Itachi awoke early the next morning.

He normally wouldn't, but he set the alarm clock on his nightstand to wake him up very early. He needed all the time he could get to get Kakashi back to Konoha. Itachi reluctantly turned over, silenced the beeping alarm, and sat up, using every ounce of his resolve to even move. Itachi managed to dress, clean up, and get some coffee completely in a daze, and it took fifteen minutes for the coffee to kick in enough that he could actually retain memory. Once he could move fairly easily, Itachi scarfed down a bagel and went back into the bedroom to wake Kakashi. Of course, the jounin had slept in his bed that night, out of simple fear. Kakashi stirred once Itachi softly murmured his name, and Itachi helped him out of bed and got him standing before backing away and gathering his things. It was mostly weapons he had hidden around the room, and taking apart booby traps for anyone who thought it necessary to enter without Itachi's knowledge or consent. By the time Itachi had disarmed everything he had set up, Kakashi had cleaned up, spending quite a long time in the bathroom, gotten dressed, and eaten. He had offered to help Itachi more than once, but Itachi declined every time, telling Kakashi to just get done so they could leave the second he was finished. Kakashi obeyed, and Itachi was just taking down the last of the trap wire when Kakashi emerged from the kitchen area of the room, telling Itachi he was done eating. Itachi nodded and coiled the wire, sticking it in his kunai pouch along with a few kunai he had neglected earlier.

"Ready to go?"

Kakashi nodded eagerly, and the two escaped through the window.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Well, find them!"

Clearly pissed, Pein sat in his office-well, stood at this point-and screamed at Hidan, Kakuza, and Zetsu. The orange-haired man was beyond mad at Itachi and Kisame both-Kisame for lying, Itachi for running…and then, of course, when he was mad, he just hated everyone.

"Leader-sama, we don't have the faintest idea where Itachi went," Kakuza said through gritted teeth. The only person he would ever hold his temper in check for was Pein. Possibly Itachi, but mostly Pein. "And even if we did, why would we chase after him?"

"Because he took Kakashi with him," Pein snarled. "And that jounin was mine!"

"Does it matter?" Hidan snapped. "Why are we risking our fucking asses for your pleasure when you won't share one damn bit of the reward with us?"

"Because I will skin you alive if you don't." Pein's voice was low, gravelly, and deceptively calm. Still, Hidan's masochistic ways could deal with any threat Pein dished out.

"That would feel wonderful, but look disgusting afterwards," Hidan mused. "I wouldn't mind, though…"

Pein let out a frustrated cry and slammed his fists down on his desk. "Find Uchiha," he whispered, "And bring him back here as soon as you do. Drag that Hatake back as well, and teach them both a lesson they won't soon forget. I want that slave, and I want Itachi cowering at my feet in the same way that sniveling brat does already! Don't let them get away with a shred of dignity or sanity!"

Hidan coughed loudly, then muttered, "Speaking of loss of sanity…"

Pein punched Hidan so hard he flew through the wall of the office and severely dented the one behind that.

"And don't fail me!"

OOOOOOOOO

Itachi had only stopped twice more on his journey to Konoha, and both times it was to get something to eat. Even then, the two only stopped for a few minutes before moving on again, as Itachi was afraid of losing too much ground. Kakashi didn't complain about the furious pace Itachi set, just trying to keep up and not disappoint him. But as the day wore on, Kakashi found it harder and harder to keep pace with Itachi-and Itachi found it harder and harder to keep up the pace. Finally, Kakashi had had enough.

"Itachi-sama, I really can't keep up. Please, can you slow down at all?"

Itachi nodded and dropped back a bit, slowing down to let Kakashi catch up and make sure he could keep up. "You okay?" he asked. Kakashi nodded in affirmation, and Itachi continued on towards Konoha. The trip passed in surprising silence for them-Kakashi barely uttered a word, and Itachi was quiet, as well. Itachi was naturally quiet, but Kakashi he had thought was a bit more talkative…

"Itachi-sama!"

Itachi pulled up at Kakashi's call, springing up the tree trunk to where his lover was standing on the top-most branch of the tree. "Look!"

Itachi glanced out over the treetops, staring in the direction Kakashi had pointed. At first, he saw nothing. Then, at a closer glance, he saw what vaguely looked to be gates; buildings; and a mountain with five faces carved in it-

"We're so close!" Kakashi cried. "Come on!" He eagerly jumped down into the lower, sturdier branches of the tree and sprinted ahead, hardly waiting for Itachi to catch up. Itachi smiled and followed, not letting Kakashi see the first show of emotion that had ever been truly visible on his face. He didn't need to lose reputation over this. But still, his reputation had probably been trashed, anyway, what with his caring for Kakashi…

They stopped a few hundred yards away from the gates.

