Thank you Ivy Moonlit Rose for the review. And Adam Lambert for giving the inspiration for this fanfic.
Chapter 13
Itachi sighed, his body laying in the bed that was brought with him. Staring at the ceiling that was staring back at him, he wanted to roll over. He wanted to fall asleep like he normally did.
He couldn't though. His mind was still reeling from that day. The way Naruto's tears scared him to death. The thought of seeing the Namikaze depressed over his brother's death was too much. He couldn't get his face out of his mind. The feeling of his body pressed against his, hugging him tightly.
Closing his eyes, picturing the blond with his arms around him, withering under his touch came to him, causing a blush to color his pale face. Coughing a little, his eyes opened and broke the image that he was treasuring. Turning his head, he stared at the window that still had some light of dusk pouring into it but it was dim. It told him more that night was approaching quickly.
Something pulled his attention, a knock on the door. He was tired so he told Naruto he was going to take a nap and that failed. He didn't take what he wanted but his mind reminded him that his heart was still willing to love even if his body was dying. Sitting up, he looked at the object and sighed, "come in."
Naruto popped his head in, his eyes still slightly red from the sobbing he was doing. Trying to keep that thought out of his mind, the blond smirked and waved a spatula. "Dinner's ready if you want some. Sorry if it's a little late but I was talking to oka-san."
Itachi nodded and crawled out of the bed that was comfortable. It still had that slight aroma of Kisame lingering to it but it didn't stir any desires like it used to. It was like his affections for the tattoo artist had switched off and were slowly turning on for the blond that was before him.
It caused him to think about the kiss that seemed so desperate but it didn't bother him. He wanted to protect him from the pains that his deceased brother was still causing. Smirking back, he followed the slightly shorter man into the dining room that had pictures of family members sitting on shelves or on the wall.
"There's fried rice. I got some soup if you want some. It's miso." Naruto explained as he pointed at each dish. Looking up, seeing the Uchiha's attention held by the pictures, he looked over and stared at them too. Walking over, he picked up one that was close to his heart.
"Which one is that?"
Naruto looked over at the sable haired man then back at the picture that he held in his hands. It was when they just entered high school. Sasuke was being the pouty self that he was with his arm slung around Naruto. Naruto was doing the same but had a smile on his face, making one stretch. "Our first day of high school."
Itachi nodded and walked over with a bowl of fried rice. Peering at the captured memory, he smirked at the usual reaction that they got from his brother when his picture was taken. It was rare for the deceased teen to smile. "Who's that?"
Naruto looked up at the picture that was pointed at with chopsticks. He hated that picture but he had to put it up so his parents didn't wonder. Looking at it as he hung on the wall, he sighed. "Kurama. My older brother."
"He looks completely different."
"That's because he went through that braces faze like almost everyone does. Let's eat." Naruto stated and walked away after setting the picture back on the shelf. Sitting down and dipping himself some rice, he started to eat.
Itachi had that gut feeling that Naruto wasn't fond of his brother but he didn't press. He didn't want the same man that let him live with him hate him for a while because he knew the Namikaze had a tendency of holding grudges. Sitting down and taking a bite of the rice, he glanced up at the blond that his heart ached for slightly.
"Oka-san and Oto-san will be here tomorrow around noon. She's going to be bringing some food so I told her to make part of that dish that you like so much." Naruto broke the silence that was between them. Looking up and seeing the Uchiha taking bites and looking around the room, he sighed a little. "Itachi-kun I'm sorry that I hurt you in anyway."
The raven eyed man that had corrective lenses shook his head lightly. He didn't feel hurt even if he wanted to ask what the matter was with the blond. He always thought that he was close with his brother but it looked like he wasn't. Looking up and meeting the azure eyes, he tried to smile but couldn't. "Its fine. It happens. Not everyone likes their siblings."
"Did-did you enjoy Sasuke's company?" Naruto inquired as he looked down at his dish, hoping that his eyes didn't ache from crying again.
"Yes. A lot. I didn't want to let him go at times." The Uchiha answered with a smile at the topic of his deceased sibling. He was going to have to drop flowers off again so he felt a little more love. "Can you tell me what happens in his journal?"
"No. You have to find out." Naruto answered quickly. It was best for the older man to find out what was going on. He didn't want to have him find anything else that was going to be like bombs to him. Shaking his head, he took a drink of his miso and looked at the man that was across the table.
He nodded and went on eating. That meant he had to read more. Closing his eyes and taking a couple more bites, he had the desire to read until the next day but his body wouldn't be able to stand it. He would be coughing like crazy and possibly throw himself back into the hospital.
"Have you taken your medicine yet?"
"Yes."
Naruto nodded softly and finished off his soup. Pushing away from the table, he took his dishes to the sink to be done later or tomorrow. Walking back into the dining room, he watched his infatuation stare at his food as if he was thinking about something. He wanted to ask but decided against it. It seemed perfect to just watch the man that he was in love with.
"Naruto-san have you ever gone out of the country before?" Itachi asked as he looked up at the azure eyed man that was staring at him. Setting down his dish, he let his gaze fall but go back to the man.
