Hey, everyone! Thanks for all the love and support! I'm so glad people are actually reading this! There will be hints of KisaIta in this chapter as well as some light KakaIta.
Itachi was released the following morning. Kakashi of course was there to escort him back to the Uchiha compound. Sasuke was no where in sight. Kakashi led the boy down the scenic route towards the compound. The extra time it would take would give the Copy nin more time to get information from the Uchiha. Itachi followed Kakashi down the empty street, shoulders hunched. Tucked in the pocket of his jacket was the Kakashi plush doll.
"So..." Kakashi began. "Mind telling me what happened?" Itachi glanced towards the nin.
"You...were there. You saw." He replied, voice weak. Kakashi didn't want to force Itachi to speak while it hurt but pressed on.
"I saw Sasuke standing over your body." He shrugged. "Not what happened before that." He stared at Itachi who finally relented.
"He caught me at the memorial and we...argued."
"About what?"
"What do you think?" Itachi muttered. "He didn't want me there and I tried to...I wanted him...I..." Itachi trailed off and looked away. Kakashi watched him from the corner of his eye. Finally Itachi lifted his head."Sasuke...he-he changed." He frowned, blinking. "I didn't know what to do. I just stood there and I could have fought. But I didn't."
"Why not?" Kakashi questioned and Itachi shrugged.
"Shock? He turned into some sort of...monster." He replied and Kakashi chuckled.
"I don't think that's it." Kakashi replied and Itachi shot him a glare.
"Oh? Then please explain." He replied coldly.
"You've fought plenty of...odd creatures. It never phased you. Perhaps it was that you didn't want to fight your brother. I think you're holding back."
"And what should I do Hatake?" Itachi shot back. "What if I fight him and I...I turn back into him?" His voice dropped into a whisper. Kakashi's gaze softened.
"You don't know that." He nearly reached for Itachi but felt better on it.
"Don't I? Don't kid yourself Kakashi. You told me yourself. It's in me somewhere... I don't want it to come out." The Copy nin looked away from the Uchiha, glancing at the nearby buildings. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the compound. Sasuke, unsurprisingly was not there when Itachi returned. Itachi however was not complaining. He invited Kakashi in for tea and against his better judgement, Kakashi accepted.
Itachi was shaky, Kakashi noted. He poured tea for Kakashi but seemed on edge as if expecting Sasuke to burst through the door and attack him again. He stood rigidly by the counter, arms crossed as Kakashi made small talk.
"You know...I still have that book you gave me for my birthday." Kakashi suddenly stated and Itachi's brows raised in surprise.
"The one on different dog breeds?"
"Yep. A pretty good read." Kakashi sipped his tea, watching as Itachi nodded.
"I had hoped you would like it." He murmured and Kakashi lifted a brow. Itachi turned to the sink and absently washed a teacup.
"You always were thoughtful like that..." The Copy nin mused and Itachi smiled slightly as he cleaned the cup.
"You told me I was too soft hearted for the ANBU." Itachi murmured, eyes downcast.
"Too good for the likes of them." Kakashi shrugged and Itachi turned to look at him. "It's why the fourth made me a sensei. Everyone saw what happened to you. We wanted to avoid that ever happening again." He looked down at his cup and Itachi took the seat across from him.
"I'm glad you're a sensei now. You've done wonderfully." Kakashi offered Itachi a tight smile and his hand reached across to take Itachi's and hold it. They clasped hands, staring at one another in silence. Kakashi's finger traced soft circles over Itachi's flesh while Itachi gazed, expression soft.
"Did I tell you I loved you? Before I did it?" Itachi asked suddenly. Desperate to know. He stared at the nin and Kakashi did not look up from Itachi's hand. He stroked small circles on his wrist before bringing the Uchiha's hand to his mouth and placing a gentle kiss on the side of his slender wrist. Itachi's heart fluttered and a warm heat filled his chest at the feeling of those lips on his skin.
"You did." Kakashi finally admitted. Itachi smiled. "And I didn't sat it back..." He released Itachi's wrist and Itachi pulled back with a small nod. He was not disappointed. He did not deserve this man's love.
"Sounds very bold of me." He mused, lips twitching and Kakashi let out a low laugh.
"It was. So was the kiss that followed. But I wasn't complaining."
"Of course not." Itachi smiled. "You rarely did." Kakashi was tempted to kiss him. Right then and there. Push the boy against the wall and claim those oh so familiar lips. But he was not a young man anymore. He was not the same cocky ANBU captain who enjoyed the forbidden of claiming the Uchiha. The years hand changed him and although he wanted Itachi as he had in the past, he understood that Itachi was far too young and far too damaged. That did not deter him from the want however. It remained, pulsing and painful.
The silence was awkward for a moment and Kakashi despised it. It used to be so easy to talk to Itachi. The boy was so easy to be around. Always quick to smile, even if it was small. Even if it was only for Kakashi as they kissed each other in the night. It was one of the many ways he and Sasuke differed. Sasuke and Itachi may have shared looks at the same age but Sasuke was cold and closed off. He did not let people in...except Naruto...but that seemed to come with stipulations. Kakashi knew it was because of the massacre and could not help but wonder what the boy would be like if it never had happened. That caused a twinge of hatred for the elder Uchiha brother. He tried to shake it away, but it grasped at him. He could understand Sasuke's hatred. He felt the same. Once, Itachi had been a kindhearted young ANBU captain and the next he was a monster. That monster had not only killed his entire clan and took Sasuke's sanity. That monster had also killed the kindhearted boy he had been. Like Sasuke, Kakashi knew this and the hatred festered. He was just better at hiding it behind genially and the benefit of the doubt. He had fallen for it once. It would not happen again.
