AN:

JK: Uhm...Unfortunately, due to the length that I've planned for the next few chappies, my 'Reply to Reviewer' section has been cancelled until chapter 31. I apologize in advance, I DID look at your reviews, and I thank you kindly for them. Oh, and Kakuzu's the doctor. Don't complain, he's just the one that's full of stitching.

Current Chapter Contains: Spanking of a teen. Possibly severe.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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"Kakuzu!!" Kisame dashed into the hospital ward of the base. "Where is he? Is he okay?!"

"Calm down, Kisame..." Kakuzu sighed. "He's right here." As he spoke, Kakuzu pointed to Itachi, stretched out in one of the beds. He had bandages on his head, his arms, and various places on his legs and torso. "Surprisingly, Itachi was the luckier of the two for the one driving."

Someone, no one knows who, had called the police for help for a car crash. The Akatsuki, getting suspicious of the absence of not only their Dreadful Duo but Kisame's car as well, had gone out to investigate. They had managed to get both Itachi and Deidara out of the car and back to Kakuzu so he could work.

"I hope he's gonna be okay..." Kisame said, lightly running his fingers through Itachi's hair. "What's their current status?"

"They're going to make it, if that's what you're asking."

"That's a relief..."

"But-"

"But?"

"Deidara's got a concussion and Itachi's delusional."

"Delusional?" Kisame asked, sitting on the bed and toying with Itachi's long black hair.

"He keeps thinking he's back at the Uchiha compound...and that his parents are still alive. It's weird..." Kakuzu paused, looking at his notes. "If you try to touch him while he's awake, he freaks out and starts throwing things, yelling 'Get away! I didn't mean it! I'm sorry, otou-san!' and other things, but that was his more recent."

"Weird..." the shark-nin agreed.

"But, when he's asleep, he keeps asking for different people."

"Like...?"

"Deidara, his mother, Sasuke--which I found interesting--and you." the scarecrow-looking-nin started writing on his paper. "But don't worry, it's mostly you."

Somehow, Kisame couldn't hide his joy at that.

"So...he's going to be okay...?"

"Up and running within the week."

"Good..." Kisame sighed. "He had me worried sick..."

-Later in the Week, shortly after Itachi was allowed to leave the hospital ward-

It was mid-afternoon in the Akatsuki base. Everyone was on a mission except Sasori, Deidara, Kisame, and Itachi. Sasori and Deidara weren't home, however. They'd gone out to help Deidara get his strength back in a near-by village and would not be back until the following morning. So, it was just Itachi and Kisame.

Itachi was on his way down the stairs when Kisame stopped him in the living room.

"Yes, Kisame?" the younger asked, walking over to his partner.

"Itachi-kun, I think we need to talk." Kisame replied, sitting on the couch and patting a space next to him. Itachi obediently sat next to him.

"What about?"

"Well...about my car."

Itachi had to do all he could not to say: 'No surprise there'.

"What about your car?"

"What about it?!" Kisame repeated. "WHAT about it?! Itachi-kun, you HOTWIRED my car and crashed it, seriously injuring yourself and Deidara!!"

"But, 'Same-"

"Don't give me that! Uchiha Itachi, you had me worried sick!!"

"I..." Itachi looked away, ashamed. "I...I'm sorry, Kisame..."

"I'm afraid 'sorry' won't cut it, Itachi." the shark-nin sighed. "Your cloak, please."

"Wh-what?"

"Itachi, put your cloak on the floor. It'll just get in my way."

"But-"

"Please, Itachi...this is hard enough for me. For once, will you just do as you're told?" Slowly, Itachi obeyed, neatly folding his cloak and placing it on the floor. "Good boy." Kisame nodded his approval before taking hold of Itachi's wrist.

"Kisame...!!"

"You brought this on yourself, Ita." Kisame said, lightly pulling him down over his knees.

"Kisame, please!!"

"Itaaa...when has begging ever worked on me?" he replied, tugging Itachi's pants down to his knees.

"Well...no..."

"Feel better doing it, hunh?"

"Ye- KISAME!! LEAVE THOSE UP!!" Itachi protested, reaching back to try and get his boxers back up.

"Again? Itachi, I thought we went over this last time." Kisame sighed, catching his wrist and pinning it to his back.

"Kisameeeee!!"