"You-you can't come any closer, I bet…" Kakashi murmured. "If you're seen, they'll kill you…"

"I'm sorry," Itachi whispered, reaching out to Kakashi and wrapping his arms around him. Kakashi practically fell into Itachi's arms, trying desperately not to cry. Itachi gently stroked his hair, whispering to him to try to calm him down. "I know, love, but this is the way it's meant to be-you'll be much happier here, I promise. There are people who genuinely love you, not just me, and they'll take care of you. And no one wants to hurt you here-you don't have to live in fear." Itachi could see that he was hardly making headway-Kakashi's eyes still spoke of his sorrow, and Itachi could clearly see it. He stepped back from Kakashi and ran his hand down the side of Kakashi's face, over the smooth, milky-white skin and into his soft jaw. "I'll be back," he whispered. It was a promise he never intended to break, but a promise he would never reveal. Kakashi knew he meant it, but didn't know it was a promise. And it might be better that way-less attachment for Itachi, and less heartbreak and worry for Kakashi. "Don't lose hope, though, okay? Stay strong, and don't give up. Move on."

Kakashi nodded, trying to build up the resolve to do as Itachi wished. He knew he should, but it was too hard to simply forget about Itachi after all he had been through with the elder Uchiha…so he just had to tell himself that moving past Itachi was remembering him, in a sense. Kakashi knew he couldn't look back, either, otherwise his resolve would break. Just seeing Itachi again would probably kill him as he walked away-

"Go," Itachi encouraged, giving Kakashi a gentle push towards Konoha. "Go to Tsunade, and let her know you're back. She'll take care of you. Just tell her you escaped, alright? Go…and don't look back."

Kakashi turned away from Itachi, taking a deep, shaky breath and straightening his back. He knew that now was the time to go-if he left any later, he would not be able to let Itachi go. Don't even say my name, Kakashi thought. Because just hearing your voice will tear me apart. Don't let me hear your sweet whisper again-it will kill me inside. Don't touch me with your cool, soft hands again-I fear you'll become addicting again. Don't look at me with that sorrow in your eyes I've been seeing for so long, and don't deny that it's there: you and I both know it's there, and it's tearing you apart as well. Don't try to tell me to go one more time: I'll go when I please. I am no longer a slave to your will; I am myself, and I belong only to myself. Tell your leader that he can abandon his quest to break me forever-you brought my spirit back to me.

And with these final thoughts, Hatake Kakashi left his lover and strode into his village.

OOOOOOOOOO

Itachi could feel his throat beginning to close as Kakashi walked away, and fought down the desperate words on his lips. But he refused to let them pass-doing so would bring Kakashi right back to him, and he could only imagine the pain in his lover's heart as he realized that he did not have the strength to leave him. Don't let me touch you again-you are not mine to touch. Don't let me hear your sweet voice again-it is not mine to hear. Don't let me kiss your soft mouth again-it is not mine to so much as touch with my hands, dirtied with your blood from years past. Don't let me see your tear-streaked face again-I will only want to comfort you, and I cannot hold you any longer. Don't let me see the fear in your eyes again-I will destroy everything that ever brought you fear, and then I will destroy myself. You would only be afraid of me. Don't let me see your receding back-I will only try to stop you.

Itachi choked down a sob, turned, and fled.

OOOOOOOOO



The next few hours passed like a whirlwind for Kakashi. After he came into sight of the guards at the gate, they immediately rushed forward and took him to Tsunade. Kakashi was strangely despondent the entire time, and Tsunade only thought to ask what was wrong after thoroughly examining him and healing what wounds he had. She got him some food, then sat down with Kakashi and began asking questions, most of which yielded no fruit.

"Come on, Kakashi, who did this to you?"

Kakashi sighed and set down his empty bowl and chopsticks, turning to Tsunade and giving her a demonic glare. "Pein," he growled. "The leader of the entire bloody Akatsuki."

All of a sudden, Tsunade was seeing Kakashi in an entirely different light. Was he truly angry about the situation? Or was he trying to hide his fear behind his aggression? Either way, Kakashi was severely traumatized, and it might cost Tsunade dearly to get Kakashi back to a point where he could actually recover. "Kakashi, while you were at Akatsuki, was there anyone who sympathized with you at all? Anyone who maybe tried to heal you, slip you extra food, keep you out of harm's way…?"

Kakashi lowered his head, biting his lower lip. Should he risk telling Tsunade who had helped him? Well, the only risk was to himself at this point-they would never get their hands on Itachi, anyway. It would probably help Sasuke's brother gain a bit of his reputation as a Konohanin back…and Tsunade might even be okay with Itachi visiting every now and then if Kakashi told her…eh, what the hell? Even if she got mad, she wouldn't hurt Kakashi, and Itachi could defend himself if the time ever came to do so. So he may as well fess up-

"Kakashi?"

Kakashi nodded, but said nothing yet. His heart was pounding nervously, and he couldn't help the impending sense of dread he suddenly felt for apparently no reason-

"Uchiha Itachi."

A/N: Kinda short, but what else I wanted to put in would have made it super, super long. So, I save it for next chapter!! : ) Review or it doesn't come.