"Kakashi?"

Itachi noticed that Kakashi hadn't come out of his room in a while. It took a while to pick a book sometimes, but Kakashi had been in there a bit too long. And besides, he was really, really quiet. Itachi stood up and walked into his room, noticing that the door was only open a crack. He pushed it open, staring around the door as it opened. As it did, Itachi could see Kakashi kneeling on the floor in front of the bookcase, a book in his lap. But the book was closed…it looked like he was just staring at the cover, which was black leather with no writing on it…Itachi's heart leapt to his throat. He had put that journal behind the bookcase itself! Had he not pushed it back far enough to fall behind? Well, apparently not…

"Kakashi?"

Kakashi's head shot up, and he dropped the book like a snake. He leapt back from Itachi, and the Uchiha could see dark tear tracks down Kakashi's face. Itachi rushed over to Kakashi, concerned. Why was he crying? Had he actually read the book he had just thrown away from himself? "Kakashi, what's wrong?" Itachi asked, dropping to his knees in front of Kakashi. He slowly extended his hand to Kakashi, inviting the jounin into his embrace. Normally, Kakashi would run to him and cling to him like a burr. But now, Kakashi skittered back, almost looking afraid and slightly disgusted. Itachi knew then that Kakashi had read the book, and he wasn't happy about what he had seen in it.

"Kakashi…love…come on, talk to me-"

"Are you really just using me?!"

Itachi was taken aback at these hurtful words. "Kakashi, I would never-"

"Don't lie to me!" Kakashi cried. "I saw what you wrote-you don't really care, do you? All you want is for me to trust you so you can have a nice little fuck toy. I don't care what you say-unless you can prove to me that you love me, I won't ever touch you again!"

Itachi looked like he had been slapped. He did a double-take, staring at Kakashi with wide, sorrow-filled eyes. He couldn't believe Kakashi would so misunderstand what was written in the book! "Kakashi, if anything, this should prove that I have gotten past the stage of only wanting you as a slave. What ever made you think that I am only using you?"

Kakashi took a deep, halting breath and picked up the book. "I…I just…I…oh, forget it!"

Kakashi abruptly threw the book aside, jumping to his feet and bolting from Itachi. Itachi rose swiftly, catching Kakashi's wrist and dragging him back. "Now wait just a minute," Itachi said sternly. "You are going to tell me just what the hell you think is going on here, because I can't fix anything if I don't know what's wrong. And neither can you. So sit down, and tell me calmly what is bothering you so much!"

Kakashi was shivering in fear by now, and trying to get as far away from Itachi as possible. The Uchiha's grip on him reminded him all too painfully of Pein's abuse, and how Pein had held him and beat him senseless. Kakashi could feel tears blossoming in the corners of his eyes, and then spill over. He tried to fold himself over to sheidl himself from invisible blows, crying softly and whimpering in fear. Itachi saw this and immediately released Kakashi, gasping in shock at what he had just done. Kakashi collapsed to his knees, tears falling from his dark, pain-filled eyes. Itachi knelt down in front of him, sighing and trying to calm both Kakashi and himself.

"Kakashi, I'm sorry," he whispered, gently reaching out and wrapping his arms around the jounin's shoulders. He carefully pulled Kakashi's prone form into his lap, holding him against his shoulder and stroking his soft, silver hair. Kakashi's tears didn't slow, however, and Itachi realized just how hurt he was. "Love, I forgot about…I'm sorry, alright? Now, please, tell me what's wrong. I want to help you, but I can't until I know how."

Kakashi took a deep, slow, shaky breath. "I…when I came to you, I...ever since I met you…Itachi-sama, I…I'm afraid that if I tell you…"

Itachi sighed and glanced down at Kakashi. "Keep going," he encouraged. "Just get it out there. I promise that, no matter what comes out of your mouth, I'll still love you, and I won't ever turn you away. Now, just blurt it out. Get it over with."

"I'm afraid that if I love you, you won't love me back!"

Itachi fell silent. So that was what Kakashi was overreacting to…he was afraid of not only Itachi's feelings, but also his own. Itachi just knelt there on the floor for a moment, Kakashi nestled in his arms, so quiet and vulnerable. With only Itachi to protect him, and nothing but pain outside his love's arms. Itachi slowly lowered his head, gazing into Kakashi's face. His eyes were closed, but tears were still leaking from the corners. His face was mostly buried in Itachi's shoulder, but the visible part of it still screamed at Itachi, as if t punish him, and make him think that holding Kakashi was an atrocity. He seemed to be saying, how dare you hold me so tenderly, when I know you only want to bring me harm? And Itachi having trouble bearing it. Finally, he bent his head, ebony hair falling over his shoulder, and placed a soft, gentle kiss on Kakashi's cheek.

Kakashi's shaking immediately stopped.

He lifted his face from Itachi's shoulder, clearly shocked at such a gesture. Itachi gave him a soft smile and put one hand behind Kakashi's head to support it as he leaned down again and kissed Kakashi. But this kiss was different; Itachi had claimed Kakashi's lips as his own, instead of just a soft kiss on the cheek. No, this was a bit more Itachi was asking, and Kakashi wasn't sure if he should give. Itachi let his lips linger on Kakashi's for a moment before pulling away to see his love's shocked face. Kakashi was clearly stunned-but it seemed not in a bad way. After a moment, letting the shock sink in, Kakashi reached up, lifting his head and connecting their lips again. Itachi felt like a wildfire had just ravaged his entire body at once, pulsing like his heart and flowing through his veins like blood. Kakashi gasped around the kiss; he had felt it, too. Still, Itachi tried not to push him-he knew Kakashi needed to do this at his own pace.

