Another reincarnation story
17.
The morning hours just before the sun drove away the chill of night was Itachi's least favorite time of day. It was too late still trying to sleep and way too early to rise. Yet Itachi found himself awake at this hour more often than not. The cold humidity in the air always made his lungs hurt and his skin crawl. The silence that came with this particular time reminded him too much of the quiet before the battle.
Despite his discomfort Itachi did not move. He had been hiding beneath the leafs of a large branch for the last hour and would continue to do so if the situation stayed unchanged. Right now, his eyes were set fiercely upon the window barely a foot away from him. From his covert position, Itachi had watched this house for the last three nights. When dawn came, he would be released just to return at sundown.
Right now, Itachi hated the curtains obscuring the vision behind the glass. He had memorized its pattern and found it disgustingly ugly. If he had the chance, he would burn them without remorse. Maybe that was unfair. It wasn't the curtains fault that he was kept from the man he was ordered to watch.
Itachi blinked and then narrowed his eyes. His heart was pounding despite the familiar surrounding of his mission. He watched the shadow move behind the curtain and counted the steps the man needed to reach the window. A second later, it was pulled aside to reveal the bodyguard of the Mizukage. Itachi didn't gasp this time when Kisame pushed the window open, exposing himself to the world outside. A moment later the warm air from the room rich with Kisame's scent reached Itachi. He took a deep breath beneath his mask and let his mind wander just for an instant.
No other house harboring Shinobi in Konoha was built like this one. No ninja allowed the rear of their residence to be surrounded by trees, whose branches grew large and landed even on the roof of the first floor. No house had that many windows, facing outwards towards the world. Because no other house was specially made for high-ranking guests of other nations.
In the distance, Itachi could sense his team-mates occupying similar advantageous positions. They patrolled in irregular intervals within the perimeter along random routes, halting at key locations to take note of the residents inside. Occasionally, one of them broke the routine to investigate, but would always return to the procedure.
It was a fool-proof plan Itachi had formulated. In the past, he was very proud of this maneuver which had entered the ANBU handbook for standard OP, allowing them to maximize their effectiveness at the observation of fixed targets. Now, Itachi cursed his plan for he had never accounted for the situation that he, the captain would want to talk to one of the resident without his team-mates noticing.
"You might as well come inside," the blue man at the window said, hiding the movements of his lips within a yawn. "Must be cold out there."
"Please don't talk to me," Itachi replied from under his large branch. "I'm on duty."
Kisame smirked and turned his back on Itachi. He leaned casually against his window, enjoying the morning air with a cup of tee. "No one's here." To the outside world, Kisame seemed completely oblivious to the ANBU hiding just in front of his window. "I made sure to leave a scroll of minor importance open. Just on the other side of the house. Come inside."
"I cannot leave my post." Itachi said, his eyes scanning all the details that could betray them. "But I needed to see you."
"If I don't know better, I'd say you're being sentimental." The sharkman said as he lifted his arms to stretch. The muscles on his back moved accordingly, showing off the beauty and power in it.
"Kisame," Itachi whispered, his mouth dry from the display. "You need to be more careful. If we are discovered, the consequences will be dire."
"Still a double agent, I see." The Kiri-nin commented. "Do you know whose spy you are this time?"
"Don't jest." he paused to listen to the sounds of his team-mates, marking their position in his mind. "You must stop following me around. Or at least be subtle if you can't desist. There are enough rumors about us as it is. Don't add more fuel to the fire."
"Seems the habit is mutual. Has it been noticed that you always watch me rise?"
"I'm on duty," He corrected the blue Shinobi. "And please put a shirt on." He knew Kisame was grinning simply by the slight tension in his jawline. He watched his former partner move away from the window to retrieve much needed clothing, though watching Kisame dress himself was more Itachi was prepared for.
"Just want to give you a show, let thoughts of more intimate time warm you." Kisame said from inside his room. It was barely a whisper, still Itachi heard him as clear as day. "When can we meet?"
Itachi almost smiled. Knowing that Kisame still desired him as much as before drove blood towards his cheeks. But reality was a lot different from his illusions. "I'm being watched," Itachi explained form his hidden position. "Shisui hates you with burning passion and makes no effort to conceal it. He believes that you did something to me, to make me..."
"Docile?"