"No. Why?"
"I want to go out of the country if I get better." Itachi revealed but flinched at the harsh stare that was pointed at him.
"You will get better. There is no if to that. You will get better and you'll be able to do everything you want to do or use to do." Naruto growled. He didn't want to think about his crush dying from the disease that he had. Closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose, he sighed. "I'm just trying to look out for you. I hope you realize this."
"I do." The Uchiha stated softly and finished eating. His mind seemed to always turn toward death since he found out he was dying. Taking a breath and pushing away from the table, he grabbed his dishes and set them in the sink. As he passed the younger man, he started to put everything away even if his body told him to relax and read what was going on in the journal. He didn't want to do that yet. He wanted to get everything settled first. He wanted to see Kushina again. He wanted to taste her cooking like when he was a kid. He wanted to fall in love with her dishes like he used to. It even made him wish that he was well enough to go around the country and go to the traditional cafes.
"So what do you want to do tomorrow after oka-san and oto-san leave?" Naruto inquired as he walked over and grabbed the rice. Seeing the Uchiha turn his attention to him, he tried to smile.
"I don't know. I want to find that guy that Sasuke saw. I want to get to know who otouto-san was since he hid who he really was." Itachi stated but he had to look around. He had to look at the friends that were on Sasuke's social page that was turned into a memorial. He was sure that he'll find the person there.
"He was at the funeral." Naruto said, remembering that day. It felt like yesterday. He felt like bawling again but he wasn't sure how his body would take it. It seemed too much to do something like that in one day. "He said to me that Sasuke was a really nice guy. Hey . . . does your parents know that he was gay?"
Itachi shook his head. Sasuke was good at hiding things like he was. It made him wonder if it was a genetic thing or he liked to copy him. Thinking back to when Sasuke was trying to copy him, he started to snicker. The thought of his kid brother was growing his hair out so it was like him, he laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?"
"Sasuke growing his hair out!" Itachi threw his head back at the memory. It felt so good to picture that in his mind. The thoughts of his sibling doing that along with using their mother's eyeliner pencil and drawing lines on his face just made him laugh harder.
"When did he do that?" Naruto questioned with an eyebrow raised at the random topic that the Uchiha brought up. He didn't remember Sasuke growing his hair out.
"It was before he started school. He was copying me in a lot of things and that was one of them. He wanted to grow his hair out so it was like mine. He even went as far as drawing lines on his face like mine. Oka-san was pissed at him!"
Naruto shook his head and pursed his lips. He couldn't really picture his brother like figure doing that. The Sasuke he knew so well was always frowning, keeping his arms folded and other things that made him think that his friend was trying to look depressed or something. "Hey Itachi do you feel anything toward me?"
Blinking at the question that was off topic, Itachi coughed as he calmed down. With a couple more coughs, he stared at the blond haired man that was staring at him with that gaze that told he was being serious. He wasn't playing around. Sighing and walking toward the Namikaze that he was slowly falling in love with, he smirked.
"Will you answer me because I want to know? Please." Naruto pleaded as he balled his hand and hit his fist lightly on the chest of the object of his affections. He wanted the answer that he wanted to know so badly. Blinking and staring at the sable eyes that were framed by lenses, he saw nothing that would give him his answer. All he saw was the blankness that every Uchiha had.
"Why did you ask me that Naruto-san?"
"Because I want to know. I have this feeling in my stomach that those kisses that we share are something else. I know that they are. What do I have to get the answer out of you? Prank ya? I'll do that as long as I get the answer I need to hear. I don't care if you don't like me because as long as your happy makes me happy." Naruto ranted as he let his eyes close and try not to picture the Uchiha that was in front of him. Itachi wouldn't leave his mind though. He was everything to him. He wanted to say something but words wouldn't form.
Sighing, Itachi stared at the man that was in front of him, letting his fist rest on his chest. Reaching up and stroking the scarred cheek for who knows what, he tried to smile. When the sapphire eyes opened and stared at him, he let a small smirk play on his lips. How could he answer him? He wasn't sure how to do that.
"What's your answer?"
"There's a lot of them. I feel like we're brothers. I feel that close to you Naruto-san. You mean that much to me and I can't help but feel drawn to you. Sasuke's lucky to have a friend like you by his side." The long-haired Uchiha answered as he stroked the cheek with his thumb, feeling the other's head lean into the touch. "Then there's the part of me that wants you. You are everything. You're doing a lot that others wouldn't do. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm falling in love with you."
"That's enough for me to hear." Naruto whispered and leaned over, letting his head rest against the chest of the man that was slowly dying. He didn't care – or act – like he was dying. He was acting like the Uchiha Itachi that he fell in love with.
So any feedback because when I started typing this up I was listening to Better than I know myself so my mind would refresh on the ideas I have for this but it ended with Remedy by Little Boots. I'm also dedicating this chapter – even though she didn't know I was bi or if she supported it – to my great-aunt Irene. She passed away from Parkinson's Disease after suffering from it for many years. *cries*