Disclaimer~ I do not own, nor do I claim to own the characters depicted herein; they are owned by their respective artist. I do however own the stories and plots in which I have created.

Warning: This chapter contains smut! If you are opposed to smut, Tobi/Zetsu, Kisaita, or only like fluff, turn back now!

A/N: A dear reviewer sent in a thoughtful and much appreciated review. Because of her, (YukiNoSamurai) you are brought this smut. This chapter will build more on the Kisaita aspect of the story. May this chapter bring you glorious fangirl/fanboy nosebleeds.

Chapter 3: Memories Long Past

Kisame walked through the entrance to the hideout. He had been gone for a full week. But despite his rationale that staying away from the hideout would be best he couldn't. Pein would not accept such insubordinates. He was lucky to have been granted the time away that he recieved. Luckily for him, Konan pulled a few strings with Pein.

Walking into the hideout he came upon two people. Konan. And Itachi. Konan was okay. But of all people why did Itachi have to be here? In fact, Konan even said herself that it wouldn't be likely that Itachi would be back at the hideout for a while.

Kisame inwardly cursed his Samehada for being so big, while he desperately tried in vain to tip-toe past the two. Both turned around almost simultaneously. Though Itachi was about a split second faster. He was a prodigy afterall. Itachi glared at Kisame for a moment. But just a moment, and then he regained control of his emotions. The glare was replaced with an indifferent look. His normal façade. Konan simply looked as if nothing were wrong. Like this whole meeting was expected. Planned.

"So...uh-", Kisame stopped talking as he looked into Itachi's eyes. The mangekyo sharingan flickered; Itachi's eyes turning from an echoing darkness, to crimson, then back. He had never seen Itachi like this. He was genuinely pissed.

Konan went and stood between the two. The tension in the air hung so thick it would take a butcher knife to cut through it."So...uh, welcome back Kisame."

"Yes, welcome back...", Itachi said. His eyes were no longer flickering red. They were red. And that welcome seemed much more like a threat than a greeting.

Konan quickly ducked as Itachi threw a kunai at Kisame. Reacting quickly, Kisame dodged, blocking with Samehada. Itachi circled around making handsigns for his fireball jutsu.

Kisame tackled Itachi, pinning his arms above his head."What the fuck, Itachi?", Kisame yelled."Are you trying to kill us all?"

Itachi didn't say anything as he looked up, staring past Kisame. Five minutes passed and Itachi still didn't say anything. He wasn't even struggling. The only signs of life were the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest and the soft soothing heartbeat that followed. Right now Kisame couldn't think of anything he wanted more than to lay his head on Itachi's chest and listen. So he did.

Itachi's gaze focused on Kisame. His body tensed, wanting more. His body remembered Kisame. Knew him. Kisame was his other half. Itachi's body missed him, even if his mind was much more stubborn. To press together, to become one. That was its one true wish. Kisame's was recognized as its lover. And no matter how Itachi tried, he couldn't shake the odd feelings Kisame's presence gave him.

"Get off", Itachi finally said. His voice seemed to resound throughout the room as he broke the silence. He looked up into the eyes of Kisame, holding his gaze.

Kisame merely nodded, and got up. After brushing himself off, he grabbed his Samehada, in which he had dropped, and his bag of clothing and took off down the hallway, avoiding any further eye contact with Itachi.

Itachi sat up, gaze still directed at his feet. He was alone. Sometime between Kisame and his silent argument, Konan had left. With the addition of Kisame leaving, he was the only one occupying the living room of the Akatsuki base. Standing up, Itachi went into his room.

Kisame was in the extra room next to the one Tobi and the plant ninja, Zetsu, shared. After dropping his bags, he plopped down on the bed. He could tell he wasn't going to get much sleep tonight either. He was so use to lying next to Itachi, the androgonous scent of the man, that he just couldn't sleep. No matter what he tried, it didn't work. Something was always missing. Or someone.

Tobi smiled kissing Dark Zetsu's hand."Tobi thinks you look extra sexy today Su-chan.

"Hmph. Yeah, right." Light Zetsu said rolling his eye, which looked odd because the other eye was intensely staring at Tobi.

Despite how dark Su-chan's ebony skin was, a blush still managed to show on his cheek.

Light Zetsu was still frowning."No fair! How come he gets to go first?"

"Because you went first last time, idiot."

"Zet-chan...Tobi loves you too.", Tobi grinned still fondling Dark Zetsu's Venus flytrap half. Tobi chose to refer to Light Zetsu as Zet-chan and Dark Zetsu as Su-chan. Neither liked being referred to as the same person. So this nickname solved both of their problems. And it was a little kinky too.

Tobi leaned over and kissed Light Zetsu."Now that's more like it", Zet-chan said with a smirk.

Zetsu made a few handsigns and his body began to alter. The pure white skin began to turn ebony like ink soaking into paper.

