Hey everyone! So more Sasuke-angsting! But you know how he is! Not an actual progressive Sasuke storyline, unless he spends time angsting. Lots of KakaIta in this chapter.
The hall was blessedly vacant as Tsunade made her way towards Itachi's room. Both Kakashi and Sasuke had made themselves scarce after Sakura intervened loudly. The Hokage reached Itachi's room and gave a quick knock before entering. Tsunade watched the Uchiha with a critical eye, taking in his frail appearance. He was seated cross legged on his bed, hunched forward slightly, sightlessly staring at his hands which were resting on his lap. His head lifted slightly as he heard the Hokage enter the room.
"Kakashi mentioned you were awake." She murmured as she closed the door behind her. Itachi inclined his head, bandaged face moving towards the sound of her voice.
"Hokage-sama." Itachi greeted and the woman's lips twitched.
"Much more polite than your brother..." She mused, taking the seat by Itachi's bed. She reached for his arm to check his vitals, noting the bloodied towels. "How long have you been sick Itachi?" She asked as she gently released his arm. Itachi folded his fingers together and leaned back.
"Shortly after I turned eighteen." He murmured after a moment's consideration. Tsunade leaned back in her seat and folded her hands on her lap.
"Did it come on quickly?" She questioned, watching the Uchiha who shook his head. He sat quietly for a moment as he thought it over.
"No...it started off as what I considered another unimportant illness, but then it began to get worse. Madara-sama had me go to a healer near Suna where she stated that it was a simple flu."
"Obviously it wasn't." The Hokage muttered and Itachi nodded once.
"No," Itachi chuckled humorously. "It wasn't." They sat in silence for a long moment. Tsunade took this chance to really look Itachi over. There had been mentions of a confrontation between Kakashi and Sasuke earlier that day. Something that still left Tsunade baffled when she heard from Sakura.
"What the hell do y-"
Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, Kakashi's fist shot forward and struck him square in the nose, sending him reeling. The force of the blow and the shock of it managed to take him off his feel momentarily and he groped for the wall, eyes activating in shock as he met Kakashi's disgusted glare.
"Mind telling me why the moment your brother regains consciousness, you attack him?" Kakashi drawled and Sasuke wiped his bloodied lip with a sneer.
"I don't owe you anything."
"True, but do you really think you're helping him?" Kakashi inclined his head to the door, relaxed once more. Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment. "You lost him so many times already Sasuke. Don't make this the final time." Sasuke lunged forward at this, grasping Kakashi by the front of his shirt and shoving him against the wall, teeth bared.
"What the hell do you know about it, huh!? You saw what they did to him! You saw his eyes! And he's acting like he'd do it all over again!"
"And he would." Kakashi steadily replied, shoving Sasuke's hands away. "Even without his eyes, Itachi is still a shinobi and is still going to think like one. And more than that he is your brother. He wanted to protect you."
"He knew the consequences of going back, and he still did!"
"And if he hadn't they would have merely tracked him down here. Think for once Sasuke."
"You put him on a pedestal." The words were bitter as they came out of Sasuke's mouth and the Copy nin shook his head.
"And you act like he's a crippled child." Kakashi replied calmly.
"He is crippled! Or did you miss the fact that his fucking eyes were gouged out of his skull!?" Sasuke snarled. Kakashi stared at the boy for a long moment before sighing.
"You still assume to worst from him..." The copy nin shook his head in disappointment.
"No!" Sasuke quickly stated, shaking his head. That was the very last thing he wanted anyone to think. That he hated Itachi. That he still blamed him for the massacre. "I love my brother more than you could possibly understand."
"Sure looked like it in there." Kakashi sarcastically shot back.
"Hey!" Sakura's voice loudly caused both Kakashi and Sasuke to falter. Sasuke shot the girl a glance as she approached, hair in a messy bun and expression pinched in displeasure. She came to a halt in front of them, hands on hips. "What the hell are you doing?" She snapped, looking from her sensei to Sasuke who stared back with a cold expression.
"Ahh, Sakura," Kakashi greeted with a curt wave. "We were just-"
"Leaving." Sasuke muttered, cutting Kakashi off as he strode away from the pair. Sakura blinked and Kakashi tilted his head. He watched the Uchiha stalk off, sharing a quick glance with Sakura.
"What about Itachi?" The Copy nin called out and Sasuke hesitated for a moment, not turning to face Kakashi.
"Seeing how you're so concerned about him, you can stay with him." The Uchiha threw over his shoulder, and then he was gone.
Kakashi approached Itachi's room when the Hokage slipped out. She fixed him with a stern stare for a long moment, closing the door behind her and leaning against it.
"You'll take him back to your place?" She asked and Kakashi nodded.
"Did he overhear Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, trying not to look too worried.
"No, he was passed out during that. Good thing too. Poor kid doesn't need to here all that." She glanced at the door over her shoulder. "I've looked him over and he's alright to check out. We will discuss our next step once Sasuke cools down." Kakashi bowed in understanding at the Hokage left, Shizune hot on her heels. Once they were out of sight, Kakashi opened the door and looked to Itachi on the bed. Itachi glanced up.
"Yo." Kakashi greeted and the Uchiha relaxed.
"Kakashi." He greeted. The Copy nin took his usual seat and linked his fingers together, watching the Uchiha.
"Tsunade suggested you stay with me until Sasuke cools down." Kakashi murmured. Actually, Sasuke had straight up refused to see Itachi. It seemed once he was sure Itachi would survive, he wanted nothing to do with him. Kakashi wondered if he still planned on switching eyes. Itachi nodded, showing no indication that he was effected by Sasuke's refusal to see him.
