When Kisame woke up with a pounding headache, he remembered why he never slept in. His body was so used to running on six hours of sleep that anything over would send his skull into a cataclysmic protest. That led him to his other issue. He was lying in Itachi's bed, cold and alone.

'Why the hell didn't he wake me up?' Kisame mentally grumbled as he hoisted himself out of the lavish bed. He cursed his lover for leaving him to sleep as he and his yellow, smiley face boxers lumbered their way towards Itachi's washroom. He really needed an Advil…or three. Damn his giant body and superior drug tolerance.

Standing in front of the mirror he squinted as the natural light flooded the blinding white washroom. He haphazardly reached for a cup to get some water before flicking open the medicine cabinet. Usually Itachi wakes him up when he stays over so he hasn't been forced to search Itachi's cabinets for pain meds in a long time. You can understand his surprise when he opens the cabinet to see that the man who never even gets a cold has a damn near pharmacy lining his shelves.

There were corticosteroids, anti-seizure medications, heavy duty pain and nausea meds. Kisame lost his mother to cancer so he was no stranger to the sight, that didn't make it any easier. It felt like the world was yanked out from beneath his feet. He was lost, terrified, furious and unbelievably heartbroken.

Kisame couldn't understand, he felt lied to — betrayed. Judging by the lack of attention, he'd bet no one else knew either. It was then that things began to click. The glasses, the driver, the refusal to move in together.

'But he doesn't wear his glasses now. And he's driving again," Kisame mentally fought himself with a heavy frown marring his face. This wasn't something he could figure out with a throbbing skull. He finally retrieved the Advil and swallowed them, immediately chasing them down with a healthy gulp of water.

Now he had to ponder this conundrum. What did he do now?

His mind left him as he went through his morning routine. Washroom, shower, brush teeth, dress. Tonight they were having dinner with Sasuke and Naruto and Kisame was trying to figure out how to look at Itachi without giving anything away, let alone the younger Uchiha. He needed to figure out how to tackle this because one way or another, he wasn't going to let Itachi battle this alone. That stubborn, moronic fool.

With his headache slowly ebbing, Kisame grabbed his phone before finally emerging from the bedroom. Usually he was a man with a hearty appetite, but today he was forcing himself to swallow down a piece of dry toast as the hollow ache consumed him. What was he going to do?

He tried to distract himself with the blinking of a dozen missed notifications, but even that was fruitless as one was from Itachi, informing him that something at the office required his attention and that he'd be back in time for their dinner. He was tempted to text him back — demanding answers — but he fought the urge back. This wasn't a conversation to have via text message. Plus, what the fuck was he going to say anyways?

'Hey love, how's your day going? Oh by the way, how's the hidden cancer treating you?' It was a thought that had Kisame openly scoffing at himself which in turn had Lana looking at him quite quizzically as she went about dusting the ground floor's window fixtures.

Before Kisame knew it the day had flown by and Itachi was startling him out of his musings with a gentle kiss to his unexpecting lips. At some point, he had managed to head home, finish some work before returning to the manor, though he only vaguely remembered anything aside from this morning's revelation.

Itachi frowned at him as he pulled back. "Hey, is everything alright? You look a bit pale."

Kisame's head whipped up, realising that he was being spoken to. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He accidentally snapped.

Itachi looked taken back for a split second. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I found the pills 'Tachi," Kisame hissed. He wasn't sure if he felt more pissed or terrified, all he knew was he felt worthless not knowing something so colossal. This was a relationship, an equal partnership, what good is any of that if Itachi doesn't trust him enough with something so important?

Itachi's eyes widened a fraction before they narrowed dangerously. "You went through my things?"

Kisame shot up from his seat. "I wasn't fucking snooping. You're goddamn medicine cabinet is stocked better than a pharmacy and don't change the fucking topic. I know what those pills are for," Kisame's voice quivered with raw emotion.

