Day 7

Kakashi is definitely the sweetest, most innocent creature I've ever seen. Since he came to me, he's certainly been happier. I actually saw him smile yesterday. He makes dinner for us about every night, and he and Kisame are really getting along well. I can see Kisame slipping Kakashi bits of chocolate, which I find hilarious. He doesn't like to seem that soft, so he tries to hide it from me. Kakashi, on the other hand, seems to appreciate it a lot and usually does Kisame some small favor to make it up to him. The rest of the Akatsuki have seen him, and they all get along just fine with him. Kakashi's wounds are half-healed and some are gone. He is steadily growing to trust me and Kisame more, and even lets me touch his head without freaking out.

Itachi sighed and flipped the book closed. He had to admit, he was growing on Kakashi. A lot. And Kakashi was certainly getting attached to him. How was he supposed to be able to give him up when the time came? It just wasn't going go well, at all.

"Itachi?"

Itachi glanced up, and saw Kisame standing in the doorway of his room. He slid the book under a stack of papers and turned around, dropping the pen on the desk. "Yes?" he said, walking towards Kisame a bit.

"Kakashi's asleep. Should I leave him, or wake him up?"

"Leave him," Itachi said with a shrug. "He's fine. It's early in the morning, anyway. Let him sleep."

Kisame nodded and walked out of the room. Itachi followed, and noticed Kakashi curled up on the couch, a blanket covering his small, fragile body. Itachi felt a small smile twitch at the corners of his lips: he ignored it. He couldn't get attached to Kakashi! He couldn't!!

"Hello?"

Itachi almost jumped at Kisame's voice. He whipped around, glaring at the shark. "I just asked you, like, three times what you wanted to do tomorrow, since we need to be at that stupid meeting." Kisame rolled his eyes. "Oh, Pein…will you ever tire of making us suffer?"

Itachi sighed and walked over to the table, slumping down in a chair and putting his head down on his forearms. "What are we going to do about Kakashi?" he asked tiredly. His love probably couldn't be alone in the apartment-not if Pein had a say in it. "We could lie and say he's staying with some who isn't at the meeting…"

"Everyone is required to attend."

"Could lie and say he's chained up in the basement."

"Could just stick him down there and leave the chains."

"I like lying better. He's probably been down there a few too many times and it hasn't been pretty."

Itachi exhaled slowly and lifted his head, holding his chin in his hands. "This is complicated. You're right; we can't take him down there. He won't like it. And then we leave him alone? What if Pein decides to check? Then, no matter where we leave him, he's not safe."

Kisame sat down across from Itachi, sliding a mug of coffee across the table to him. Itachi caught it, checked the strength, and then took a long, slow sip. He set the mug down, shaking his head. "That's strong," he muttered. "Black, but still…what kind is this?"

Kisame shrugged. "Whatever was in the can."

"Helpful." Itachi rolled his eyes and took another sip, shivering at the heat streaming down his throat. "I'm going to be breathing fire when this takes over," he muttered, drinking a bit more. "It's hot, it's strong, and some other third thing involving pain and heat."

Kisame laughed at this and began drinking his own coffee-he had mixed in a bit of milk and was stirring it absently. "You never cease to amaze me."

Itachi gave a hum of affirmation and finished his coffee, setting the mug down on the table and standing up. "I'm going to wake up Kakashi," he muttered, walking into the next room. He sat down on the couch next to the jounin and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying not to startle Kakashi.

"Kakashi," he called. "Wake up…come on, Kakashi, up…"

Kakashi's eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was Itachi. Kakashi's muscles coiled, drawing his limbs inward, and his eyes closed tightly in resistance to being jarred from sleep. Itachi let a small smile pull at the corners of his lips, then wiped all emotion from his face. Kakashi didn't need to know-it would only encourage the attachment.

"Kakashi…baby…don't make me get some cold water."

Kakashi's eyes opened again at this, and his body slowly uncurled. The blanket slipped down to his hips, which were barely covered by his pants. Kakashi carefully pulled these up a bit and sat up, pale skin rippling in the light. Itachi shuddered; how he could he forbid himself this beautiful creature, especially when Kakashi was completely his, and completely willing? Long silver hair fell down around Kakashi's face, brushing his shoulders and falling almost past them. It seemed that Kakashi's hair had lost its spike in his time in Akatsuki. Kakashi's long, sinewy limbs and smooth muscles moved fluidly under satin skin, pale and soft even in the deep lighting of the apartment. Even Kisame would admit, it wasn't very good.