Kakashi retreated, gasping.

"Itachi-sama," he panted.

"I felt it, too," Itachi whispered, slowly helping Kakashi to a standing position. He himself followed, and the two just stood for a moment, taking it all in. Itachi finally reached out and took Kakashi's hand, leading him out of the bedroom. As they passed through the main area of the apartment, Kisame glanced up from the paper.

"Find a book?"

Itachi smiled. "Kakashi will probably be reading a lot more," he said vaguely, and then changed the subject. "I'm taking him downstairs now. You head over to the meeting and tell Pein I'll be there momentarily, and I'm putting Kakashi away."

Kisame nodded and stood up. Sure enough, it as two fifty. "See ya there," he said. "Good luck."

Itachi glanced at him. "Me, or Kakashi?"

"Both," Kisame said grimly. "If I know Pein, you'll need it."

OOOOOOOOO

"Well, men-and Konan-we have a dilemma on our hands," Pein was saying as Itachi entered. He silently sat down at the long meeting table, not saying a word and acting like he had been there the whole time. Pein raised a single eyebrow, pausing to glance in Itachi's direction, but said nothing. Members of the Akatsuki exchanged glances and whispers, but a death-glare from Pein silenced all these and brought there attention back to him. "Anyway, before I continue, I'm sure Uchiha-san would love to tell us why he is late."

Itachi glared at Pein, but placed his forearms on the table and played it cool. "Because thirty seconds makes such a difference, no?" he sneered, calm, cool, demeanor showing no emotion at all. This brought a chuckle from the others, and a harsh, "Silence!" from Pein. The others quieted down fairly quickly, and Pein returned his attention to Itachi.

"Itachi, you should know by now that I tolerate no disrespect," he snarled, folding his arms across his chest and glaring at Itachi. Konan looked concerned.

"Pein, don't," she hissed. Pein gave her a swift glare, but she ignored it and stood up. "Pein, as your friend, comrade, and fellow ruler of Akatsuki, I can't let you do this-!"

"Konan, sit the fuck down."

Konan slowly sat down, chewing her lower lip. Pein motioned to Itachi with one hand walked over to the door, holding it open as Itachi passed through. Pein then exited, the door clicked shut. The rest of the Akatsuki waited with bated breath; Pein would surely teach Itachi a lesson he soon wouldn't forget! Zetsu slowly stood up, making sure to be silent, and creeping over to the door. Part of his head sunk into the wall, and his white half began whispering to Kisame, who was standing next to him. Everyone else stayed seated, for fear of their lives. Kisame's eyes widened 9which wasn't saying much) and he slipped back into his seat.

"What's going on?" Deidara pressed. Kisame swallowed hard.

"He's making him use the Tsukiyomi…but look into a mirror at the same time!"

Even Kakuza seemed struck at this. "My, what a man," he murmured. "For being thirty, forty seconds late, and then asking if it really mattered. Dear, I get the feeling Itachi's going to be out of commission for a while."

Kisame shook his head. "He's trained for this. Wait until you see what he does."

"We'll see soon," Zetsu's black half muttered. "I want the heart and the liver!"

"He's not going to die," Kisame muttered. "Now get over here before you get caught and eat your own liver!"

Zetsu sat down just as a piercing scream cut through the air.

Everyone jumped at least ten feet in the air, and Deidara paled considerably. "Wh-Which one was that?" he gasped, glancing around frantically. Kisame smirked, and gestured to the door.

Itachi walked in.

"Pathetic," he muttered. He sat down again, settling his cloak like a princess settling a gown. Kisame arched an eyebrow as Itachi scooted his chair in, as if asking what ha transpired.

"I looked over the top of the mirror. Yes, Zetsu, we knew you were there. Or, at least, I did. I'm not sure about Pein."

"And…what happened to Pein…?" Konan tentatively asked. Itachi looked over towards her with calm, almost serene, eyes.

"Dear woman, you've been intimidated enough. Please, feel free to speak freely in my presence. Anyway, he should be back any moment with a vengeance. In the meantime, would you like to take over?"

A small smile slowly came over Konan's face. "Very well," she said, standing up and clapping her hands together at her breast. "Coffee and bagel break! Everybody outta here, and bring camera phones for the passing-by photo op!"

Itachi smiled and stood up, taking Konan's hand when the two were the last in the room. "May I escort you to your room? Just in case of wolverines."

Konan smiled again. "I'd like that," she said, and the two exited the room together. As they walked, Itachi said,

"Mind if we take a quick detour?"

Konan shrugged. "I guess not," she said. "Where?"

Itachi seemed hesitant to tell her, but eventually said, "The dungeons. I kind of left my lover down there…see, we're not allowed to be together. It's Kakashi, that slave that Pein had a week or two ago and wouldn't stop abusing. Pein wouldn't let me take him with me to the meeting, so I put Kakashi in the basement and cast a genjutsu of chains to keep Pein happy if he checked for Kakashi. Kakashi's down there, but not truly chained. I need to get him."

Konan nodded. "I always liked him and tried to help him," she said softly. "And you two are lovers?"

Itachi nodded. "Well, technically, we're not lovers, but we are in love. See, we haven't had sex yet. He's too skittish, and I don't want to push him to even come close. He'll freak out. Anyway, since we're out, I wanted to get him back. So he isn't traumatized any more."

Konan nodded. "Well, then, lead the way."

A/N: I had massive writer's block and just wanted to get this up for you wonderful peoples. Thank you all for being so amazing, and I love you!! : )