Chapter 4

His eyes fluttered open at the bright light that was shining into the room. It hurt his eyes at first before they readjusted to them. Looking around, he noticed that sometime during his nap that he fell over with the book nestled near him but looked like he moved it out of the way.

Looking around as he sat up, Itachi let a small yawn escape him before the door opened to show his tattooed obsessed lover in his boxers that had something on them that he wasn't sure about. Blinking sleepily, the Uchiha gave the taller man a quick smile before reaching over for the book.

"I thought you would have got up during the middle of the night." Kisame said finally as his ill lover got up from where he was. Watching him set the book on the desk, he kept his gaze on it but turned it to the face that he fell for.

"Drowsiness is one of the side effects Fishie." Itachi sighed as if he was still more than half asleep. In the back of his mind, he was reminded that he wanted to continue reading the book that was given to him by the blond that he knew so well. "What do you have planned for today?"

Leaning against the doorframe and watching as his lover stretched to get his spine and other bones to crack and pop so he could relax, he shrugged. "I have work. I don't get off until three I think. Do you want me to pick anything up before I come back?"

Shaking his head, wanting to be left alone so he could hide the book that was precious to him, the ebony haired man leaned against the desk that was the only western thing in the room. "I don't think so. If I think of anything then I'll tell ya."

"You always do." Kisame pipped in before walking out of the doorway with the door closing behind him. Groaning at the thought of work, his mind focused on his concern that was on his lover's health, he walked into the bathroom to wake himself up.

Hearing the shower going, Itachi looked around for anyplace that would be perfect for hiding the leather bound paper. Somewhere that Kisame wouldn't think of so he could enjoy reading the book that held his deceased brother's thoughts that were over a two-year span. Once his lover was gone, he would most likely go back to bed so he could get a little more sleep then read what was on the next page.

Sighing and giving up on trying to find a place to hide the book, he carried it with him to the bedroom that he shared with the taller man. Flopping down on his side, sticking the book under the pillow so his beloved wouldn't find it or get to it easily, he settled down and let his eyes fall close once more.

"Nii-san." That voice was familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. It made him want to hear it more so he could figure out who it belonged to. Deep down though, he was scared at who it might belong to. It might be someone that he wanted to see so badly but never got a change or someone he didn't want to see because of reasons.

It seemed almost like someone was calling out to him, wanting his attention to the point that he just wanted to crack his eyes open to see who it was.

"Nii-san." He recognized that voice finally, making his body jolt in recognize. It had to be his memory playing on him because he wanted to see his brother again. That had to be the reason. Groaning at the memories he had mixed feelings about, he tried to push it out of his mind so he could get some more sleep before doing nothing. That was how he spent his day unless he went out to the library or somewhere to meet up with someone.

"Nii-san, I wish we didn't lose Kiki-chan." That name brought back memories of the siamese that Sasuke got attached to when he was growing up. Opening his eyes, hoping that he would lose the sight of his brother's smiling face, he continued to picture it.

"Itachi, I'm heading out. I'll lock the door if you don't want to get up." Kisame's voice came into the room after the door opened. He didn't want to look over his shoulder, showing his lover that his eyes were tearing up, so he just laid there as if he was already asleep. Blinking, the blue skinned man smirked a little before closing the door behind him.

Once he thought it was clear, Itachi rolled over until he was facing the door that was once open. Reaching under the pillow, feeling his fingertips brush against the binding that held the papers together, he sighed. Letting his eyes fall close, the Uchiha sighed once more as he let the memories take his mind.

"Nii-san where are you going?" Sasuke's words usually didn't cut like a knife but they did for some reason that day. Reaching out for his brother's shirt, gripping it tightly so he couldn't pull away, he watched as his only sibling turned to look at him.

"I got work. It's not like the kennels are going to clean themselves Sasuke." Itachi said, his mind slightly numb from the confessions that were still echoing in his mind. Why did he have someone like Kakashi after him just because of how he looked? He didn't even return those feelings to the silver haired man that was his senior.

Nodding, Sasuke let go of the shirt slowly, as if he was afraid to let it go. It seemed like the only lifeline he had at the time. Looking into the sable eyes that were surrounded by glasses, he tried to smile.

"Why don't you go hang out with Naruto or someone?" Their father suggested as he pulled his nose away from the sports channel long enough to look at his two children.

Shaking his head, he didn't want to do that. It didn't sound fun anymore because he was afraid that someone would find out. Turning around, he headed to his room where he usually spent his time anymore.

"When I get back, I'll treat ya for some ice cream." Itachi called back, only to watch his sibling stiffen at the words.

