Chapter 8
It hurt to think that he was alone now. He wouldn't have anyone to help him feel sane. Part of him thought he was stupid for being like that toward Kisame. He should have held on, trying to keep the man with him until his last breath. That part though, was selfish. It made him feel like a pathetic person for wanting to keep someone from their dream even if he was dying.
"Itachi-san? Where's Hoshigaki?" Naruto chimed before his tone dipped to look around the room. Stepping in before he got knocked down by something that was passing by, the blond haired man sighed a little. Looking over at the sable eyes that were just surrounded by glasses, he saw them mist over again. Something happened.
Itachi turned his gaze to the window, hoping, praying that Kisame would rethink it. He loved the guy. He would give anything to have the tattooer by his side still but it wasn't fair for the other man. Jumping a little at the cooler touch that was on his hand, he looked over at the Namikaze that was staring at him.
"Why are you crying Itachi-san?" Naruto inquired as he reached up with his free hand and wiped at a tear that was descending down the older man's face. He was worried that something happened while he left, making his mind image what it might be.
"It's nothing. Nothing." Itachi tried to keep his tone normal, to make sure the blond didn't catch on that he was hurt. He hurt himself. He screwed up by letting the man that was willing to do anything to make sure he was content and healthy. Even if he was dying because of his lungs, he enjoyed the times that he was with the older man.
"There is something. Tell me please."
That tone the Namikaze used made his mind wonder. Maybe Kisame was just another stepping stone toward that special someone. At least that's what his mother told him when he was started seeing people. Letting his eyes fall close, reaching under the glasses and wiping at the tears before Naruto got to them, he tried to force a smile on his face.
Knowing that there were others that were willing to look after him, to make sure that he was doing fine, was enough for him. He was content with that. Soon he'll be joining Sasuke. He'll be able to see his brother again, to play games with him, do things that they used to do when they were growing up.
Naruto reached over and shook the ebony haired man, seeing his eyes open slowly. "Itachi-san, you didn't answer my question. What's the matter? Where's Kisame at?"
"I broke the relationship off." The Uchiha whispered, as if he was afraid to let the words escape his lips. It made his heart ache at the thought. He gave Kisame up so he could follow his dream while he laid in the hospital bed dying because his lungs wanted to quit functioning. The other half of him knew that it was the right thing to do though.
"What? Why?" The sapphire eyes widened at the words that he caught. At first he thought he was hearing that instead of what he really said until it sank in. Shaking his head, his lips parting at the thought, Naruto grabbed the hand that didn't have a needle stuck in it. "Why? I thought you loved him."
Turning his head to meet the younger man's gaze, he knew he was worried about what he just said. Everyone will be. Lowering them to the tan hands that were holding his tightly, squeezing them, he smiled even if it hurt. "Because he was going to the States for a job. I won't be able to follow because of my illness. He needs to follow his dreams, like everyone else Namikaze-san."
Wanting to punch the man to get him into his usual self, Naruto kept the urge back so he didn't do it. He didn't want to get kicked out of the hospital. It didn't make sense. Itachi didn't seem like the type of person that would give things up so easily. He seemed like the type of person that would fight for them until he was ragged, until every bone in his body was broken. Biting his lip to keep his shouting in check, the sapphire eyed man shook his head.
"What do you want to say Naruto?"
"Baka! This isn't the Itachi I know. The Itachi I know wouldn't be giving up so easily. The Itachi I know would fight for something he believed in until his body was broken or something else caused him to stop." Naruto stated sharply, his head shaking. "What would Sasuke say? What would Teme think about it?"
He knew that Sasuke would hate him for what he did. But it was for the good. He wasn't going to be around forever, especially with what's going on in his body. Taking a breath to keep himself calm, knowing that if he did start raising his voice, his vitals would rise also.