"Sympathetic." Itachi would have glared if Kisame could see his eyes. "Our prolonged absence during the dinner has been noticed. Though I gave a plausible explanation, I doubt it will satisfy my father for long. Furthermore, the word of our meeting has spread. Command is concerned about how close Kiri and the Uchiha clan have gotten. The aggressive strategy of your Lady has been topic of discussion within the Hokage's office. I fear it isn't just about us anymore."
Kisame halted in his doing. His voice gained a sudden weight when he spoke that made Itachi's stomach drop. "It has never been just about us, Itachi-san." He lowered his head to stare at floor. "We, us, were always just a byproduct of circumstance."
Even if Itachi wanted to deny it, he couldn't. Kisame was right. It had never been just Kisame and Itachi. It was always Akatsuki. Always criminals banded together to escape justice and wreck havoc on the world. Always just two wretched souls seeking comfort in someone no more honorable than themselves.
"Nonetheless was it real," Itachi said. He did not elaborate, not needing to share his line of thought with his former partner. Kisame would understand. Kisame always understood.
"Yes, it was." The Kiri-nin nodded, then sighed heavily. "You better hurry, Itachi-san. Your relief will be here soon."
"Ah, shift change at sunrise." Itachi nodded. Of course Kisame had memorized the schedule of their ANBU guards. "I will find a way to smooth things over with Shisui. Until then, please have patience. And please stop following me."
"Just wanted to return the favor. You're the one who gets to watch me all night."
"I'm on duty!" With that, he retreated from the close proximity of the window deeper into shadows as Kisame closed the curtains. Barely ten minutes later, Itachi sensed other shinobi entering the perimeter carrying with them the eagerness of a new day.
When he returned home after his briefing with the HQ, he was tired to his bones. It wasn't so much his work that fatigued him, but the situation itself. Since their dinner with the Mizukage days ago, he had barely seen Kisame. Not only did their separate duties pulled them in different directions, the constant vigilance in fear of discovery weighted heavy on him.
He laid down on the tatami and tried to remember the days from the other live. How had he managed to constantly be on guard for a decade? How was he capable of remaining sane as he wandered among the most dangerous killers in the world. How had he found peace in those years?
The answer was simple. It was Kisame. That man had never asked about Itachi's past. He had never dug for information as many others have. He had never intruded on Itachi's privacy, had never followed him when he needed to be alone. He had never once in the eight years they spent together given Itachi the feeling that doom was looming.
But at the same time, he always cared. It was in the small details. In the small gestures. In the years Itachi considered death a salvation thus disregarded his own health, Kisame constantly, subtly urged him to prolong his life. Kisame had brought him blankets, umbrellas, even medicine when he needed them. Kisame's eyes were always on him, letting him know that despite everything he saw, he respected Itachi's wishes.
And he had never simply demanded from Itachi. He graciously accepted whatever Itachi wanted to share, be it in words of body. And Itachi had wanted to share so much but allowed so little. He had used Kisame as a way to escape, to forget for just some instances the horror they both faced. Kisame had known that and still, he remained at the Kin-slayer's side.
With regret Itachi realized that he was the villain in this tragedy. He took and took and lied and lied. He had wanted so much and demanded even more. The only redeeming thing he ended up doing was that he really, honestly, with all that was left of his heart, loved Kisame.
He blinked tears out of his eyes. Reminiscing about the past would not solve the issues of today. Those feelings were brought on by the separation that had become unbearable. Not knowing of this Kisame's heart was a blessing compared to the constant longing, pining and watching from afar. But now that he knew, he could not remain idle.
This day was a gift, he was sure. He was sent back not just to save Shisui, or his clan, or even the village. Changing history had never been his task. He was here to submit to the universal truth that Kami-sama had withheld from him in that other life. He was here to surrender to love.
Itachi was shaken out of his slumber quite literally by his favorite person on this earth. It delighted him that Sasuke no longer hesitated before approaching him as he had done in that other life. Now, Sasuke considered him more a friend than just a role model to thrive towards.
"Are you awake, Nii-san?" Sasuke grinned down at him. "Why are you sleeping in the middle of the day?"
"I had guard duty all night," Itachi yawned. "What time is it? You're back from the Academy already?"
"We don't have class on weekends, Nii-san." Sasuke said as if Itachi just said something beyond stupid.
"Oh right," Itachi rubbed his eyes. He needed a good night's sleep while it's dark outside. No matter how many hours he slept during the day, he could never get quite rested. "Why are you grinning like this? Did Naruto do something stupid again?"
