Itachi wondered if it had been a lie after all, some kind of scathing revenge for leaving him alone at the dinner party.

He almost continued, but shook his head. "Never mind. I'll tell you another time." His dark eyes swept carefully over the other Anbu members around them.

Shisui let his feet hit the ground with a thunk. He watched Itachi sharply. There was something he wasn't telling him. Something, Shisui realized with a jolt, that Itachi was reluctant to tell him. Odd.

He nodded silently; he could wait until Itachi felt the need to confide in him. He gathered his trash together, standing, and smiled. He threw a couple yen at Itachi and turned away, calling over his shoulder. "There is a dango shop down the road, just opened up a couple weeks ago while you were away on a mission. Got some good stuff, check it out, yeah?"

He looked over his shoulder, winking. "I got a mission tomorrow but I'll be home by dark. If you need anything, let me know."

He waved, tossing his trash into the disposable and ran into an old lady who was just getting ready to sit down. "Ah! Sorry!" He grabbed her, steadied her, and pulled out her chair with a flourish and a deep bow. He walked away, waving enthusiastically once again and humming as he left the café.

Itachi watched him leave with an uncertain smile.

He wondered just how long he would wait before taking Shisui up on his unspoken offer.