So, hey guys! So updates are slowing down now that I'm back in school.
Sasuke faced Obito, disinterest now obvious. It was smart to confront Sasuke in the abandoned Uchiha district rather than out in the open. There were no distractions here. Sasuke cursed himself for not realizing he had been followed. He took a step back and eyed the pair.
"What are you getting on about?" He drawled and Obito cocked his head.
"I am surprised you didn't abandon the village after Shimura's...confession." Sasuke eyed the other Uchiha in annoyance.
"And where would I go?" His voice was mocking and it amused Obito. Just like Madara, this one.
"I did offer you a place in my ranks." Obito replied lightly, striding around the teen. Sasuke's eyes followed him, but did not turn. He remained stiff, gripping his weapon against him.
"And I refused." Sasuke's voice was low. Obito chuckled and stopped in front of the boy, regarding him closely. The boy had grown since Obito had last seen him. Now standing eye to eye with him. It seemed he was now taller than his brother had been. Obito shook his head.
"Such a shame. Just two months ago you were so eager to avenge your clan's massacre and your brother's...defilement." Obito trailed off with a chuckle. Deidara looked up in interest at this, his blackened eyes wide.
"The Uchiha snob got raped, un?" He blinked. Obito offered the blond a little wave, shutting him up and turned back to the teen. Sasuke's lips curled into a sneer.
"I avenged my clan by cutting off Shimura's head. The rest of the elders are nothing." He did not mention Itachi, his stare hard. Deidara leaned against a pillar and studied his nails in disinterest.
"Konoha has yet to pay." The masked man hummed and Sasuke snorted.
"Konoha is nothing." Sasuke replied and Obito released a laugh at this shaking his head.
"Yet you still serve it. How curious." Obito's arms were folded over his chest as Deidara glanced up, face unreadable. Sasuke eyed the elder Uchiha in obvious distaste. He wanted the man to just go away. Sasuke was tired and dirty and absolutely starving.
"Are we done here?" Sasuke snapped and Deidara glanced to Obito who sighed.
"We have your brother."
For now anyway. The Uchiha was incredibly flighty after all.
"And?" Sasuke drawled.
"Well I had thought you would be interested in where he ran." The man shrugged innocently.
"Obviously I don't care?"
"Oh? You're fine with your now child brother running the dark streets of the world?" Obito questioned, not mentioning that Itachi had returned to his normal age or the fact that even at thirteen Itachi had managed on his own just fine. Sasuke seemed unconcerned, which surprised Obito. The normal spark that would enter Sasuke's eyes at the mention of his brother was noticeably absent.
"Itachi means nothing to me." Sasuke coolly replied, dark eyes narrowed at the two Akatsuki members. Obito released a sharp bark of laughter.
"For some reason I don't believe you." Sasuke tilted his head and motioned for Obito to follow him. Obito told Deidara to wait outside and followed the younger Uchiha into his house. The house was dim and held an air of abandonment. No doubt the Uchiha tried to avoid this place as much as possible. Sasuke moved around the kitchen and down the hall into his room. Obito listened as he shuffled through his room, leaning against the counter and running a finger down the dusty surface. Sasuke emerged from his room and approached the mask man, his expression placid.
"Here." Sasuke held out his hand. "Give this to Itachi. It should be proof enough of what I think of him." Obito reached out and Sasuke dropped Itachi's necklace into his palm. Obito stared at it and slowly blinked. The necklace was snapped in half. The ties limp and frayed, the metal tarnished.
Itachi sat across from Kisame, legs crossed. He watched his lover move about the room before settling across from him. A large hand stroked through dark waves of hair. Kisame's lips were curled into a smile as his eyes raked his lover's appearance. Itachi stared back, smiling as Kisame's thumb brushed over his lower lip.
"You've aged." Kisame hummed and Itachi nodded, smiling slightly.
"Yes."
"I guess I've missed a lot." The Kiri nin mused and Itachi laughed weakly, ducking his head. "How long was I gone?"