"He always does something stupid." Sasuke said with an arrogant tone. He was an Uchiha all right. "He's an idiot. And he's so loud! He told Iruka-Sensei yesterday that he was going to be the best at shuriken and didn't even hit a single target once." Sasuke shook his head and frowned. "He hit Iruka-Sensei's book and didn't even apologize. Sometimes I wonder what goes through his empty brain, that usuratonkachi!"
"Now now, Sasuke," Itachi scolded while smoothing down his ruffled hair with one hand. "That's no way to talk about your friend."
"But Shisui said it's the right way to talk about your best friend, though."
"I guess you're right then." He laughed. He looked down at Sasuke who had an expression that clearly said he was the winner of this argument. Well, who was he to dispel that illusion? "Any other reason you're here besides telling me that Shisui might be cursing me behind my back?"
"What? No, I didn't say that! He wasn't! I promise!" Sasuke's cheeks flushed deeply, as if he had been caught red handed.
So Shisui did vent his frustration with Itachi in front of Sasuke. And somehow he managed to make Sasuke promise not to tell, only that his brother failed at that mission. Now, Itachi wondered how much time they had been spending together while Itachi was busy with his ANBU duties. He thought briefly of Shisui being kind to Sasuke the same way he was to an ten-year old chunin back in the day. It warmed his heart to see that two of the three of his most beloved person were getting along. If they could only get them to accept Kisame the same way...
"Nii-san, are you okay?" Sasuke asked. "Did I say something wrong?"
"What? No, I'm just happy that you're getting along with Shisui."
"I'm not!" Sasuke denied instantly, though far from convincing. "He's loud and annoying. He makes stupid jokes and he always..." Sasuke broke off suddenly, his cheeks even more flushed from before. He pouted hard, puffing his adorable face even more in order to hold his words.
Itachi wanted to press his face into his own chest and snuggle him. But Sasuke was getting into an age where he might consider such behavior embarrassing. So Itachi only padded his head and chuckled. "And what? What else does Shisui do?"
Sasuke first mumbled something indistinguishable, but then he seemed to have found his resolve. "He always takes you away. Nii-san barely has time to train with me anymore."
Though only meant in good nature, this accusation still stung in Itachi's heart. He had vowed to look after his baby brother this time. He had vowed that he would not keep Sasuke away, yet still the one accusation he always feared was thrown right into his face.
"I'm so sorry, Sasuke." Itachi sighed. "I just have a lot of duties right now. But I promise, I'll train with you as soon as I have time."
"But you never have time!" Sasuke pouted again. "You're always busy!"
"I am with ANBU, it's a busy life." Itachi explained.
"It's not just that," Sasuke still wasn't satisfied. "If you're not on duty, then father wants something from you. Or Shisui. Or someone else. We never have time together, Nii-san! And we will have even less when you're married."
Itachi nearly chocked on his own spit. "What, married? Who said that?"
"Kaa-san and Dou-san. They say that you'll marry a girl soon." Apparently Sasuke liked that idea even less than Itachi. "Nii-san, will you leave us to join another village? Is that what Dou-san and Kaa-san and that Mizukage lady are talking about?"
Itachi gasped. What the hell was going on? Had he missed that much by focusing solely on Kisame in the past three days? Had he distanced himself from his own family again to remain oblivious to their plotting?
"Sasuke," Itachi started. He needed a way to make his brother understand that he was there. That he would always be there. "I'm not going to marry some girl from Kiri, don't worry. And I won't leave you just because of that."
"You won't?"
"No, of course not!" Itachi pulled Sasuke close and placed his chin on Sasuke's head. "You're my Otouou, Sasuke. Nii-san won't let anyone become more important than you."
Sasuke seemed to like this news and grinned into Itachi's belly. It was so cute Itachi cringed inside. Sometimes he wondered if Sasuke had been a cat in his precious life. He was too much like one.
"So you won't just go away to marry someone else because they bring you presents, right?"
Itachi laughed. "That's one way to describe courting." He ruffled Sasuke's head. "But no, of course I won't."
"Great! Then you can go and tell the men at the door to all go away!"
"What are you talking about?"
Sasuke pulled himself out of Itachi's embrace with a somehow embarrassed expression. He looked down at the tatami and murmured. "There are men at the door to see you. They want to see Kaa-san, too. They say they have presents for us."