That night, Kakashi brought Itachi to his apartment. Guy and Yamato shadowing them to ensure they reached it safely. Itachi moved slowly, gripping onto Kakashi's hand as the man led him into the night. Kakashi could sense Naruto watching over the pair, but Sasuke never made an appearance.
Kakashi tried to pretend it did not disappoint him.
He led Itachi into his apartment, waving goodnight to Guy and Yamato who said they'd catch up later. Itachi stood close to Kakashi, obviously unsure on what to do with himself. The Copy nin's chest ached at how dependent Itachi was on him. He asked him if he would like anything to eat, but Itachi shook his head, mouth set in a thin line.
"Are you in any pain?" Kakashi asked softly, watching the Uchiha closely.
"I'm fine." Itachi replied quickly, and Kakashi stared at him, brows furrowing. He wanted Itachi to be truth with him. To let Kakashi help him. But he understood all too well how Itachi felt. Itachi's pride was still intact. He would not admit weakness. They stood in Kakashi's small apartment, neither speaking for a long moment. The last time Kakashi was alone with Itachi here was when the Uchiha was just a boy who had been so eager to kiss Kakashi, but so very unsure. Now he was a man who had seen and suffered too much.
"Come on, let's get you to bed." Kakashi finally sighed, scratching the back of his head and averting his gaze. Itachi nodded, hand reaching to grip at his own too thin arm, unsure on what to do with himself. Silently, Kakashi cursed Madara and Obito for what they had done to the Uchiha. He led Itachi to the single room, the younger man grasping at his arm.
"Where will y-"
"I'll be on the couch." Kakashi murmured and Itachi reached for his shoulder.
"You don't need to do that, Kakashi. I can-"
"Hey," Kakashi took Itachi's thin fingers in a light grip, stopping him. "Don't worry about it, okay?" Kakashi murmured, staring at Itachi's bandaged face. The Uchiha's head lowered in exhaustion. He allowed Kakashi to lead him to the bed and help him sit down. The strain from the wound on his back had Itachi wincing. Kakashi helped ease him down but allowed Itachi to remove his own sandals. Itachi fiddled with his shirt for a moment, avoiding facing Kakashi who smiled tenderly at the Uchiha.
"Thank you, Kakashi." Itachi murmured finally lifting his head and smiling weakly.
"You don't need to thank me, Itachi." Kakashi softly admonished, reaching to brush Itachi's dark hair from his face. He was surprised that Itachi did not flinch away from his touch and it warmed his chest to see. Itachi reached to touch Kakashi's hand. Thin fingers tracing over the Copy nin's pale flesh. The Uchiha's hand explored Kakashi, trailing up his arm over his face, stilling over Kakashi's covered lips. Kakashi took Itachi's fingers in his grip and kissed the tips of them. He allowed Itachi to slowly pull his mask down, smiling against the finger brushing his bare lips.
"Kakashi..."Itachi breathed and the Copy nin quickly moved forward, pressing his lips against Itachi's firmly. Itachi stiffened, shocked and as Kakashi moved back swiftly, apology on his lips, but before he could do so, Itachi moved forward, gripping Kakashi by the back of his head and kissing the man back. Kakashi quickly got over his surprise and his eyes fell shut as he kissed Itachi back, just as desperately. His fingers reaching to cup the back of Itachi's neck. Itachi tasted much the same as he had years ago, his lips all too familiar even with the near decade that Itachi's body had gone through in less than a year.
Kakashi's hands moved to cup Itachi's cheek, smoothing his thumb over the soft flesh. He seemed fascinated with taking in the changes Itachi had gone through from when he was thirteen. Itachi was content to let his fingers wander, enjoying the sensation of Kakashi's gentle fingertips against his skin. It had been some time since he had been touched with gentle hands. Slowly, Kakashi moved forward, kneeling on the bed and stroking Itachi's face. He smiled behind the mask as Itachi's own fingers trailed over his face. He cupped Itachi's cheek and offered the Uchiha a tender smile.
"I remember seeing you again for the first time since the massacre. You standing on the water with your partner. It was like looking at a completely different person." Kakashi murmured, hand smoothing over Itachi's chest. "But it was you. Just as gorgeous as I had remembered." Itachi ducked his head down.
"I had hoped to avoid you." Itachi's lips twitched as he fought down a find smile. "My goal was to remind Danzo that I was still there. Instead I ran into both you and my brother." Kakashi kissed Itachi's fingers, marveling at each slender digit.
"I love you." He murmured, kissing his finger lightly. "Nothing has changed since the last time. Nothing will ever change that." He watched as Itachi tensed, slowly pulling his hand away from his face.
"Kakashi..." His voice was weak and Kakashi's shoulders slumped. He had not expected Itachi to love him. Not as an adult, who had grown up with Kisame as his only support. He scratched the back of his head and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry," He breathed. "I shouldn't ha-" Itachi suddenly moved forward, groping blindly for Kakashi and throwing his arms around his neck. Kakashi blinked in surprise, nearly falling back.
"I love you." Itachi murmured against Kakashi's shoulder. "I thought of you constantly after the massacre. But it hurt too much so I pushed you from my mind and pretended that what we had wasn't important. But it was. It was so important to me and I hated myself for hurting you." The Copy nin managed to blink, arms slowly wrapping around the Uchiha. Itachi did not cry. Of course he didn't, but he did lean against the warmth Kakashi provided and that was enough. Kakashi gently ran his hands through dark hair.
"Get some sleep, okay? We'll talk more in the morning." He assured the Uchiha. Kakashi hesitantly brushed his lips over Itachi's, pulling the Uchiha into a tender but chaste kiss.
"Goodnight, kohai." Kakashi pressed his forehead against Itachi's and smiled gently at the younger man. Itachi's lips tilted in happiness.
"Goodnight, senpai."