As Itachi walked down the hall to the cell he had put Kakashi in, he began hearing noises. Something like muffled cries…Itachi shook his head. It couldn't be. Pein was lying in the hallway upstairs. Itachi shook his head. He was probably just imagining it. Konan glanced at him, a strange look on her face.

"Please tell me I'm just hearing things when I ask you this, but…does it sound like someone's crying and trying not to let anyone else hear?"

Itachi's heart leapt to his throat. "Hate to burst your bubble, but consider this vengeance for popping mine: yes, I hear it, and it seems to get louder the closer we get to Kakashi's cell."

Konan swallowed audibly, and Itachi stopped in front of one of the cells. "Kai," he whispered, releasing a genjutsu. He took a deep breath and set his hand on the doorknob, turning it and stepping into the cell, trying to keep from panicking.

Well, if he chose to panic, he would have good reason.

Kakashi was truly chained this time, on his knees with his arms stretched up over his head. A blindfold covered his mismatched eyes, and a gag covered his lips. Tears were streaking down his bloodied, bruised cheeks, soaked through the blindfold and dripping down Kakashi's face. Dark reds stripes of blood raced down Kakashi's entire body, dripping over the many bruises that speckled Kakashi's fair skin. His shoulders shook with his sobs, but his entire body shook with his fear. Itachi's mouth fell open; Konan froze, and one hand slowly came up to cover her mouth. Kakashi was visibly trembling, and his muffled sobs seemed to redouble at the sound of the door opening. Itachi gasped and ran to Kakashi, pulling the blindfold off and letting him see who had entered the room. Kakashi whimpered, and Itachi shivered at the very sound of his muffled cries of agony. He reached out to Kakashi, trailing one hand down Kakashi's face and flinching at the winces Kakashi made when his hand ghosted over a bruise. Itachi shivered and his hand paused over the gag, then his fingers found the knot in the back and undid it with a single tug. Kakashi's sobs were suddenly much more audible, and Itachi could swear he felt his heart falling into pieces in his chest.

"Kakashi," he whispered, reaching out and sliding his hands up Kakashi's arms. He then locked his fingers around the metal, taking a firm grip-

And twisting it completely off Kakashi's hands.

Konan's eyes widened as she watched Itachi's own display of fury. Apparently, he was a lot angrier than he looked. Maybe he didn't want to scare Kakashi? Konan sighed and went around behind Kakashi, unwrapping the chains from his ankles. The second he was free, Kakashi leapt forward, throwing his arms around Itachi and sobbing openly. Itachi caught Kakashi as he fell onto his knees, and gently turned him so he was sitting curled up on Itachi's thighs. Kakashi promptly buried his face in Itachi's shoulder, tears pouring down his face and arms wrapped around the Uchiha's neck. Konan sighed and knelt down next to the two, putting her hands on Kakashi's back and lightly tracing over his wounds. "These look like whip lashes," Konan said slowly. "Kakashi, what happened?"

Kakashi's breath caught in his throat. It seemed he was hesitant to answer Konan. But finally, he whispered, "H-He told me…if I told anyone, h-he would do it again…" A choked sob escaped Kakashi's mouth, and he turned to Itachi again, seeking comfort. Itachi hesitantly reached up and began stroking Kakashi's hair, marveling at how silky it was. Kakashi really had beautiful hair…Itachi gently ran his hand through the silver locks, feeling Kakashi's trembling slowly taper off.

"Who did this to you?"

Itachi finally worked up the guts to break the silence between them, and inquired as to Kakashi's attacker's identity. Kakashi whimpered, but Itachi could catch his whimpered response: "Pein."

Itachi gave a shuddering sigh and let his head fall to rest on Kakashi's. Figures: the one person he didn't have any sort of influence over. Itachi knew Kakashi was afraid of just about everything at this point, and that it was no one's fault but Pein's. Anger swelled up in his chest, and Itachi knew he had to do something. But what? How could he possibly change it? Kakashi was sitting here, clinging to Itachi like there was no tomorrow and crying his eyes out, and all because of one man's selfish desires. Kakashi didn't deserve this; no one did.

"Itachi-sama!"

Kakashi fearful whimper brought Itachi forcefully back to the present. He turned his head to look at Kakashi's face, now streaked with fresh tears again. "What?" Itachi whispered. But it wasn't Kakashi who answered.

"Itachi, move!" Konan screamed, and Itachi shot to his feet just as a swarm of kunai landed right where Itachi was a few seconds ago. Itachi sprang back, holding Kakashi securely in both arms. Kakashi held on tightly for fear of being let go of; whether to be in the way, or cast aside like trash, Kakashi didn't know the difference anymore. Itachi began frantically searching for the source of the attack: it couldn't be Kisame, he was getting along very well with Kakashi. Sasori and Deidara seemed to like him, and so did Hidan…Kakuza might have been bribed to attack Itachi, though, so he was a possibility. Tobi couldn't attack a fly, partly because he just didn't hurt things, and partly because he lacked the skill…Zetsu might have won a war with himself as far as his black half went and wanted Kakashi for himself…plus, he was never around for anything, so he was rarely in the loop and/or kept updated. There was only sure option, though: Pein. And as Itachi's eyes travelled over to the door, his suspicions were confirmed. The leader of the Akatsuki stood in the doorway, hands poised in the follow-through of a kunai attack. Konan stepped in front of Itachi, and the sound of paper crinkling could be heard in the cell.

"Get Kakashi out of here," Konan growled, "I'll hold him off."