"I promise I'm fine," Itachi bit out through clenched teeth. "We'll talk about this later, Naruto and Sasuke will be here shortly." Itachi was really hoping he could avoid this whole conversation now that he isn't dying.

"How can you run away from this?" Kisame shouted at the retreating figure who didn't so much as glance back until he muttered, "what will your family think?"

Itachi froze before slowly turning around. "I. Am. Fine. There is nothing to tell them," Itachi's voice held a dangerous edge to it.

Kisame glared at him. "The meds say otherwise. You're not doing this on your own, either you tell him or I will."

"Get out," Itachi sneered. Loved one or not, no one threatens Itachi.

"What?" Kisame was flabbergasted.

"I said, get out," Itachi's voice sent a dangerous chill down Kisame's spine.

Kisame looked at his lover of eight years in utter shock. "You can't be serious? After all these years, you're going to toss me out over this?"

"This?" Itachi's glare pierced through him like a hot knife through butter. "You are trying to manipulate me!"

"And you've been lying to me!" Kisame shouted back.

"I've never lied to you!" Itachi's voice was doing that eerie calm thing that showed just how furious he was.

"Maybe not with words," Kisame faltered as his face fell. "But in hiding something like this, you may as well have."

Itachi's face drew up in agony. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm fine?!"

Both were so caught up in each other they hadn't heard the footsteps coming towards them. "What's going on?"

Both men looked up to see Sasuke and Naruto approaching.

"Your brother's been hiding the fact that he's sick," Kisame finally answered Sasuke.

The massive house was deadly quiet. Sasuke's face ran through an array of emotions. He seemed hesitant as his gaze met Itachi's. "Is that true?"

Itachi looked over to see Naruto giving him an inscrutable look before he finally looked back at Sasuke. "I'm fine."

Kisame snorted sarcastically as he wondered how many times he was going to utter the same phrase when he had evidence to prove quite the contrary.

Sasuke scowled at his brother. Naruto was standing behind him so it was impossible to ignore the look Itachi gave Naruto. "Why were you looking at him?"

Itachi stood there stoically, making no effort to answer.

"He's fine," Naruto's deep voice almost echoed with how silent everything was.

Both Kisame and Sasuke whipped around to look at him.

"What do you mean?" Kisame uttered.

Naruto looked back and forth between the two before looking at Itachi as he answered. "I mean, Itachi's fine, he's completely healthy."

"But the meds," Kisame looked perturbed.

Itachi sighed, this wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. "I was sick but I'm fine now."

"But—but," Kisame stammered. He was trying to wrap his head around Naruto not only knowing, but repeating the same goddamn phrase as Itachi.

"You knew?" Sasuke finally spoke up, his voice was barely louder than a whisper. He was in disbelief that not only was Itachi sick and hid it from him and their entire family, but Naruto knew and kept it hidden as well. Sasuke turned his furious gaze from Naruto towards his brother. "You were sick and you only told Naruto?"

Itachi felt exhausted all of a sudden. How was he supposed to explain something that he had no knowledge of? "I-"

"He didn't tell me, Sasuke. He didn't need to," Naruto's voice held a tone that made Sasuke realise this had something to do with who he was. Even with that bit of knowledge he was still pissed that he hadn't been told anything. There may have also been some guilt that he hadn't noticed his own brother being sick.

The more his rampant mind whirled, the more he realised he'd seen all the signs but had been too wrapped up in his own turmoil to even care to ask. He really was a shitty brother wasn't he?

Kisame was more than a little confused. "What do you mean he didn't need to tell you?"

Naruto side glanced at the blue hued man. "I could tell when I looked at him."

Kisame was about to protest but remembered the signs he'd so foolishly dismissed — or was just to ignorant to notice.

"How long?" Sasuke's voice came out hurt. It wasn't clear as to whom he was asking, Itachi or Naruto.

"Hn?" Itachi hummed.

"How long have you been sick?" Sasuke bit out as his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles were turning white.

"I'm not sick," Itachi easily deflected.

