Once they were out in the hallway, Itachi turned Kakashi around, stripped off his mask, and gave him a long, sweet kiss.
Kakashi suddenly tensed at the swift movement, but settled into Itachi's embrace soon enough. He gave a small gasp as Itachi's hands trailed lower on his body, drifting into the small of his back, and Itachi took that as his cue to stay where he was. He held Kakashi close to his body, leaning deeply into the kiss. One of Itachi's hands stayed in Kakashi's lower back, the other travelling up to rest behind the jounin's head. Both of them stole small gasps of breath between kisses; hands struggled to go beyond their limits; stolen nips were returned with pleasure. Itachi's lips moved so smoothly over Kakashi's, one might think it was liquid flowing over liquid. Kakashi let out a small moan of pleasure as harsh teeth formed a gentle love-bite on Kakashi's neck, hidden by the mask. The smallest of whimpers escaped his throat as Itachi suckled at the bite, drawing the blood forth with a sharp sting.
"Itachi-sama-"
Itachi came back up and claimed those full lips again, silencing Kakashi's plea with a more forceful kiss. He paid attention to Kakashi's outward bodily signs, though, in case he got too far into himself. The last thing he wanted was Kakashi to feel like he was being used again.
Kakashi slowly pulled back, and Itachi took the hint. He just stood there for a minute, letting the moment pass and holding Kakashi in his arms. Kakashi kept himself securely in the circle of Itachi's arms, just content to be with him at the time. Itachi was secretly glad Kakashi was so quiet-it just made this so much more enjoyable. Words would have spoiled the moment. One last, chaste kiss and Kakashi's mask crept back up his face, slowly hiding his true face from the cold, uncaring world. Itachi kept one arm around Kakashi's shoulders as they walked down the hallway, but stopped him as they were about to walk into the streets.
"I'll meet you at your apartment."
Kakashi nodded, and Itachi vanished in a flash.
OOOOOOOOO
Kakashi walked through the streets, absent-mindedly moving through the crowds of people bustling around, tending to their daily lives. He was envious of them, really-they had no idea what his life was like, and what he wouldn't give to be normal-like them. He heard his name whispered several times-people pointed fingers and whispered behind their hands, but Kakashi knew what they were saying. It was either ridicule or astounding praise.
"Well, if he can get caught like that, and then beaten up so badly, he's probably lost his touch, if not his sanity."
"You have to give him credit-for all he went through, and really, these are the highest ranking shinobi in the world! And twice he's done it now! And come back alive to serve us again-!"
"The stubborn bastard who refuses to die. Coward, just like his father."
In a flash, Kakashi had sought out the man who had made the snide comment and had him by the throat against a wall. "Say that again," he whispered threateningly, gripping the man's neck tighter. "I dare you." He threw the man across the street into a wall-
And just kept on walking.
OOOOOOOOO
Kakashi opened his apartment door with a sigh, closing and locking it behind him. He could tell Itachi was already in the apartment: his chakra was evident to Kakashi's extra sense. "Itachi-sama?" he called tentatively, taking a few steps into the apartment. Itachi stood up from the couch he had been sitting on, reading a magazine, and gave Kakashi a small smile.
"Rough time getting here?"
Kakashi nodded and accepted Itachi's hug, then stepped back again. "Do you want anything to drink?" he asked, "Or anything to eat?"
Itachi shook his head. "I'm okay," he said. "I stopped for ramen on the way. Take-out. Ichiraku's, was it? Yeah, that was it. Good stuff."
Kakashi smiled and nodded. "I go there all the time," he said. "And so does Naruto. Well, everyone really. It's well-known as the best ramen place for miles."
Itachi nodded. "Come here, sit down," he said, settling back where he had been on the couch before. Kakashi curled up against Itachi's side, under the Uchiha's protective arm, and simply content to exist for that one, perfect moment in time. Itachi seemed to feel it as well: nothing more than breath was shared between them, the deep rhythms of life keeping the time to the beating of strong hearts.
Itachi's was slightly faster.
It was only during these quiet moments that one could notice such a thing, but somehow, Kakashi noticed it immediately. Perhaps it was because it was so quiet; or maybe the way Kakashi's head was positioned according to where Itachi's heart was-
Either way, it was a beautiful moment.
OOOOOOOOO
Pein was pacing.
Ever since news of Kisame's death reached him, he had been searching for revenge on Konoha. It was Konoha's fault Kisame was dead, in his eyes-Konoha had brought about the entire situation, anyway. By being the enemy of the Akatsuki, it brought around such consequences…Pein was pushing himself just to keep Akatsuki alive, let alone thriving. He had no time for stupid, petty affairs such as this! And now, these kinds of situations had taken one of his skilled shinobi. "Couldn't have been Tobi," he muttered, the deprived, challenged "shinobi" springing to mind. Oh, he would love for Tobi to simply…disappear, but, being who he was, there was no neat and clean way to do it. It would be, doubtless, a messy job that would piss him off almost as much as Tobi alive pissed him off. There were certain things in life that were just obnoxious…Tobi definitely topped the list, coming in a close second to Konoha. No, something had to be done about that village, and he was going to see to it personally.
"Konan," he said slowly, "Take over for me for a couple days. There's some business I must see to…in another village…"
Konan sighed. "If it's in Konoha"-
"No, no," Pein said, lying straight through his teeth, "It's in Suna. I'll be gone for a few days, so just make sure everything gets done around here, ne?"
Konan sighed. "Yeah, sure," she said. "Keys?"