"Itachi-sama?

Sama. Kakashi had just addressed him as sama. Itachi couldn't help but wonder why Kakashi thought that he was his master-he hadn't treated him like a slave, had he? Itachi glanced at the jounin sitting on the couch next to him, innocently yawning in the hour. "What?" he asked, standing up. Kakashi withdrew a small bit, but raised his eyes to Itachi and asked,

"Why did you wake me?"

Itachi shrugged. "Needed you up," he said ambiguously. "Wanted to talk to you." Kakashi rested his weight in his hands, which were next to his legs, bent and off to one side.

"What do you need?"

Itachi sighed and sat down again, working around Kakashi's position. "Pein wants every single Akatsuki member at a meeting tomorrow, and I can't just leave you alone here. I will either have to lie to Pein and risk him checking for you, or chain you up in the basement. Now, neither are pleasant options, so I was going to let you choose. There is a third option, of sorts: we put you in the basement, then tell Pein you're there. He'll see you in a cell and leave you alone. I can cast a genjutsu of chains that should satisfy him."

Kakashi nodded. "If it's not too much trouble, I think that's the best way to go," he said softly. "But please, if it's too much trouble, or too much risk, don't take it-I don't want to put you in any position where you would be-"

"It's fine, Kakashi," Itachi said swiftly. "I like that one best, too. So, we'll put you in a cell down there and cast a genjutsu of chains. Works." Itachi stood up and walked away, stopping at the kitchen table to let Kisame know what had been decided. Itachi then went into the bathroom, and Kisame could hear the water starting to run. The toilet flushed, the sink ran, and Kisame knew Itachi would be a while. The Uchiha had makeup to do.

Kakashi, in the meantime, was sitting on the couch with his blanket, looking lost. Kisame glanced over at him several times; he hadn't moved at all. Finally, Kakashi shifted his weight a bit and looked to Kisame for direction.

"Get something to eat, and possibly some clothes, and we'll talk."

Kakashi found his half-fishnet shirt tucked under a pillow on the sofa. He pulled it on over his head, the dark material clinging to his skinny form, and then walked into the kitchen where Kisame was sitting. He glanced over at the shark-man again, still seeking some kind of order.

"Eat whatever you want, but ask first."

Kakashi nodded wordlessly and opened the fridge, pulling out an apple and a carton of juice. "May I?" he asked, holding up the food in his hand. Kisame nodded, and Kakashi poured himself a glass of juice. He also found a granola bar in the closet, which Kisame allowed him to eat. Kakashi settled in the main kitchen area with his food, and ate quietly and quickly. Kisame finally finished his own breakfast, which consisted of coffee and a bagel, and then went into his room to get dressed. Itachi was, remarkably, still in the bathroom.

The door to the apartment opened.

Kakashi scrambled to his feet, finishing the last of the granola bar and tossing the wrapper and the apple core into the trash can. He drained his juice, rinsed out the glass, and wiped his face with a napkin he had grabbed when he poured the juice into a glass. He tossed this into the trash as well, and walked to the door to open it. Kakashi turned back the deadbolt, and the slid the chain out of the way. The knob turned smoothly in his hand, and Kakashi found himself face to face with-

Pein.

Kakashi immediately whimpered and drew back, clearly frightened of the man in front of him. Pein brushed right past him, demanding to speak with Itachi. Kakashi closed and locked the door, telling Pein that Itachi was in the bathroom and Kisame was getting dressed. Pein paced into the apartment a bit, then stopped and turned around.

"So…no one's going to be here for a minute, hm?"

"I-I don't think so…Itachi-sama will most likely be a few more minutes, and Kisame-sama as well. I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but I have no control over the situation."

Pein nodded curtly and began glancing around the apartment, as if searching for something. Kakashi remained where he was, silent for a moment. It took him a minute, but he finally took the initiative and offered:

"Can I help you with anything? Do you want something to drink?"

Pein waved a hand, dismissing Kakashi and his offer. "No," he said, just as shortly as before. His eyes then settled on Kakashi, and the jounin felt shivers run down his spine. "But you can help me with something else."