Turning around, he glared at the taller Uchiha that was still standing there. He wanted to show his dislike for the sweet food that his brother offered to buy him but didn't. At least not in the way he was picturing it in his mind. "I don't like sweets. Remember nii-san?"

"Oh. Gomen." Itachi stated as if he wasn't really speaking an apology. It didn't seem like it to Sasuke.

Opening his eyes, telling him that he might as well stay up, Itachi sat up with his back resting against the pillows. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, his body wanting to cough but he held it back so he could keep the blood in him for a bit longer, he reached under and grabbed the book that once belonged to his deceased brother.

Opening it, staring at the cover page once more, he sighed slightly. Why did he dream about his brother? At times, he was convinced that it didn't help with the drugs he was taking. Looking over at the clock, seeing that it was a little pass noon, he got out of bed to get some more of his medicine in so he wouldn't have another coughing fit.

Once downing that, he worked on getting a sandwich made and looked at the answering machine, seeing it blinking with a message. Pushing down the button, he leaned against the counter with a bite.

"Itachi, its oka-san. I was just wondering if you want to come over for dinner tonight. That is if your body is up for it. Oh, reminder. You got a doctor's appointment this Friday with Tsunade." Mikoto's voice filled the answer as Itachi shook his head.

He didn't want to go see a doctor, especially the one that found out that his lungs were slowly dying, only to hear the same thing over again. Closing his eyes with another bite in his month, he watched as his memories of his brother taunted him once more.

Opening his eyes, he pushed the button to delete the message and walked out to the living room to get his glasses.

Naruto groaned at the fact that he barely got any sleep that night. It had to be the fact that he gave Itachi that book that contained so much about Sasuke. Laying his forehead against his desk, he swore he was ready to fall asleep. Feeling something fall on top of his head, he strained to get his head up right before it came off.

"Well you look like you've seen better days." Sai commented with that usually fake smile that he always directed toward Naruto.

"Shut up." Naruto groaned and grabbed the papers that he needed to sign. He hated working at this place but it had to do because it paid the bills with a little extra left over. Looking out the window as he finished the signature on one paper, he sighed. "What's the weather supposed to be like this weekend?"

"Unless they change it . . . clear, upper seventies." The ebony haired man commented with a tilt of his head. "Why?"

"Just wondering." The Namikaze said before pushing away another paper that didn't need his attention. He should get more flowers to place on Sasuke's grave so his friend would know that he was still cared for even if he did something stupid in his eyes. He saw it as a coward's way out of something.

As the pile slowly went down by one paper, the blond haired man felt like his hand was going to give out on him. Even after a couple of months of working here, he still couldn't get used to signing so many papers. Groaning at the thought of doing more paperwork, Naruto rushed so he could get his desk back.

"Arigatou Namikaze-san." Sai commented as he took the stack away from the man that looked like he was ready to bite someone's head off.

Once the door was closed, Naruto reached over and turned on the radio so he didn't have to put up with silence. It felt good having noise around him, to occupy his mind so he didn't have to think about his deceased friend.

Turning the electronic down a bit, he opened his phone and called his mother who probably was busy making lunch for his father. "Oka-san."

"Narutooo!" Kushina chimed into the phone with her voice raising a bit that made Naruto hold it away from his ear. "How's work?"

"Fine. Boring but fine. What's going on with Itachi lately? He's paler then normal."

"When did you last see him?" The auburn haired woman inquired as her eyebrows pulled together at the subject that her son was asking.

"Yesterday. He came over. He wanted to ask me about Sasuke." He said as the thoughts of the Uchiha being paler beyond normal filled his mind. He knew that there was something wrong with him because he knew that Itachi looked perfectly healthy since he saw the Uchiha at the anniversary gathering at Sasuke's grave.

Hearing the sigh from his mother on the other end, he knew something was up. "Naruto, he's has something going on with him. It might not make any sense to you but I'll try to explain it the best I can. Since Sasuke's death, he went through his own bout of depression. Then he started filling ill, coughing almost constantly. He went to the doctor's and found out that his lungs are failing him. It's slow but I'm sure pretty soon that he won't even be around."

Shaking his head, not wanting to hear the words that he might lose the only person that made him feel like Sasuke was with him, Naruto bit his lip. "Arigatou."

Hanging up, he didn't want to hear anything else from his mother. He didn't want to admit it but he was scared that he was losing someone else that he loved deeply.

Length of progress: At least a couple days – give or take. I'm not sure but I felt like I should add in Itachi's disease even if I did change it up a bit. Please review.