Itachi blinked. "Have you been stalling in hope that those men will leave if I don't show up?"
"It's not like that!" Sasuke shouted. "I just..." He scowled. "It's that Shinobi from Kiri-Gakure. That blue man with the huge sword."
"Kisame?" This time Itachi did gasp. He quickly scrambled to his feet and hurried towards his window. He couldn't see much from its position, only that there were definitely men waiting at the door. "They are bringing presents you say?"
Sasuke nodded and Itachi's heart sank.
As much as Sasuke was Itachi's delight, he had also become Itachi's dread for Sasuke somehow was the sole bearer of bad news in his life this time. It was as if whatever power shaped this world insisted on letting the cutest person usher in the worst kind of torture for Itachi as a kind of pre-paid reward to his coming endurance. And he wouldn't be wrong to claim that this special kind of torture always had something to do with his bone-deep embarrassment.
"You'll tell them to go away, won't you?"
"It's not that easy I'm afraid." Itachi threw a quick glance into the mirror before leaving the room. He looked just as he expected. Dark bags under his eyes, a little too thin for his age and his hair ruffled by sleep. "Well, that can't be helped. Come, Sasuke, let's get this over with."
When he arrived at the entrance minutes later, his mother looked as if she had been left waiting for an eternity. She rushed over immediately and started correcting his appearance by smoothing his shirt down and lifting his collar into the proper height. Then she produced a comb out of nowhere and started grooming his hair. For once it was Sasuke looking smug as Itachi was being pampered.
"I am perfectly capable of attending to myself, Mother." Itachi blocked her upcoming hand when she started adjusting his hitai-ate.
"Apparently not." She said firmly. "Remove your hair-tie, Itachi. Your face is full of tatami imprints. That's uncalled for. Hide it." Itachi had no time to respond as she was already doing it for him. She dragged her comb through his hair and ignored his hisses of pain. "The Mizukage has sent her guard to pay respect to our clan. Be reasonable and behave."
"Mother," Itachi warned. He didn't not need to say more as his mother clearly understood his intention.
Instead, she pushed him towards the entrance and pointed at the place where he should stand. With a glare in his direction she made very clear that any disobedience would resume in his days of freedom shortened yet again.
Perhaps it was time to start thinking about pursuing his own establishment.
"Sasuke, go stand next to your brother." She mustered over them with the scrutinizing gaze of a matchmaker and then went to open the front door.
Kisame's frame was large enough to block out of the sun. he was casually looking at something outside of Itachi's vision as the light caressed him with a crown. He inclined his head politely as he noticed the open door before him and all the sudden, Itachi found himself very short of breath.
"Good afternoon, Uchiha-san," he said, his eyes wandering towards Itachi and lingering there for a moment too long. "As I have told your youngest son, I come bearing gifts from my Lady, the Mizugake. She intends to honor your agreement and hopes to see our token well received."
Itachi lifted a brow at that. Kisame always had his way with words but this was a whole new level that gave the genius many ideas.
"Mizukage-sama is too kind," Mikoto said, bowing slightly. "We are deeply honored by this gesture. I hope it was not too much trouble for you, Hoshigaki-san."
"Not at all," Kisame grinned. "It is my pleasure."
"How kind," Mikoto smiled. "May we perhaps invite you in for a cup of tea? It is the least we could do."
"Gladly," Kisame nodded. "The hospitality of this house has overwhelmed me that last time. A memory I deeply cherish," he lifted his eyes towards Itachi. "...and delight to see it repeated."
He turned to gesture the two figures behind him, hidden by his large statue. Itachi recognized them as two of the more experienced genin taking part in the exam this year. If he wasn't wrong, these two past the fist round with flying colors and were among the notable candidates for the second round. Clearly they have been chosen to accompany Kisame as a reward, for only few could claim to have seen the inside of the Uchiha district.
Itachi's eyes widened as he saw what they carried with them. He first only assumed that Kisame came with some trinket as a token and found himself proven dead wrong. Kiri-gakure apparently spared no expenses for this pretense. The chest standing between the two boys was large and heavy as they carried it over the threshold. It was dark and beautiful, showing off the best of Kiri's craftsmanship. Itachi had no doubt that its content was even more valuable.