Letting his gaze drift to his lap where a sheet covered him. Taking a breath, he wasn't sure what he was going to do now. He didn't have anyone there to help him out if something happened. Kisame knew what to do if something happened to him but he was going to be going to America for a job that he wanted to do. He wouldn't hold him back because of his illness.
"Itachi-san. This isn't like you." Naruto said softly, his eyes almost softening to how soft his voice was. Letting go of the pale hand, he walked over to the door and looked back. "Do you want me to get you some water?"
"Please." Itachi answered. Part of him wanted the blond to take his time. The only reason why he wanted his friend to take his time was sitting on the table beside the bed. Grabbing the book that Naruto had with him, he flipped it to the fourth entry that he wanted to read.
Dear Diary (I still don't think that's good. It makes me feel girly lol)
Well I told some of my friends how I was. The only one that didn't care for it but was willing to deal with it, if that makes any sense, is Neji. For some reason, he doesn't care for them like some but he won't say all that religious stuff that ticks a lot of people off. Which I'm happy for.
Naruto was weird today. Then again he's always weird. I don't know why but he was all twitchy today. When I asked him about it during P.E., he said that he saw a guy that interested him. Turns out it was the chemistry student teacher. I felt like slapping my forehead for my friend's hopelessness.
I mean I never saw him get all lovey dovey over someone like that. Turns out the guy was blond also, with long hair. The only person I know that has long hair is my brother. And I've called him a girl a few times, especially when I was half asleep. Sorry Nii-san.
Itachi shook his head. He remembered all those times. It was weird that his brother would call him a girl because of his long hair. He's seen a few other guys with long hair and it looked cute on them. It might depend on the person.
When I found out who it was, I swore I felt like slapping my friend on the side of the head. The guy he fell for also has blue eyes. The guy seriously looked like a girl to me. When I said that to Naruto, he just glared at me like I should be sent to the bowels of hell for it. I seriously don't understand him at all.
When I got home today, I swore Nii-san ran into a little girl or someone in the family brought their little girl. He was sitting on the couch with his hair in pigtails with little girly hair ties in them. I couldn't help but laugh at them, even as he threw a pillow at me. It hit me in the face but I kept laughing at him.
Oka-san said that Shisui showed up with his little girl, which explains it, and she has this bit obsession with Itachi. Even when she was a baby she just wanted to be held by Nii-san. Now that she's growing up, she doing everything to him. I'm waiting for makeup but I don't think Shisui-itoko's wife will allow her around that stuff.
So after I put the pillow back, Nii-san was grumbling about his hair and me laughing at it. So he took it out, even if it felt weird to him. He asked how school was after that and I swore I froze. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure if I should tell him that I told everyone about me being gay. I wasn't sure what to do.
Itachi shook his head at the thought. He loved and hated Shisui's girl because of how attached she was to him. There were times that she didn't want to leave and wanted to be left there with him. He was sure that his cousin was at ends when it comes to them visiting and her not wanting to leave. He tried everything to get her to come home.
"I didn't know that Shisui was your guys' cousin." Naruto commented, scaring the Uchiha to the point he automatically closed the book. Raising a fine blond eyebrow, he handed the glass of water and sat down in the chair. "What's wrong? It's not like your reading porn."
Itachi rolled his eyes at Naruto's choice of words. Taking a drink of the water which seemed to sooth his throat a little bit, he opened the journal and looked for where he left off. "Yeah. Shisui's our cousin on our mother's side."
"I just thought he was a family friend or something like that."
Shaking his head at the assumption, the Uchiha looked over at the blond haired man then the clock. Visiting hours were almost over with, which he didn't want. "So why did you fall for Deidara?"
Naruto swore he felt something cold race down his back at the topic that the Uchiha brought up. Smiling wearily, he tried to figure out how to get out of this. Knowing that his friend would bring it up continuously until he answered, he sighed. "I'm not sure. Maybe because he looked like a girl. Wait, how do you know Iwa-sensei?"