Itachi nodded and tightened his hold on Kakashi, stepping around Konan and running out of the cell. Kakashi whimpered with the pain in every step Itachi took and clung to the Uchiha, afraid of being let go. Itachi could hear the sounds of the battle that had just begun behind him, and let out a wistful sigh. He hated leaving Konan alone after all she had done to help him and Kakashi, but he knew that Kakashi was priority right now. He couldn't afford to let him go, or allow him to be exposed to such violence. Kakashi was too fragile at the moment. Itachi continued out of the dungeons, up the stairs, down hallway after hallway, until finally, he arrived at his apartment door. Itachi set Kakashi down against the wall next to the door, much to Kakashi's dismay. Itachi could see him starting to panic, and hurriedly knocked on the door. "Kisame, open the door!" he called. "Come on, you lazy ass shark, this is an emergency!"

The door swung open between Itachi's knuckles, and the Uchiha reached over and picked up Kakashi. "Pein used another body and basically killed Kakashi. I'm going to take care of him; you go down and help Konan fight him!" Itachi charged into the apartment as Kisame grabbed Samehada and ran out. He knew exactly where Itachi had put Kakashi: he was there. That was where Konan and Pein were fighting, then. Itachi took Kakashi directly into the bathroom, set him down on the floor, and began digging around for medical supplies of any sort. He needed at least clean out Kakashi's wounds. Infection was nasty, and Itachi wanted to avoid it at all costs. Finally, he found a soft washcloth a bottle of ointment. Disinfectant…bandages…Itachi sighed and decided that would do for the time being. He had also copied a bit of irou ninjutsu from Konan, and he could use that to seal up the worst of Kakashi's wounds. As Itachi knelt down in front of Kakashi, he could see that the jounin was distressed. His head was down, and his eyes were welling up with unshed tears. His legs were together and bent off to ne side, so Kakashi's weight was resting in his right hip. His right arm was resting on the floor, and a bit of weight was in that arm as well. His other arm was resting across his thighs, and his shoulders were slouched over. Itachi knew just from Kakashi's body language both that he was afraid, and also that he had no idea what to do. So, Itachi took the initiative.

"Kakashi, come here," Itachi said softly, offering Kakashi his hand. Kakashi immediately jumped into Itachi's embrace, simply happy to have contact with his lover at the moment. Itachi put one arm around Kakashi, supporting his weight with one arm and wiping the blood off his face with his other hand. "Just tell me if I accidentally hurt you, okay?" Itachi murmured, gently running the dampened cloth over Kakashi's face. Kakashi nodded wordlessly, and Itachi continued cleaning him up. Soft caresses, sweet words, and the occasional kiss seemed to keep Kakashi quiet, but Itachi knew that it wasn't the attempts that kept him calm. No, it was simply being in Itachi's arms that allowed Kakashi to sit there and keep his fear under control. Itachi could hardly understand why, but the concept of fear was relatively foreign to him, thus, he could say next to nothing on the matter. All he knew was that Kakashi was happy where he was, and he wasn't crying or in pain. Itachi decided to settle for that.

"Itachi-sama?"

Itachi glanced up from Kakashi's shoulders to look him in the eyes. Kakashi swiftly turned away, as if afraid to meet Itachi's eyes. "I-I've been thinking…" he said softly. "And I…I wanted to know…why do you always go out of your way to make sure I'm safe…? I-I know i-it's impossible for you to…to love me, b-but…"

Itachi sighed and placed a soft kiss on Kakashi's forehead. "It's not impossible for me to love you," he answered, "And that should clear everything up for you."

Kakashi thought back to when he had found the book Itachi had written in regards to him. So…was it true? Was Itachi really falling in love with him?

Itachi and Kakashi sat together for hours, not noticing when Kisame came back into the apartment and stuck his head in, checking on the two. They didn't notice him smile and softly close the door to give Kakashi and Itachi their privacy, and they didn't hear him go in and out of the apartment several times. Neither paid attention when he asked them if they wanted dinner, then sighed, rolled his eyes, and backed out. But 

Itachi noticed the smallest of twinges in Kakashi's sensitive skin, and heard the whimpers of pain he tried so hard to muffle. He could see the pain and fear in Kakashi's eyes when he hit a particularly nasty bruise, or pressed too hard on a cut. He could feel Kakashi shivering in his arms, and held him tighter to keep him warm. Kakashi seemed to love the attention, and clearly wasn't used to it: he would settle closer to Itachi whenever he felt afraid, and he was growing less and less frightened of Itachi's touch. He trusted Itachi more and more with each passing moment-enough to fall asleep on him. Itachi quickly cleaned Kakashi's stomach and inner thighs while he was asleep, then finished up his legs and bandaged his wounds. Kakashi was out cold at this point, which Itachi appreciated. It allowed him to work without fear of Kakashi's trauma coming into play. Finally, Itachi finished with Kakashi and stood up, stretching his cramped muscles. He then bent over, picked up Kakashi, and walked into the bedroom, where he set Kakashi down in his own bed and pulled the covers up and over his small, frail body. Then, Itachi knelt down by the bookcase and dug out his book.

Day 12

Pein used another body to be in two places at once: at the meeting and with Kakashi. He beat him furiously, but it seems that we arrived in time to stop him from raping Kakashi. I thought I saw him run out a few seconds before we got to Kakashi. The poor thing…he doesn't deserve this. Konan and Kisame fought him off while I brought him upstairs. Kisame seems okay, and he hasn't panicked yet, so I think Konan's okay, too. It took hours for me to get Kakashi cleaned up and bandaged, but he seemed to enjoy the time with me. I can't even deny it to myself anymore: I am getting attached to him. But I don't want to! I can't appear weak…! And yet, I want to love him, if only to make him feel better. I can't make myself reject him. I'm almost physically incapable. But what I don't know is…

Am I keeping him because he needs to be taken care of, or because I'm too selfish to let him go?

A/N: Aw, so sweet of Itachi!! : ) he really does love Kakashi, but he's having a bit of trouble expressing it. Review, please. It makes me happy!!