"A few months."
"You just woke up back to normal?"
"Yes. Two days ago." Itachi confirmed with a small nod. Kisame's smile wavered as he studied the Uchiha.
"Your eyes?"
"Fine for now. But, I do not doubt they will begin to fail." The uchiha replied with a shrug.
"Your illness?" Kisame's voice was even weaker and Itachi brushed the side of his head, eyes squeezed shut.
"I don't know. It will probably come back. But for now I am fine." Itachi opened his eyes and gave Kisame's hand a little squeeze.
"What will you do now?" Kisame questioned. "With the truth out, and Sasuke no longer trying to..." Itachi looked away at the mention of his brother. Kisame winched. "
"I do not know. Nothing turned out the way it was suppose to. I'm not sure what my next step should be."
"Run."
"What?" Itachi looked up, brows furrowed.
"You can run. We can go together. Leave all this behind." Kismet reached and took Itachi's clammy hands in his grasp. "You know the reason I even stuck with the Akatsuki was because of you. But now we can be together, and leave this all behind." His voice was hopeful and Itachi offered him a weak smile. He was tempted to agree. To run into the sunset with his reanimated lover. But he couldn't. Konoha could still be in danger. Even if Sasuke had no interest in taking out the village, Obito and Madara still did. And they were still hoping Sasuke would go with them.
"You know I can't run."
"You ran from Konoha." Itachi pulled away and Kisame winced, apologizing.
"Where would we go?" Itachi asked softly.
"Anywhere. There's someone that can help us." Itachi tensed, fiddling with loose string on the blanket.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, just come with me and we'll go to this guy. He has medication that will help you." Kisame spoke quickly. He watched Itachi stand, arms crossed as he gazed across the room.
"You were obviously sent to me for a reason." Itachi mused, listening as Kisame stood up behind him. "Why?"
"To bring you to Kabuto." Kisame admitted softly, and with guilt. "He and Obito have a deal going." Itachi nodded at this, tense.
"And this jutsu he has you under...ensures you do so."
"I have no choice, Itachi-san. I'm sorry." Kisame replied and Itachi nodded.
"I understand. You were sent to ensure I went." Itachi stated bitterly and heard Kisame sigh.
"I was hoping to convince you."
"And if you couldn't?"
"My orders were to ensure you came...willingly or not." Kisame whispered. Itachi looked down.
"I see." He whispered, listening as Kisame came closer. Silently he cursed himself for his foolishness. He had been suspicious the moment he had seen Kisame. Kisame was dead. This was nothing but a mockery of the man, and this mockery had gotten to him. How easy it was for Kisame's face to have Itachi disregarding years of training. He could feel Kisame's breath on the back of his neck and slowly closed his eyes.
"You do understand that I will resist." He replied, feeling Kisame smile against him. One large hand moved around Itachi's waist in a loose grip.
"I would expect nothing less." The Kiri nin whispered into his ear. He let out a soft sigh against Itachi's throat, feeling the Uchiha lean against him and tilt his head back to allow more access. He never kissed, no. The mere breath was far more tantalizing. Kisame continued to breathe against Itachi's throat and the younger wondered why he was even breathing if he was dead. Kisame backed away slightly, his fingers grazing Itachi's waist. The touch was feather light and sent something on fire inside Itachi.
Kisame lunged at the very moment Itachi dodged to the right, legs tucking under him as he rolled. Kisame's hand shot to grab Itachi's shoulder. Itachi evaded him with ease, leaping back to his feet. Kisame lunged after him, no weapon in hand. Itachi twirled by him, hair whipping. Kisame grabbed a fistful of dark hair, yanking him back. Itachi gasped, neck arching.
Kisame's breath puffed against his throat.
"You've gotten careless, Itachi-san." He chuckled and tugged Itachi's hair. Itachi hissed softly, eyes falling shut.
