Itachi stood. "I'm taking a shower. When I get out maybe you'll have stopped talking nonsense."

Kakashi gazed at him from the bed, words escaping him. His eyes asked Itachi what was going in that pretty head of his.

"We're not breaking up, Kashi. It wouldn't be fair to Sasuke or Naruto." Itachi pulled his shirt over his head, the cloth muffling his voice. "Besides, what if...I don't know if Naruto even wants to get back together."

Kakashi smiled without any real happiness. "Naruto still loves you." Don't kid yourself. Then again, if love could make Kakashi put Itachi first, if it could make Kakashi want to be his best self, maybe love had the awesome power of making Itachi doubt himself. Kakashi couldn't see how anyone who had seen Itachi with his guard down could not be in love with the Uchiha. Kakashi considered himself very lucky indeed to be one of the few who knew the Itachi beneath the pretense, who dryly joked with Sasuke, who laughed with his head tossed back, who knew Itachi didn't care about his criminal good looks and dazzling charm. How could Kakashi, now that he'd seen Itachi's real smile, not want to protect Itachi's dreams and push him to conquer, change, and move the world. Easy. Kakashi couldn't.

Itachi, don't you know you're irresistible?

"Whatever." Itachi disappeared into the bathroom. With the sound of running water in the background, Kakashi clasped his hands behind his head. If Itachi was going to be in denial, then so would he.

When they broke up, though, Kakashi would be there to say 'I told you so'. He pitied Sasuke; Itachi as a rival had to be extremely frustrating. He admired the kid for sticking it out for so long. Sasuke couldn't be blind (Kakashi winced mentally at his unintended pun) to Naruto's implacable, undeterring love for Itachi. He must really love Naruto, Kakashi mused. Which was unfortunate, since so did Itachi. Why was everyone so obsessed with the blond? He was cute, Kakashi supposed. But he wasn't especially bright, he ate way too much ramen, and he complained a lot. Of course, Kakashi had always preferred Itachi's raven locks and ivory skin to Naruto's sun burned skin and yellow hair.

Kakashi rummaged in Itachi's bedside table for a sheet of paper and a pen. He used leg for a hard surface and began to write. He ruefully wondered if he and Sasuke had gotten together before, maybe they could've found a way to keep their respective lovers, and then Kakashi would not now be writing this letter. There wasn't a poetic bone in his body, so now that his heart was broken, there was no dramatic simile, no brilliant analogy. No, all he knew was that it hurt.

It occurred to Kakashi that he couldn't hear the water running. He looked up to see the gratifying sight of a naked Itachi. He was holding a towel in his hands, staring at it as if he didn't know quite what to do with it. Kakashi took advantage of the moment and discreetly slipped his note under a pillow. He rose and hugged the still figure. Itachi dropped the towel.

"What are you doing?" Itachi asked softly.

"Body warmth. You looked cold."

"Oh. Okay." Itachi didn't say anything for a moment, his arms hanging by his side. Then, "Kashi?"

"Mmm?"

"You're weird."

Kakashi laughed. "I know. But..." I love you. God, I want you to know that. Do you? "Can we stay like this for a little bit?"

He almost thought Itachi would say no. Would snap at him and walk away.

"All right."

So they did. Then after a few minutes they fell onto the unmade bed and made love. Something was happening to Kakashi. He didn't know what it was. His mind was hazy with lust and other complicated emotions that made everything so much harder and so much more important than anything Kakashi had ever done.

As Itachi moved above him, inside of him, Kakashi was aware that he was smiling. It's okay, Itachi. You don't have to do anything. I'm breaking up with you. This waiting for the inevitable is killing me. His eyes burned but there were no tears. He could only see the words in his letter.

I won't be around for a while so don't contact me.

No longer yours,

Kakashi

Kakashi smiled weakly as Itachi kissed his neck. Itachi would probably burn the letter or something.

For the last time, Kakashi looked into the onyx eyes and confessed, "I love you."

Itachi kissed him to shut him up. Then he muttered, "Thank you".

No, Kakashi decided, that wasn't enough. Not anymore.

Sometime later Itachi's phone rang. When it continued to do so Kakashi prodded Itachi's shoulder.

"Itachi, your phone is ringing."

"I was blind, Kashi, not deaf," Itachi grumbled, reaching for his phone. "This is Itachi Uchiha."

Itachi sat up, his back ruler straight.

Kakashi mouthed, What is it?

"Is he in critical condition? That's good. I'll be right there."

Itachi snapped his phone shut. "It's Sasuke. He was hit by a car."

~Fin~