"That's not what I asked!" Sasuke's voice raised, all Uchiha composure disintegrating. "How long have you hidden being sick? Do our parents even know? Or have you been selfish in keeping this from them as well?"

"Sasuke-" Naruto softly spoke only to be snapped at.

"Don't you Sasuke me!" Sasuke snarled. "You knew and you didn't say a fucking thing! How long have you known Naruto, huh?"

Naruto mumbled something barely audible and it had Sasuke almost vibrating with anger and betrayal.

"Since you've been back?" Sasuke's voice cut deeper than any blade. "This whole fucking time and you didn't think to tell any of us?!"

Naruto was losing his patients. "Don't you dare put this on me," his voice practically vibrating the floor beneath their feet. "I didn't even know if or when I was going to show myself to you, do you really think I was going to reveal something that wasn't mine to share?"

Sasuke's mouth snapped shut. He knew he deserved that jab but it didn't lessen the blow. He couldn't handle everything he was feeling. Knowing now that not only had Itachi kept a secret for Naruto, but Naruto had also kept a secret for Itachi, hurt. He wasn't sure what made it hurt though. Was it jealousy? Disappointment? Was he feeling disregarded and left out? And if it was, who did he feel it towards? Itachi? Naruto? Himself? Maybe all of the above? His emotionally stunted brain was encumbered and unsure. All he knew for certain was he needed a fucking drink.

Kisame was in an equal turmoil all his own. "This isn't something you keep hidden," he bit out. "We're talking about Itachi's life!"

Itachi let out a painful sigh. "This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. Look, this isn't his fault. I wouldn't let him tell anyone or I would have forced his hand in showing himself to Sasuke."

Sasuke knew Naruto had every right to stay away from him, but he never thought he would jeopardize Itachi's life to do so. "So you valued your secrecy more than my brother's life?"

Naruto went to speak but Sasuke wouldn't let him. "You know what? I don't care. Have fun with your dinner, I'm leaving." Sasuke went to skirt around Naruto but paused to look back at Kisame. "You coming? They obviously don't need us here. We'd probably just get in the way of all their secrets."

Kisame nodded. He needed to get out of there as well. "Lead the way."

Neither Itachi or Naruto made a move to stop them. They obviously needed space.

"Well, that went well," Naruto's voice was sarcastic.

Itachi snorted. "Yeah, great."

The two men stood there, neither of them really sure what to do. They could have been frozen there for thirty seconds or two hours, neither knew. Kisame and Sasuke clearly needed time and space to think and at least they weren't alone, but that didn't make their sudden departure any easier.

As the silence continued to wash over them it was Naruto who spoke up. "So I guess we should address the elephant in the room?"

Sasuke pulled out his phone as Kisame and he exited the manor. He wasn't sure where Kotetsu was and it had been ages since he'd asked the man to be his driver, but they'd need one for the drinking he had in mind. It didn't take the man long to appear. Being an Uchiha employee, he was given the option of living on the property in his very own quarters. He was one of the employees who made use of this option and because of that he was almost always available immediately.

After getting confirmation that the man was home and would be out immediately, Kisame finally broke their silence. "So, where are we going?"

Sasuke suavely slid his phone back into his pocket. "I don't know about you, but I think some drinking is in order."

Kisame couldn't help but smirk. He'd never spent an evening with Sasuke that didn't involve some sort of event or gathering so this should be interesting. Kotetsu pulled around with Sasuke's choice of vehicles and the two men got in.

"Where to?" Kotetsu asked as they pulled out of the front gates.

Sasuke looked quizzically at Kisame. "You hungry?"

"Are you trying to wine and dine me Uchiha?" Kisame joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Sasuke smirked. "You wish, shark face."

Kisame chuckled. And for the first time all day his mood had lightened. "Yeah, I could eat." As if on cue, his stomach growled ravenously. It seemed the lack of food in his stomach was suddenly hitting him like a freight train.

"Clearly," Sasuke snorted before turning his attention to their chauffeur for the night. "Take us to the Grove."