Itachi frowned and studied Kakashi who seemed lost in thought, eye narrowed and cold. He sat quietly, unsure if he should say something or leave Kakashi to his uncharacteristic brooding. Kakashi finally lifted his gaze and the look she shot Itachi was chilling. Itachi looked away and heard Kakashi let out a noise of disgust.
"I have to go." He suddenly stood, voice flat. Itachi did not look away from the wall and merely nodded. He listened as Kakashi walked out of the kitchen and out the door. The lingering warmth of the kiss to his wrist now burnt, as did his eyes and face.
Utter foolishness.
Sasuke finally returned after a night of heavy drinking. He wandered into the house, smacking his knee as he walked through the door and cursing. He stumbled once, hanging onto the wall for support. This was the last time he let Suigetsu choose and activity. Groaning he sank to the floor, holding his head.
He did not expect an angel of mercy to appear. A cool hand was held against his burning face and he leant into it with a blissful sigh. Blearily, he forced his eyes open to see the vague outline of the angel. They did not speak but helped him stand and stumble the rest of the way to his bedroom. He leant heavily against this merciful being.
"I...haft...seepin'-now." He slurred and the angel let out an amused noise.
"Don't worry. I'll get you to bed." They stated as they entered his room.
"Yer nice..."
He was lowered onto his bed and sank happily into the plush material. He babbled incoherently as the being eased him out of his shoes.
A cool hand touched his forhead and he sighed against it. He heard the merciful angel speak but was not listening, too busy enjoying that cold hand on his overheated flesh. The being pulled away and the blankets were tucked around Sasuke like mom and Aniki used to do. Sasuke rolled onto his side, snuggling into the warmth. He loved drinking.
Scratch that.
Sasuke hated drinking.
He decided this as he vomited over the edge of his bed into the bucket that was left for him last night. He let out a miserable groan, head pounding. He squinted at the bottle on his night stand and the little not beside it.
Take two of these with water when you wake up.
Itachi...
Sasuke flopped onto the bed annoyed but started as he wondered how a thirteen year old Itachi knew how to handle a hangover. He did as the note instructed and lay back down. He did not move from the bed for several minutes, tempted to not move all day. Finally he rolled onto his side and pushed himself out of the bed. He sluggishly made his way out of his room, rubbing the side of his face and scowling at nothing in particular. The pills were certainly helping. He was surprised to find Juugo in the kitchen, sitting by the table. He offered the Uchiha a nod. Sasuke pressed his back against the counter.
"Where's Itachi?" He asked after a moment.
"With the elders. They want to go over what happened at the Uchiha memorial."
"Hn." Sasuke looked away. He wondered why he was not dragged to the elders as well but it seemed Itachi was still their golden boy. Sasuke decided to spend the morning allowing his hangover to ease off. Juugo left to spend the day with Suigetsu and Karin, allowing Sasuke a moment of peace. He walked outside and approached the lake, taking his usual seat on the dock and sat staring out at the water. He feet nearly touched the water, as a child his never came close. He would swing his legs violently to try to disturb the water until Itachi would appear. Then he would sit and act all grown up like his Aniki.
His ears perked as he heard a pair of footsteps approach. He did not turn and continued to stare ahead.
"Hey, Teme." Naruto greeted, Itachi at his side. Sasuke inclined his head in greeting. Naruto pat Itachi's shoulder offering him a slight smile.
"You'll be alright?" He asked the boy and Sasuke scowled from where he sat. Itachi nodded.
"I'll be fine. Thank you Naruto-kun." Naruto gazed at Sasuke for a moment, wanting to say something but instead he said his goodbyes and allowed the brothers their privacy. The two stood in heavy silence for a moment before Sasuke lifted his hand and crooked his finger at Itachi. The other Uchiha approached slowly.
"Sit." Sasuke ordered, tone even. Itachi did so, keeping a safe distance away from his brother. They sat in silence for a minute. Itachi stared out into the murky water.
"What did you tell the elders?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"The truth." Itachi stated. Sasuke turned to him.
"The truth being?"
"That you have little control of your emotions and your temper is reminiscent of our father." Itachi stated coldly. Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he was tempted to strike him, but the bandage wrapped around Itachi's throat stilled him.
"I warned you not to go to the memorial." He finally bit out and Itachi let out a bitter laugh.
"And you truly think I would adhere to your commands oh great and powerful, Sasuke?" He slowly stood. He crossed his arms overlooking the water with a blank expression. Sasuke followed his gaze, watching as the mist slowly approached.
"The mist." Itachi mused softly, frowning.
Large blue hands stroked down Itachi's neck. A sharp smile curled over blue lips, surprisingly gentle. His lips were chapped as they pressed light kisses against the Uchiha's cheek.
"Sleep well, Itachi-san."
Itachi tore his eyes from the water and from Sasuke who watched him with a raised brow. Letting out a shaky breath Itachi forced himself to look back at Sasuke.
"Tomato juice."
"Excuse me?" Sasuke blinked.
"To help with your hangover. Tomato juice." Itachi stated and quickly walked back towards the house, flashes of blue skin and sharp teeth fresh in his mind. Sasuke sat staring after him in surprise.
I was going to have them start getting along in this chapter, but I'm going to save it for a bigger argument between the two. No violence. Just Itachi finally standing up for himself against both Sasuke and Kakashi. I think it will occur in the next chapter!