"I went through school with the guy. He was a couple grades behind me. I had art class with him a couple of times. He seemed more of the type that would sculpt instead of do chemistry. He used to get teased because of his facial features." Itachi explained as he went to the place he left off.
I just said that it went fine, which I had homework to do and he nodded. I wanted to tell him, bad, but it just wouldn't get out of my lips. It was like my body was afraid to let my parents overhead but they weren't even in the house at the moment. So I guess I'll have to find a way out to tell him.
I don't want him to be in the dark about this but I have a feeling he will be. He told me a long time ago that I can tell him anything but I just can't tell him about this. I wish it wasn't this hard to do.
"Hey Itachi." Naruto pipped in, letting the silence break away. Seeing the man look up at him, his hands closing the book, he forced a smile onto his face.
"What is it?"
Letting his gaze go around the room, his fear getting to him. Even if the man just broke up with his previous lover, he wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. Of course he could help him out with his illness but would Itachi be willing to do that. "How about you move in with me?"
It wasn't expected of the blond Namikaze to say something like that. Itachi should have expected him to say something unexpected since he used to do that when he was growing up. Smiling a little, the sable eyed man looked at the book. It sounded like a good plan since he didn't have to worry about being alone. Then he wouldn't worry his mother to death. It seemed perfect.
"I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I was just think that with you being ill and everything . . . that you would want to be at a place where there was someone else. Well . . . so you can get help if you need it."
"I would like that." Itachi replied with a smile on his lips. It hurt to know that he was leaving the apartment that had so many memories. He had to move on though; no matter how much time he had left he had to live his life to the fullest. Reaching over and taking the blond's tan hand, it made his own pop out. "You'll have to get info from Kisame."
"Why?" Naruto whined at the thought.
"Because he knows what to do if something happens to me." Itachi stated calmly but his nerves were acting up. There were a lot of things that could happen to him and it scared him. The fluid build up was one of those things that made him fear death because it was going to be premature.
"Fine. I'll do it because it's you." Naruto complained and folded his arms, drawing his hand away from the Uchiha. Looking over at him, seeing the smile stretching the lips, he returned it anyway.
No matter what happened to the Uchiha, he would love him for who he was. Itachi was kind, friendly, which was something he wanted in a person. He enjoyed the older man's company to the point it might seem stalkerish to some. It made him want to laugh at that moment but didn't. He just enjoyed the man's company and those feelings evolved into something that made him wish he was with the sable eyed man for the rest of his life.
"Sir visiting hours are over. You have to leave, please." A nurse said sweetly as she popped her head in.
Naruto and Itachi broke out of the daze they were in. It seemed like time didn't exist with them when they were around the other person. As they returned a smile to the other, Naruto rose from the chair.
"Hey Naruto, tell your parents I said hi. I miss seeing your mother and having her Dengaku." Itachi said. He was glad that his and Naruto's mothers were friends from school or else he might not know this man.
Nodding, the blond Namikaze left the Uchiha even if it hurt to think about it.
Sighing and leaning back, his hands brushing against the book's binding, Itachi looked at the ceiling. There was something else that bothered him besides the fact that he was dying prematurely. It had to deal with Naruto because his heart would stir like when he first saw Kisame. It bothered him. He didn't want to fall in love again because if he did die then he would be leaving someone with a pain that would never heal. That wound wouldn't be able to heal because there was no medicine to cure it.
It bothered him that this was happening. He just didn't want to be infatuated with someone again.
Itoko: Cousin
Dengaku: One of Japan's oldest ways of cooking with Miso. To make it, meat or vegetables are grilled on a skewer, then coats the food with a sweet miso sauce and grills it for a second time.
*sighs* One day to complete, even if my muses wanted to watch the Full Metal Alchemist movie that I borrowed from the library. Yes my library is so cool now that it carries anime along with manga. *jumps for joy* Please review, favorite, fan art, and/or alert.