Kotetsu nodded while silently cursing under his breath. The upscale restaurant was in the opposite direction he'd been driving them in.

During the drive there was a silent agreement formed between Sasuke and Kisame — don't speak about their secretive lovers. By the time they arrived at the restaurant they received more than a few curious looks. Sasuke for being and Uchiha and Kisame for being known as Itachi Uchiha's lover. Kisame may look like a shark, but the sight of them entering a restaurant on a Saturday night together was like blood in the water that had the drama sharks circling almost instantly.

The blushing hostess was about to show the two men to their table when the manager steps in to inform them that the private dining room is available for them. Sasuke nodded in agreement. The stories that were to come were inevitable, but if he had the opportunity to put off giving them more ammunition he would.

Kisame didn't care regardless, he was here for the chaos. So he walked a little closer to Sasuke than he normally would as the hostess led them through the restaurant to their private dining room. While Kisame couldn't care less about privacy, after being with an Uchiha for eight years it was something that one gets accustomed to.

As they took their seats they were handed their menus and informed that their waiter would be with them momentarily. If they were going to commence the amount of drinking Sasuke had in mind, they'd need to start off with a hardy meal. It was something that he'd learned that the hard way. Before long their waiter was greeting them and taking their orders.

During their meal they held themselves to their unspoken agreement and only spoke about mundane things such as work. Sasuke told Kisame about closing in on a major deal that would put Sharingan's technology in the medical field. Kisame told Sasuke about some moron who was trying to fight paying for the telephone pole he hit with his car while receiving an on the go blow job. The atmosphere was light and for the moment they allowed themselves to eat good food, drink decent beverages and bond in a way the two had never bonded before.

After fighting over who'd pay the bill, Sasuke won only because he agreed to let Kisame handle the tip. Their waiter had more than earned a decent tip. They were knowledgeable, courteous and extremely professional. It was something everyone would appreciate, but Sasuke being who he was appreciated it all the more.

With full bellies and the warmth from the wine they'd drank, they left the restaurant where Kotetsu was loyally waiting for them. Now that they had their hunger sated the night could officially begin.

"Kotetsu, take us to the nearest bar," Sasuke ordered.

Unfortunately for Sasuke, the nearest drinking establishment just so happened to be Nine Tails. He could have demanded to be taken elsewhere but figured some decent music couldn't hurt. The weekends always had live bands and he hadn't had the chance to experience the club since it opened so he figured it couldn't hurt. As much as he was pissed at Naruto right now, he couldn't help the imperceivable smile that pulled at his lips as thought about Naruto fulfilling his dream. Naruto was getting closer to the first band competition. There was something special at being able to see him talk about something so passionately. He knew without a doubt that he would be there with him for that first contest.

When they arrived, the place was packed. The lines outside were at a halt as two beefy bouncers manned the doors. They had that typical no nonsense look about them as Sasuke and Kisame strolled up to them. Being who he was, Sasuke was used to all access to everywhere he went so you can imagine his shock when the bouncer told him "back of the line". Kisame couldn't help the deep barking laugh that escaped him when he saw the incredulous look stretched across Sasuke's face. He wondered if this was the first time this had ever happened to him.

Sasuke turned around and shot his companion a dirty look before turning around to re address the bouncer. "You know who I am right?" It was clearly a rhetorical question, he never needed to flex his influence before.

"Does it look like I care?" The bouncer responded dryly, not even feeling the need to puff out his chest. "Back of the line."

There was some cruising mixed with squealing coming from the line. The curses were people who did not condone line cutting and the squeals were from those who thirsted for Sasuke. For once Sasuke wished the squealing groups would do something useful and help him get inside…But they didn't.

"Look, I'm…" He paused as he thought of how to tell the aloof man what he was to Naruto. "A close friend of the owner."

"Listen buddy, the club's at full capacity. You could be goddamn king of the world and you still wouldn't be getting in," the bouncer sounded annoyed. "Now move it along."