"Kisame..." He began, voice a mere whisper. Kisame leaned in close, his body pressed flush against Itachi's.
"Hmm?" The Kiri nin replied, Itachi could nearly feel his grin against his skin.
"You should know better than to underestimate me." Itachi was very still as he said this and Kisame cocked a brow, beady eyes amused. His hands trailed down the Uchiha's front and Itachi fought down a shiver.
"Oh? Your eyes are not activated and your chakra is depleted. I think you've lost this round."
"Oh, Kisame..." The Uchiha moan obscenely and shoved his ass against Kisame's hips. It seemed that even resurrected Kisame could feel sexual feelings because he was hard and released a grunt when Itachi grind himself against him, his grip loosening. Itachi used this to his advantage and shoved the man back.
Kisame landed on his ass and looked up at Itachi in shock. A slow grin spread across Kisame's face and he laughed. The sound full of mirth.
"You are full of surprises sweetheart."
"You've been my partner this long, darling. You should be used to it." Itachi hummed, amusement clear. Kisame regarded Itachi closely, expression softening to fondness.
"I apologize for underestimating you, Itachi-san. It seems you have more than one way to come out on top." He inclined his head to his former lover who nodded.
"Apology accepted." Itachi replied simply. Kisame's body relaxed and he slowly crossed his arms over his powerful chest. They stood in silence for a long moment, Itachi studying the man. He released a shallow breath and looked at his bare feet. His clasped his hands, clenching his fingers in worry.
"Is Sasuke in danger?" Itachi questioned and Kisame rolled his eyes.
"Always about him." He released a disgusted noise and Itachi's brows furrowed.
"Kisame."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. But Obito and Deidara are going after him." Kisame conceded and Itachi brushed off the surprise of Deidara's return.
"They will force him?" The Uchiha questioned in a low voice and Kisame quickly shook his head.
"No, they're hoping I bring you back so they can use you as leverage." Kisame shrugged and Itachi brushed loose strands of hair from his face, looking deep in thought. Kisame watched him pace the room.
"I will not be going with you, I hope you realize." Itachi glanced over his shoulder at the man, who leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. He grinned slightly, eyes alight.
"I figured."
"And I can't have you following me."
"Also obvious." Kisame closed his eyes. "I can't fight this jutsu. But I can give you time to get away. Incapacitate me, then run. They're still confident I can get you back."
"Why do they even want me?" Itachi shook his head.
"They're going through with this war and hoping that with you as bait, Sasuke will come running."
"Thank you, Kisame." Itachi murmured and Kisame offered him a sad smile.
"We had a good run, didn't we?"
The Uchiha moved forward, approaching Kisame and reaching to cup his face in his hands. Leaning on the tips of his toes, he pressed a gentle chaste kiss on the Kiri nin's lips.
"Always." Itachi conceded. His lips lingered against Kisame's for a moment longer, breathing in the scent of his lover and storing it to memory. He pulled back slowly and his eyes turned a bright crimson as he looked his partner in the eye.
Not even the moon was present, tonight. The air was bitterly cold and silent. Itachi made no sound as he slipped from the base and headed alone into the wilderness. His hair was still damp and he had only a small bag with him. With no destination in mind, Itachi ran. Itachi raced down the path, not looking behind him as he moved. He wondered how long it would take for Kisame to awaken. How long until someone else went after him. They had no leverage on Sasuke, without him. Sasuke was safe as long as Itachi remained hidden.
The trees provided an excellent cover and the Uchiha was able to move with ease. Twice he would stop, listening to the ambiance of the trees. It was almost peaceful out. The coldness keeping predators at bay. Itachi brushed his hair from his face, closing his eyes and breathing in. His eyes stung and his vision was even more blurred than before.
The use of the Sharingan was taking its toll and Itachi did not doubt that one day he would awaken in complete darkness. He pulled his hood low over his face and leaped onto a tree branch, fingers gripping the bark for support. And in the darkness of the night, Itachi ran.
The coughing began soon after.