"Mizugake-sama sure is a woman of great taste," Mikoto commented as he escorted Kisame and his entourage through the hallway into the big room with its open doors towards the garden. She whispered something to Sasuke which sent him running towards the entrance again. Itachi couldn't pick up everything but the word "Father" could clearly be heard.
Itachi was too tense to ask what was happening right now. He put on his mask of the arrogant clan heir and moved to the side for Kisame to enter. The whole way towards the receiving room, he dared not meet Kisame's gaze, not with his mother and the other two genin so close to him. How he loathed having other people behind him, watching his every step.
It wasn't until Kisame told the two boys to put the chest down and go back to report to the Mizukage that he relaxed just the slightest. His mother excused herself to make tea for their guest, but not before giving Itachi a glare, telling him to take care of the Kiri-nin while she was gone. As if he needed instruction as to how to deal with Kisame.
As soon as her steps faded, Itachi returned to his nervous self. His eyes burned crimson as they landed on Kisame. "What the hell are you doing here? I told you to wait!" He hissed.
"But why so upset, Itachi-san? I'm on duty." Kisame quoted back at him smugly.
"I find it very hard to believe!" If he wasn't careful, his cheeks might be flushed when his mother returned.
"Would I lie to you?" He put one elbow on the table and used it to support his head, grinning.
"And what was that? 'The hospitality of this house overwhelmed me'? Are you mocking me?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Kisame laughed. "But it was truth in it, wouldn't you say?"
Itachi refused to blush further. "and 'a memory I deeply cherish'?"
"And delight to see it repeated." Kisame continued.
"Enough!" Itachi knew his face as darkening. The words that came from Kisame's lips would have moved him during his best days. And after many nights of agonizing longing, Itachi definitely wasn't on his best day. "You'll make a fool out of me."
"Nonsense, I have but the utmost respect for you, Itachi-san." Kisame mocked. "Come here!"
"What are you doing? Kisame, no! Stop!"
He was silenced by Kisame's lips on his. His mind wanted to protest but the shivers running through his body and sending his blood downwards made him lean into Kisame's arms. It felt too good. Any lesser man would have given into it and thus ensured the chaos that would doubtlessly follow.
"Stop it!" Itachi hissed, pushing Kisame away from himself. "Are you mad?"
"I like it," Kisame licked his lips lavishly. "When you let your hair down."
"Why are you really here?" He flipped his hair behind his ears, giving his face and neck some air to cool down. He needed to regain his composure before his mother returned.
"I needed to see you," Kisame answered, his voice barely a whisper.
It was all Itachi could do not to blush crimson in an instant. "Is flattery all you can muster today?"
"Merely speaking what's in my heart." His eyes wandered towards Itachi's lips and licked his own. The message was more than clear. And even without them, Itachi could not fault Kisame for wanting some much needed time alone.
Kisame was right. They had but a moment alone and he would curse himself if he didn't take full advantage of it. At the same time, Itachi feared that he would lose control and allow the situation to come as heated as last time. Still, he did nothing when Kisame's hand came to caress his face. He leaned into it, closing his eyes at the feeling this man roused in him.
"We need to be careful," he whispered, his lips covering Kisame's fingers. "my mother will return any moment."
"Your brother was dispatched for your father." Kisame confirmed what Itachi had feared. "And I'm still on duty."
Itachi opened his eyes, letting them fade into black. So close to Kisame, in this establishment, waiting for tea, it brought back too many memories. How many times had they waited in an inn for their tea, both tired and wounded. How many times did they allow their true feelings to show in the small gestures they shared with each other. And how many times did they put their masks back on when suddenly joined by a third presence.
"It's almost time," Itachi sighed, knowing the tea would come soon. Not able to contain himself completely, Itachi couldn't help but whisper "Anata." It was all he could say, yet it carried all the promises he made to this man. He felt Kisame's hand tighten around his flushed cheeks and leaned back in. He breath was shaking, both nervous and exhilarated. He couldn't explain what came over him, but only trusted that Kisame would know, for this man understood him more than he himself sometimes.
It was also in that moment the door slid open and a tablet with hot tea cashed to the floor.
"Kisame!" the new-comer hissed with venom in his voice as a pair of sharingan swirled into blades.
Really hoped you had fun reading it. :-)
please like and review.
P.s. I'm more or less wrting the end of this story now. I can't decide if I should go with a happy ending, or a bitter sweet ending. Anyone any suggestions?