Kisame couldn't wipe the shit eating grin off his face as Sasuke turned around and began to storm off.

Before they were out of ears reach Sasuke heard something that made him turn around. "This is all rather troublesome."

"Nara," Sasuke greeted tightly.

"Uchiha," Shika responds lazily. "Not that I care, but what brings you here?"

With quick thinking, Sasuke gestured towards Kisame, "brother in law bonding."

Shika gave him a disbelieving eyebrow. He was a genius, clearly that lame ass excuse wasn't going to work on him. "Now what's the real reason?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw, it would be easier to leave and hit another bar. Everyone in line was now looking at them with heightened curiosity. "I'd rather not say."

Shika looked unenthusiastically between the two men before looking at the bouncer. "Let 'em in, Benny."

Benny nodded as he unclipped the rope to allow Sasuke and Kisame in. It was clear the bouncer respected the Nara.

The music was loud, but being live music it wasn't the typical club music you'd expect to hear. The band who was on was currently playing a cover of Iron Man by Black Sabbath and it just seemed to work. It wasn't the regular old dance music you'd normally find in a club, but if the full club was anything to go off of, it was clearly a hit.

They followed silently behind Shika, not that he'd be able to hear them if they spoke anyways. It was apparent that he was leading them up to a familiar booth that Sasuke had sat in the first and only time he'd been there. If he thought the looks they were getting at the restaurant were curious he wasn't even sure how to describe the looks they were getting now. People were shamelessly recording them, it was clear that everyone wanted to be the first to post about it. Sasuke mentally snickered, he's sure their entrance at the Grove was already spreading like wildfire.

When Shika unlocked the door with his keycard the two walked in after him. Kisame couldn't help but whistle at the room. The whole club was impressive to him. He'd heard all about the blond kitsune's club but this was his first time experiencing it first hand. He was too old for clubbing, but the fact that they had a band playing covers of classics made him feel immediately at ease. Even if they weren't getting the VIP experience, he was sure that with the atmosphere, he'd be able to handle the sweaty, wall to wall bodies down below.

When the door closed behind them, Shika turned his attention to Sasuke. "So here's the deal, Uchiha, I can tell that something's up. I wouldn't normally care but seeing as he," Shika gestured his head towards Kisame," definitely isn't Naruto and I intend to watch out for that blond giant till my last breath, I need to know what's going on."

Sasuke wasn't sure he'd ever heard the Nara speak so much in his life. If he wasn't already one for remaining silent he would have deemed himself speechless. The thought was quickly brushed off then he remembered the reason he took Kisame out for a night of drinking. Did Sasuke want to tell Shikamaru anything? No. Did he think he should because of the promise he made regarding his infuriating lover? Maybe a little.

Kisame had no qualms in speaking up. "We may have found out that our two idiots haven't been very forthcoming with us."

Shikamaru craned his neck to look up at Kisame. "Meaning?"

"Itachi's sick...was sick…might be sick still? Fuck, even I'm not really sure." Kisame grumbled. Part of him wished he'd stayed so he could get some much needed answers but another part of him knew that with emotions so high he wouldn't have been able to calmly listen.

"And I'm guessing Naruto knew about this?" Shika easily put the pieces together. If he was shocked, his face didn't show it.

Sasuke nodded stiffly. "Yes."

After confirmation, Nara's face softened slightly. "I'm sorry," his voice was sympathetic but not pitying. "You're welcome to the room as long as you want. I can't spare a bartender for the room's private bar seeing as this is short notice, but you can help yourself or I can have a waiter sent up?"

When Sasuke was here last time, Naruto's private room didn't have a stocked bar yet so they had that rather enthusiastic waiter waiting on them. An all access bar sounded good but he looked to Kisames for input all the same. Kisame's toothy smile said it all.

Sasuke glanced back at the Nara. "We'll help ourselves."

Shikamaru nodded before handing the room's keycard over. "Alright, if you need anything just use the phone over there on the wall. All the codes are written on the interface should you need it."