Neither of Zetsu's halfs had ever used it in battle. The jutsu itself served no true purpose. All it did was give one half complete control of the body. It couldn't be used to gain a tactical advantage. But it did aide in other things. Zetsu had created just for the purpose of each getting personal time with Tobi.

Tobi rubbed the area of Su-chan's plant-like structure in a circular motion. This coaxed them to slowly open, revealing a silky nude body. The Venus flytrap leaves retreated, making Zetsu's body, besides the fact that he was unnaturally dark, look almost human.

"I love you..." The words were simple, spoken with a deep gravelly voice. Anyone could have said them. But from Su-chan, it was enticing. Like offering someone a million dollars.

Tobi nodded."I love you too.", Tobi said, for once not referring himself in the third person.

That was it. No more words needed to be spoken. Tobi grabbed Zetsu's legs, placing them over his shoulders. He applied pressure, pushing inside the warmth of Zetsu.

"Aahh...!", Zetsu breathed heavily. Moaning at the slight pain and pleasure this action caused.

Tobi waited. Contrary to what everyone thought, Su-chan liked slow love-making. More romantic.

Tobi gently kissed Zetsu's shoulder, while shifting position slightly. The shift caused Tobi to hit Zetsu's sweet spot, dead on.

"Ahh!" Zetsu moaned.

Tobi repetitively pushed in and out. Zetsu pushed back, meeting him. Their moans intermingled, warm and sensual proof of their love-making.

Zetsu moaned one final time as he came, hot sticky liquid spilling onto his stomach. Tobi's breath became more ragged as he worked towards his own release.

Tobi came, spilling his seed into the warm body beneath him. Both were quiet, the only sound short and quick breaths as each came down from their post orgasmic high.

"Argghh!", Kisame growled in frustration, banging his head repeatedly into the pillow. The noises coming from the bedroom on the other side of the wall were too loud to tune out.

Kisame put his fingers in his ears."Lalala." But he could still hear-

"Ahh!", he heard dark Zetsu moan.

All of the erotic noises were starting to make Kisame horny.

"Ah..oh!"

"No, no, nooo!" Kisame said rolling around on the bed, covering his ears with his hands."Lalalala la." But he could still hear."What the fuck. They're going at it like bunnies in there."

Then there was silence. Kisame sighed. Finally, he could attempt to get some sleep.

And then the noises resumed. This time though, it was Light Zetsu. Light Zetsu's voice could be heard so loudly he was practically hitting a soprano note. Kisame took his pillow, and used it to cover his ears. Still no good."Ughh..."

Itachi could hear the faint sounds of love-making echo from down the hall. That didn't really bother him though. What bothered him was the fact that he hadn't slept in days. Without Kisame's snoring and clingyness at night, he wasn't able to sleep. At first he had counted it as blessing. To finally be able to sleep without Kisames annoyingly loud snores. But he was so use to it that his body no longer recognized it as bedtime without the sound of Kisame snoring. And the warmth. It couldn't be replaced by an extra warm blanket either.

But Itachi was still only human. Even he had limits, and he had pushed them. No sleep mixed with a myriad of missions, and hardly eating anything was too much. As Itachi's lids shut he promised himself that he was merely resting his eyes.

"Itachi. Itachi, wake up." It was Kisame.

"Itachi opened his eyes and it revealed Kisame. Kisame was clad in a white T-shirt and boxers with sharks on them.

'How childish', Itachi caught himself thinking. And then he looked up seeing himself. It was like a movie, only he was right there. No, not a movie. A memory. He could watch, but no matter how much he wished he could change things, impact them, he couldn't. He could only watch...

"Itachi? Uh...what are your thoughts on marriage?" Kisame asked nervously.

"What a ridiculous notion.", Itachi's past self said.

"What a ridiculous-" Itachi caught himself noticing that he was about to repeat the exact same words as his past self. Then his eyes caught a small box behind Kisame's back. It was half open revealing a large diamond studded wedding ring. That time...Kisame had intended to ask Itachi's hand in marriage? This was a memory so that must mean-

"Yeah, you're right! Marriage, what was I thinking? Neither of us can marry." Kisame gave a nervous shrug.

Itachi's eyes followed the situation. Kisame nonchalantly tossed the ring in the top drawer. Apparently his past self didn't notice. He was too busy staring at an imaginary object on the wall, lost in thought. Then Itachi's past self looked up just as Kisame circled his arms around his waist.

"Kisame, you're acting rather...odd", Itachi's past self said.

"H..How would you react if I told you I...loved you?"

"Kisame...", Itachi past self glared at him in warning.

"Just kidding!", Kisame said, giving an awkward smile and putting up both hands in a show of surrender.

"Liar." Itachi whispered, catching the brief look of disppointment on Kisame's face. The past Itachi didn't seem to notice, and if he did, it didn't seem to concern him.