"Shush, now, Itachi. I need to get this done." Kisame paused, then sighed. "Ita, I just need you to hold still for me."

"Hold st-" Itachi froze when he heard an awfully familiar noise. A sharp clicking sound. "KISAAAAAMEEEEEE!!"

"Aw, sweetie..." he said, lightly petting Itachi's hair. "I know you're frightened, but you really need this." As he spoke, Kisame doubled back his belt.

"Kisame, please!!" Itachi panicked. "Not again!"

"Shhhh...only ten, Itachi..."

"Kisameee!!"

"Itachi, shush." Kisame sighed. "Now, hold still..."

CRACK!!

Just like the time before, Itachi screamed instantly.

"Owwwwww!! 'Saameeee!!"

"Shush, Ita." Kisame replied, bringing three more blows down. Itachi bucked up and shrieked, his own cries piercing his throbbing head, still hurting from the wreck. He tightly gripped Kisame's hand and sobbed, kicking frantically.

"I-I-I'm...s-s-s-sor-sorry!!"

"I know...just hang on-"

"I'm sorry, otou-saaaaaan!!"

Kisame froze, remembering Itachi's delusion spells.

(I need to get him up, now!) he thought, quickly fixing Itachi's clothes and lifting him up. "Shhhh...shhhh...quiet down-"

"Let me go!! I...I'm sorry, otou-saaan!!"

"Shhh...Ita, honey, it's me...Kisame..." he murmured softly, trying to snap him out of delusion.

"Noooo!!" Itachi shrieked, frantically trying to get away.

"Honey, shush...It's just me, Kisame...I'll never hurt you...shhh..."

"LET ME GO!!"

"Ita, shush...it's okay...I love you, Ita...I love you..."

"LET ME GO!!"

"Okay, you've left me no choice..." Kisame sighed. Moving his partner's long black hair out of the way, he quickly located a pressure point and jabbed it, causing Itachi to pass out instantly. "I need to find his medication..."

Kisame lifted Itachi up and carried him up the stairs to their room. He placed him on the bed and went into the bathroom for his medication, a shot. Kisame grimaced. Half was from amusement, the other from pity. Itachi hated shots.

-Flashback-

"Itachi, will you just-?!"

"Nooooo!!"

"Gah-! KISAME!! Stop laughing and help me!!"

"What do I do?"

"I don't know!! Put him on your lap or somet- DAMNIT, HE KICKED ME IN THE JAW!!"

"Pffft...!!"

"KISAME!!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming..."

-End Flashback-

"Good thing he's asleep..." Kisame muttered, walking back into the bedroom. Itachi was whimpering in his sleep, muttering something. "What?" Kisame asked, leaning down to hear better.

"...'Sa...'Same...d...don...le...leave...me..."

"Shhhhh..." Kisame crooned softly. "I'm right here for you..." Hearing Kisame's voice, Itachi scooted closer. Taking this opportunity, Kisame injected the medication into Itachi's arm. Itachi jumped and moaned slightly, but rolled over. "There, now..."

"Nnnn...'Same...?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry...for...frightening you...and crashing your car...oh, 'Same..." Itachi crawled up into Kisame's arms. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry, otou-san...and don't reach for my medication, 'Same. That was directed at you."

Kisame froze.

"Itachi-kun...did you really just call me 'dad'?"

"Kisame...honestly, you're far more deserving of that title then my father ever was." Itachi smiled, nuzzling Kisame. Kisame's eyes filled with tears.

"MY little weasel..." he said, hugging him tightly.

"Oh? Kisame! You're crying?"

"Ah." Kisame wiped his tears away. "Sorry, Ita...a part of me has just wanted you to call me that for a very long time."

"Really? How long?"

"Oh, since I first got fed up with you acting like a brat and spanked you."

"That long..." Itachi mused. "You know, I can still remember the entry..."

"You can?"

"Uh-huh. It was something to the effect of not knowing what to do with me?"

"I figured that one out, didn't I?"

"Yeah..."

"Tell me, are you feeling better?"

"Tired."

"I hope so." Kisame smiled, then started rocking Itachi back and forth slowly. "Shhhh...go to sleep, little weasel...go to sleep...it's okay...nothing will hurt you...Daddy's here...Daddy's right here..."

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AN:

JK: Cute, no? Okays, until next chappie, see yah! X3