"Thanks," Sasuke mumbled. He wasn't used to thanking others and the proof was in the comical look of shock that quickly crossed Shika's face.

Shika cleared his throat before offering a quick, "no problem." And with that, he left, leaving the two men to their own devices.

Shikamaru sighed as he dug out his phone. "What a drag."

Naruto and Itachi were sitting in his study about to engage in a match of chess. They each had a smooth, aged scotch at the ready as soft jazz played throughout the room. They'd just finished eating the tempura that Lana had graciously prepared for everyone. It seemed ridiculous to let good food go to waste. They had decided to put off their conversation until they were fed. Naruto was thankful for this as it gave him more time to mentally prepare for the explanation ahead of him.

Unfortunately for Naruto it would seem that even with extra time, he had no clue how to explain things to Itachi. Sasuke accepted it almost too easily, then again, he actually spoke with Kurama. Naruto wasn't sure the same thing would work on Itachi. It didn't help that Kurama was chanting, "turn into a fox," over and over again in his mind. Naruto made an executive decision, he wouldn't introduce the two if he could help it.

Itachi moved his knight to c6. "So…"

Naruto moved his bishop to c4 as he continued to contemplate how to tackle this conversation. He decided to rip off the Band-Aid and see where it gets him. "I'm what's called a Jinchūriki."

Itachi seemed to be calculating his next move. "What does that mean?" He finally settled on moving his bishop to c5.

Naruto reaches for his scotch, alcohol didn't really affect him unless he chose for it to do so, he did enjoy the taste though. "I'm not sure how to explain it to you without you thinking I'm a certified whacko," he answered honestly.

Itachi raises his brow at him. "I was dying one night then cured the next morning. Try me."

Naruto moved his pawn to c3 as he absorbed Itachi's words. "I have an ancient entity inside of me. Or more accurately, I've merged with an ancient entity."

Itachi's face doesn't give anything away as he moves his knight to f6. "And what does that mean exactly?"

Naruto keeps his gaze on the board. "It means I'm not entirely human."

Itachi snorted as he reached for a sip of his scotch. He reveled in the smooth burning sensation it left behind. "Okay, so lets say I hypothetically believed you right? How does being a Jinchūriki, an ancient entity container, not entirely human, cure someone overnight of something incurable?"

Naruto moved his pawn to d4 before meeting Itachi's gaze with crimson eyes. "I switched your mutated cells with my healthy ones."

Itachi's eyes visibly widened. "You-"

"Yes my eyes are red," Naruto interjected nonchalantly with an absent wave of his hand.

"How?" Itachi looked nearly entranced. He'd been dreaming about those exact eyes but he never expected to be seeing them in real life.

"It would be easi-" Naruto's phone went off. Naruto would have ignored it, not wanting to be rude, but with both Sasuke and Kisame being pissed off he didn't want to ignore his phone in case it was them. Naruto furrowed his brow when he saw it wasn't them.

Lazy ass:

Thought you should know we have 2 VIP's tonight.

Naruto was confused for a moment. 'Why would he text me tha—Oh!'

Naruto:

They ended up there did they?

Lazy ass:

Yeah. As troublesome as it is, I'll keep an eye on them for you.

Naruto:

Thanks Shika.

"Sorry about that," Naruto apologised as he deftly pocketed his phone. "Turns out our significant others ended up at Nine Tails."

Itachi didn't seem to mind the interruption. "I'm sure that'll make for some interesting stories come tomorrow."

"No doubt," Naruto snorted as his eyes faded back to stormy blues.

Itachi looked on in fascination. "That's so bizarre. Can you feel them change?"

"Hn?" Naruto hummed in question.

"Your eyes, can you feel them change?" Itachi repeated before drawing his attention back to the chess board.

"My eyes can change and all you want to know is if I can feel them change?" Naruto asked incredulously.

Itachi shrugged before moving his pawn to d4, eliminating Naruto's pawn. "Seems perfectly valid to me."