Kisame then kissed Itachi's neck. That didn't get much of a responce, Itachi noted, as he observed himself. Kisame kissed Itachi's ring finger. That day he must have been totally out of it. The signs and hints Kisame was dropping were really obvious.

"Stop it..." Itachi said pulling away.

"I wanna do it.", Kisame said. His facial expression was serious.

Kisame pulled at Itachi's unbuttoned Akatsuki cloak. It fell to the floor with a barely audible sound. Itachi was wearing a basic shinobi outfit under it. Gently grabbing Itachi's wrists, Kisame slipped the fishnet arm protectors off. He reached out to pull Itachi's shirt over his head.

"No, let me.", Itachi's past self said, pulling his own shirt off.

After both were fully nude, Kisame and Itachi walked over to the bed. Kisame slowly laid Itachi on the bed. Itachi couldn't look anymore. His past self simply lie on the bed, motionless. Not responding to Kisame's touches, caresses.

Tears began to slide down Itachi's cheeks as he watched Kisame cry, while having sex with his former self. This wasn't right. 'That Itachi doesn't exist. He doesn't belong there with Kisame.

"I do." Itachi whispered aloud as he watched his past self lie motionless on the bed, staring at the ceiling."

"Wakey, Wakey!", Tobi's voice was heard, bouncing down the halls.

Konan chose a more respectful way to wake everyone up. She knocked on each door. She had learned the hard way not to barge in. Especially after that time she walked in on Hidan, in mid-ritual. It wasn't a sight she often enjoyed recalling, yet it was burned into her memory nonetheless.

As she walked down the hallway, she saw Kisame grumbling something at Tobi, obviously frustrated. He had bags under his eyes from not getting any sleep, and his movements were a bit sluggish.

"Damn, Tobi's got endurance...", Kisame said dragging his feet.

"Wakey! Wakey!"

Itachi shot up, leaning forward so fast the blood didn't have time to reach his head, making him dizzy. His body was drenched in a cold sweat. His fingers visibly shaking. Itachi's heart was pounding so fast that he thought it just might beat right out of his chest. He kept recalling that dream, no, memory. If he didn't know any better he would have thought he used his own mangekyo sharingan on himself; that's how torturous the memory was.

Getting up Itachi reached into the drawer that he saw in the memory. There in the top drawer lie a dusty ring case, and inside, the ring itself.

Kisame walked to the kitchen, pouring his orange juice with a sigh. When he had thought Tobi and Zetsu were done last night, he was very wrong. Dark and Light Zetsu's voices were heard alternately. And Kisame could not, for life of him, drown out the sound of their collective noises.

Kisame dragged at his feet back through the hallway. He hoped he would have at least an hour or so of sleep until he was forced to go on a mission concerning any of the tailed beasts, the jinchuuriki.

Just as Kisame looked up Itachi stumbled out of his room, looking every bit as worse as Kisame felt. Right now he was uncoordinated, and tripped.

Without even thinking about it, Kisame dropped his glass to the floor, and dived low to catch Itachi. Kisame protectively held the man, literally scared to death. Itachi's breathing was irregular. Rapid. His body was sweaty, and he had a fever. And the man was shaking.

The glass hit the floor with a loud thump, its contents spilling onto the floor. But that didn't concern Kisame. He was worried about the man in his arms. Itachi.

Reaching his arms under Itachi's knees, Kisame carried him bridal style to his bedroom. Gently lying him down, Kisame ran to the bathroom, grabbing a wash cloth and filling a bucket with cold water. Running back Kisame began to work on undressing Itachi and gently dabbing him with the cool cloth.

Itachi's breathing settled and he looked up, his eyes no longer glazed."Kisame...you fool.", was all he whispered.

"Hey...you know I would never abandon you, Itachi..."

"Are you no longer mad at me?"

Kisame gave Itachi an incredulous look."Uh..why would I be mad at you. Aren't you mad at me...?"

Itachi smirked."Yes.", was all that he said.

If it were anyone else, Kisame would have been frustrated beyond belief. But for Itachi to reveal how he was feeling, to reveal that Kisame invoked weakness in him was definately progress. Kisame would rather have Itachi be mad than feel nothing at all. But all this was understood without words.

Kisame made a movement to get up. To give Itachi his space. But Itachi reached, out grabbing his arm.

"Stay." It wasn't said innocently or romantically. Rather it was a command. When Kisame failed to answer the arm squeezed his hand even tighter.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Kisame said with his trademark lopsided grin.

The two relaxed almost instantaneously falling a sleep. They were near each other, but it was far from sexual. They were just comfortable in each others' presence.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: I had planned on putting much more smut in, but it wouldn't completely work with the way I want this story to be. Also I'm trying to keep the characters as IC (in character) as possible. Review if you liked it, or press the back button and don't flame if you didn't like it.