"On the counter."
"Scrolls?"
"On my desk."
"Records?"
"Same place as the scrolls: my desk."
Konan gave Pein a single nod. "Very well, then," she said. "Anything in particular that needs to get done?"
"If a mission comes up, give it to Hidan and Kakuza," Pein replied. "They've been rather antsy and cranky lately; I figure something to do should cure them of that rather quickly. And watch our for Itachi: he's been elsewhere for a few days now, just make sure he comes back and gives his mission report to you."
Konan nodded again and briefly glanced up from her book. "Where is he? What's the mission, I mean?"
"Delivering a scroll to Otoga," Pein said slowly. "I told him to take his time toying with Orochimaru, but he's Itachi. You never know what he'll take to heart." With a smirk, Pein grabbed his cloak and threw it on, snapping it down the front and grabbing his backpack. "Count on a week."
Konan nodded and grunted a reply, and Pein exited the room. Konan waited several minutes to make sure he was safely gone before grabbing a blank scroll and scribbling out a message to Itachi:
Get out of Konoha now! Pein is coming, and he knows you're there. Get Kakashi out, as well, or give him to someone you both trust. GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Konan sealed the letter and used a paper jutsu to send the scroll directly to Itachi. She knew he would receive it long before Pein got there, but was it still enough time?
OOOOOOOOO
A scroll randomly appeared in front of Itachi.
Raising a single eyebrow, Itachi glanced at Kakashi. The jounin was staring at him with a puzzled look in one eye. "Yours or mine?" he asked, motioning to the scroll.
"I think it's mine," Itachi said slowly. He leaned over and picked up the scroll, turning it carefully in his hands. As he reached the end of the paper, where it was carefully stuck to the backside of the rest of the scroll, Itachi smiled. He recognized Konan's signature butterfly stuck to the seam, and realized it was from her. "Yeah, it's mine," he said, and gently lifted the butterfly from the edge. As his Sharingan eyes skimmed the paper, they grew wider and wider, until finally, Itachi stood up and sealed the scroll again, sliding it into the kunai pouch under his cloak.
"Love, Pein is coming," he said, leaning over and taking Kakashi's shoulders in his hands. "You can't stay here, all right? We need to get you someplace safe…somewhere where Pein can't get you…"
Kakashi thought and thought and thought, but came up with nothing. Itachi was trying to think, but he had forgotten many of the details of the village in the time he'd been away. He kept asking questions such as, "Can you remember anything that might be part of ANBU?" and "Is there an attack shelter of some sort that you might be able to get to?" Kakashi couldn't think of anything that would stand a chance against Pein.
Itachi finally groaned and sat back down on the bed. "Oh, I give up," he said. "We're just going to have to hide you and guard you. I can't take you into the forest, or anywhere outside for that matter, because the second it starts to rain, we know Pein is here. He can track any person within his rain. If we can sneak you building-to-building, where will the end be? Do we just keep moving? Or do we stop at some point? Do we just go straight to that point and risk the rain? Do we hide you someplace ingenious and leave you to avoid detection in numbers, or leave guards with you? Or maybe we could hide you in an obvious place with a load of guards…?" Itachi put his forehead in his palms, fingers twisting in his bangs, and he took several deep breaths. "I just can't think straight," he muttered. "Sorry…"
"It's not your fault," Kakashi said softly. "You did everything you can and…I think…" A blush was clearly visible on Kakashi's face, even in only the one slice of cheek that was visible, and Itachi's mind began to spin.
"You think-you're ready-"
"We need one last night together, and…I need to be able to say I'm no longer a virgin…even if I'm only secondary…"
Itachi smiled. "If I go too far, or if you change your mind, let me know and I'll stop."
"I want this. I really, truly want it this way. He can tear us apart from each other in the bed if he wants…but I want it that way. I can't hide any longer…I can't run anymore. It's just not right."
Itachi's smile grew, and the mask came down. "You can still stop me at any time," he murmured, claiming Kakashi's lips as his own. "But if you really want this-"
"Go right ahead."
OOOOOOOOOO
Kakashi lay underneath Itachi, still panting slightly from their night together. Strangely, no one had bothered them at all. Maybe Konan's letter was advanced to give them enough time to leave? They might never know, but Kakashi didn't even care anymore. That was that: he had officially lost his virginity of his own free will. Itachi leaned forward and kissed him, carefully wrapping Kakashi's lithe body in the sheets. Kakashi had gained most of the weight back from careful care and gentle prodding, but his body was still slightly skinnier than it used to be.
"Love…you okay?"
"Hm? O-Oh…yeah…"
Itachi smiled and ran a single finger down Kakashi's stomach. "My sweet…are you lying?"
"No…"
Kakashi shifted closer to Itachi, putting his head on the Uchiha's firm shoulder. "Just tired…"
Itachi nodded. "That's okay. Feel different, now that you actually wanted it?"
Kakashi nodded in return. "Strangely," he said. "But, it was a good different…"
Itachi gave Kakashi one last kiss. "I'm glad," he said. "Well, if you're tired, it's probably best you get some sleep." Itachi gently tapped Kakashi's slightly-curving hips. "Go to sleep; I'll stay here the night."
Kakashi blushed at the affection and snuggled closer to Itachi. "Thank you," he whispered. His eyes were already closing, in truth, and he was too tired to even get up and go to the bathroom if he needed to. He shifted his position one more time, just enough to encourage Itachi to put his arm around him, and then all was a peaceful, quiet black.
A/N: Smut and fluff…yummy.