Naruto silently stared at the game for a moment before making an unusual move and moving his pawn to e5. "It doesn't feel like much, just a slight tingle," he finally answered. He'd never really thought about it much before.

"Hn. And your eyes, how exactly did they heal me?" Itachi carefully asked. He didn't know what the protocol was for something like this. He knew that he should be skeptical at the very least, but something inside was ready to believe Naruto to the fullest.

Naruto's head swayed slightly in thought. "It's not really my eyes that do it. My eyes only change when I tap into Kurama's power."

Itachi furrowed his brow. "But…"

Naruto smirked. "You know how you've always referred to me as kitsune?

"Yes," Itachi slowly answered.

A flicker of amusement dance across Naruto's eyes. "Well you have no idea how right you've always been."

By the time Naruto had explained everything to Itachi, the man sat there relatives calmly, his face not giving anything away.

When Itachi spoke, it wasn't what he expected to hear. "Why?"

"Pardon?" Naruto was perturbed.

"If what you said is true, why help me?" Itachi's tone was completely bemused.

Naruto's was dumbfounded. "Let me get this straight, I just dropped on you that I'm merged with a giant nine tails fox spirit with unimaginable power and all you want to know is why I helped you?"

'Fucking Uchiha's,' Naruto mentally snorted. He should have figured Itachi would be like Sasuke and take the revelation well.

Itachi tilted his head thoughtfully before nodding. "Hn."

Truthfully, it was a lot of information for Itachi to process but his instincts told him that Naruto was being completely honest with him. And Itachi's instincts were never wrong. There were many things in this world that couldn't be explained, this really wasn't any different except for the fact that Naruto had carefully explained it to him as best he could. It was hard to argue with shifting eyes and miraculous recoveries. Which led him to a deep nagging feeling that rattled his skull, why was he worth being saved?

"Itachi, I see you as my very own brother. If you think I'd let you die you're an idiot," Naruto tried to keep it light. Being so open wasn't comfortable for him, and he was pretty certain Itachi wasn't very comfortable with it either. He never expected to see the look of pure adoration cross Itachi's face.

"Naruto, I-" Itachi was cut off.

"Tachi!" A muffled slur was heard, in the distance causing both men to raise an eyebrow curiously.

"Tachi, where are you?" a different slurred voice chuckled as something made a loud crashing sound down the hall.

Both men got up and made their way out of the study.

"Well, they sound in high spirits," Naruto commented with amusement.

Itachi just snorted as they rounded the corner to see the back of Kisame and Sasuke using each other as support to traverse the house.

"Just how drunk are you two?" Itachi asked, startling the two inebriated men.

They both jumped causing Sasuke to grip Kisame tighter as they tripped over the table that was probably responsible for the first loud crash they'd heard.

"Chi Chi!" Kisame cooed as his eye were reduced to slits from the beaming smile he was sporting.

"Tachi!" Sasuke greeted his brother with unusual elation. Then he noticed his love. "Naru!" He smiled with such warmth.

"You're certainly in a good mood,'' Naruto grinned as he admired the healthy flush overtaking Sasuke's cheeks.

Sasuke chuckled and Naruto thought it may have been one of the most goddamn endearing things he'd ever seen and heard.

"Yeah, we—oh!" Sasuke's expression morphed in urgency. He leaned over and attempted to whisper to Kisame. "Do it now," Sasuke let go and shoved him forward causing him to stumble.

Both Itachi and Naruto raised an eyebrow because Sasuke wasn't even close to whispering.

Kisame slowly walked towards Itachi, a slight sway to his step. Kisame's face was raw with emotion when he stopped in front of him. "Itachi, I fucking love the shit outta you. After learning about everything today I know that I don't want to spend a second away from you.

"Kisame what are you-"

Kisame dropped down to one knee and produced a purple velvet box from his pocket. "Itachi Uchiha, will you marry me?"

Whew! Finally got my butt in gear and got this chapter done, lol.

Happy holidays everyone!

-GrimTopography