Pein was suddenly on Kakashi, hands forcefully driving him back into the wall and seizing his upper arms in a powerful grip. His lips were crushed onto Kakashi's, and Kakashi felt a bruise rise to the surface of his skin. A heady panic took over his body, and he tried to raise his arms to push Pein away. However, Pein, much stronger than Kakashi, took his hands and pulled them down, pinning them at his sides. Kakashi twisted desperately, trying to free himself from Pein's oppressive grip. Pein was having none of it, though, and dealt Kakashi a vicious punch to the stomach. Kakashi squealed, but it was stifled by Pein's aggressive kiss. Kakashi knew he wasn't breathing, and struggled to do so past Pein. He was lucky-he could get a bit of air in through his nostrils. But it was barely enough to supply his burning lungs and throat, and Kakashi found himself wondering how long Pein could hold on as well.

It seemed it wasn't much longer. Pein broke away, panting with the lack of breath from the stolen kiss. He shoved Kakashi down to the floor and stood for a moment, towering over him and watching the slave cower.

"Stay right where you are," he growled, "And don't make a sound. Because if you do, you won't ever see Itachi again."

Kakashi was truly frightened now-he had curled into a ball at Pein's feet, whimpering and crying softly as Pein stood and tried to regain his breath. Finally, he seemed to have had enough. Pein reached down and seized Kakashi's long, beautiful hair, using it to haul Kakashi to his feet. Kakashi stifled a yelp in one hand, eyes squeezing shut as he took deep breaths and tried to block out the pain. Pein smirked and held Kakashi to himself, kissing him again and then moving down to nip at the pale flesh of Kakashi's throat. Kakashi whimpered and twisted away at the treatment, and Pein felt anger swell in his chest. How dare this little bitch disobey him?! Pein opened his jaws and pushed Kakashi's shirt aside, baring the milky white skin of his shoulder. Blood suddenly stained it red, flowing from a harsh bite to Kakashi's collarbone. Pein plastered one hand over Kakashi's mouth, turned him around, and bit his other shoulder, catching his scream with his palm. Tears flowed from Kakashi's eyes, closed tightly in shame as Pein's hand traveled sinfully lower. He couldn't fight anymore-it was too much pain. He had gone through this already, and knew it was better not to-

"Pein, let him go!"

Kisame had come out of his room, now fully dressed and quite angry. The shark-man paced towards Pein at a furious rate, reaching out and prying Kakashi from Pein's grasp. He shoved Pein away and held Kakashi to his shoulder, trying to reassure the jounin that he was there for him. Kakashi's hands fisted in Kisame's shirt; he could hardly reach his shoulders. His face pressed to Kisame's chest, and Kisame could feel Kakashi shaking as he sobbed it out. Apparently Itachi had heard the commotion, because he came out seconds later, fully dressed as well and just as angry. Pein had slipped away in Kisame's haste to make sure Kakashi was safe, leaving Itachi to simply grit his teeth and hold his tongue. Screaming would do no one any good.

"Here, let me take him," he said to Kisame, pulling Kakashi away from him. Kisame seemed reluctant to let Kakashi go, but knew that Itachi wouldn't treat him badly. He couldn't help but feel attached to Kakashi-was Itachi feeling the same, and that was why he had offered to take him? Itachi wrapped his arms around Kakashi, who went to him gladly. Kakashi's arms wrapped around Itachi's neck, and his head settled in the curve where Itachi's neck met his shoulder. Itachi hadn't put on his Akatsuki cloak yet, and so Kakashi felt free to settle where he would. Itachi could feel his love crying, whimpering, and pleading in his arms, begging him not hurt him, not to make him go back to Pein-

"Calm down, Kakashi," Itachi finally whispered. "You're safe."

Kakashi stopped crying seconds after hearing Itachi's voice.

A/N: Aw, so the feeling is mutual!! : ) Go hit the magic review button now! You were all wonderful for the last chapter, and I'm sorry I kept you all waiting. Writer's block. And also, a new story coming out soon!! Yays!! : ) So, keep an eye out for it! It's centered on Pein, and how Jiraiya might have succeeded in capturing him alive in the battle where -SPOILERS- he was actually killed. Review, and then…cookies?