So, thanks for all the wonderful comments! It's been fun seeing my reader's insight! Nothing too major in this chapter...some Kakashi/Itachi fluff and Sasuke angst.
Kakashi heard Itachi before he saw him. It was early morning and the Copy nin had been sipping coffee and staring out the window when he heard light footsteps stumble around the bedroom. Kakashi set his cup down and stood. He could hear the Uchiha trying to find his way out of the room and the man was quick to stride to the door and open it. The uchiha stood near the wall, hand pressed against it as he took an uncertain step forward. At the sound of the door opening Itachi looked up, his bandaged face moving towards the source of noise.
"Kakashi?" He called out and the Copy nin approached the younger man.
"Good morning." He greeted, taking Itachi's outstretched hand in his own and entwining their fingers. Itachi smiled slightly, head tilting back. It was obviously he was embarrassed by the noise he had made. He had spent a lifetime with the divine ability to move soundlessly, and now it appeared without his sight, he could no longer move as he used to. Kakashi smiled at the Uchiha, eyes crinkling in the corners.
"Sleep well?" He drawled and Itachi nodded once, fingers tightening in Kakashi's grip.
"I did, thank you." He murmured. His hair was out of its normal ponytail and lay mused down his back. It gave Itachi a softer appearance. Kakashi drew Itachi to the door, arm wrapping around his shoulder.
"Good, now how about I make you something to eat? You must be starving."
"You don't have to do that, Kakashi." Itachi replied as they passed into the small living room. Kakashi snorted, walking itachi to the kitchen table.
"Nonsense. Just sit your cute butt down and prepare for an amazing meal." He teased. Itachi took the seat offered, lips pulled into a weak smile.
"Thank you." Itachi listened as Kakashi moved around the kitchen, humming as he shuffled through the cupboards. He pulled pancake mix off the shelf and set it down beside him as he continued rummaging. Itachi rested his hands on the wooden surface of the table, finger tracing absently over a scratch that adorned it. He heard a pan clank as it was set on the stove.
"Kakashi?" He called out as the man turned on the burner.
"Hmm?" Kakashi glanced over his shoulder at the Uchiha who turned his head in the man's direction.
"What happens now?" He asked softly. Kakashi blinked, looking away to study the bowl of pancake mix.
"Well," He began as he put the first dollop on the pan. "First, we gorge ourselves on pancakes and sugar and after that I was thinking about taking you out into the sun. You're looking a bit pasty." He pulled his mask down and flashed the Uchiha a small grin. Itachi's brows were knitted together and the Copy nin released a sigh.
"You mean literally…we need to stop the Akatsuki. We're at edge of war and tensions are high. Tsunade wants any information you can spare." Kakashi muttered. He flipped the pancake, listening to it sizzle. Itachi nodded, head lowered over his hands.
"I can give you all the intel you need." He replied after a long moment. Kakashi hummed, turning and leaning against the stove to watch the Uchiha.
"And on a more personal note, I will be having you and Sasuke face each other." He brushed strands of silver his from his face, studying Itachi as the younger man offered a weak nod. His expression was unreadable, especially with his eyes covered.
"He has a right to be angry with me." The Uchiha stated, voice level. Kakashi turned back to the pan, rolling his eyes at the self deprecation rolling off the raven. He took the handle of the pan and studied the pancakes.
"I know he does. But there is a difference between anger and unnecessary cruelty." Kakashi argued softly. He flipped the pancake again, pulling a plate forward. Itachi's fingers worried over the wood, lips pulled into a thin line. Was Sasuke being overly cruel? Itachi honestly did not think so. Sasuke had every right to be angry with him. This was not how everything was supposed to turn out. This was not how Itachi had planned his path to go. Now he was unsure on what to do with himself. He looked up as Kakashi placed a plate in front of him, before taking the seat next to him. Kakashi took the syrup and nearly drowned Itachi's pancakes in the sticky sweetness, just as the Uchiha liked. He put a tiny dollop over his own, offering the Uchiha a fond grin.
"I trust you still have a sweet tooth." He nudged the Uchiha who already seemed to be slipping into a funk. Itachi lifted his head after a moment and offered the man a weak smile.
"Of course." Itachi replied, hand slowly reaching for the fork Kakashi had placed in front of him. The Copy nin's eyes closed as he smiled again, taking a bite of his own breakfast. He was desperately hoping to keep Itachi occupied from thoughts of Sasuke or what he had faced the last few months. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Itachi felt in returning to the village he had sacrificed everything for. They ate in comfortable silence for a moment before Kakashi slowly stood up. He pulled his mask back up.
"I'll be right back, okay?" He looked to the Uchiha who nodded as he took a bite of the syrupy pancake.
"Okay." Itachi murmured, relishing the sweetness that burst in his mouth. Kakashi chuckled softly, before making his way out of the kitchen. Once Itachi heard the man walk out of the room, he put down his fork and buried his face in his palms, breathing heavily.
Sasuke stared at the skyline in tense silence. His arms were crossed over his chest. The air was cold this morning, but the boy hardly noticed. Somewhere out on that horizon, Obito and Madara Uchiha lurked. And Sasuke was going to find them. He kicked at a pebble laying at his feet, watching as it skipped over the dirt and rolled down the slope. Sasuke moved forward, walking down the empty street.
He walked by Kakashi's apartment and hesitated, staring at the window for a long moment. With a shake of his head, Sasuke kept walking. He barely made it seven feet before he heard a sharp whistle. The Uchiha glanced up and scowled.
"Yo." Kakashi greeted, leaning casually against the banister on the floor of his apartment. Kakashi stilled, looking up at his former sensei with narrowed eyes.
"What do you want?" He grouched. Kakashi hummed, drumming his fingers along the banister.
"I thought you were coming up for pancakes…your brother's in there inhaling them." Kakashi glanced ver his shoulder at the closed door to his apartment.
"Good for him." Sasuke muttered coolly and the Copy nin sighed, as if Sasuke were a bothersome child.
"You can't avoid him forever, Sasuke. Come up and talk to him."
"I have nothing I need to say to him right now." The boy responded in a clipped tone, body tense, and mouth pulling into a thin line. Kakashi could easily point out the similarities between Sasuke in Fugaku with that expression. He regarded the younger Uchiha in detached disappointment.
"It's funny really." He finally drawled, moving to rest his chin in the palm of his hand as he stared at the teenager.
"What's so funny?" Sasuke questioned, obviously wanting to go on his way.
"A few weeks ago you didn't give a damn about Itachi's wellbeing…I distinctly remember you wishing he would just die. Then of course, we get his eyes delivered to us and you were so distraught about it. You thought Itachi had died thinking you hated him…you suddenly regretted how you had treated him on the mountaintop…and let's not forget that he was then dropped off in the rain, eyeless, branded, naked and sick…so tell me Sasuke…what is it with you? Do you hate your brother? Or do you love him? Or is it more of a possessive obsession with being the one to control him and his life?" Kakashi leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied the Uchiha. Sasuke released a sharp bark of laughter.
"I don't need to explain myself to you, Hatake. Stop trying to pretend you actually care." Sasuke's dark eyes held nothing but contempt and Kakashi wondered who it actually was aimed at. Kakashi sighed, leaning forward on the banister and eyeing the boy.
"Your brother is dying Sasuke. You have to know this. If you want to make your peace with him, you need to do it soon. Otherwise you will spend the rest of your life regretting it."
"He's not dying!" Sasuke suddenly grit out, eyes swiftly activating in anger. "He's going to be fine. Tsunade's already said it's treatable." Sasuke's voice held such determination, as if he refused to believe that Itachi could die. The Copy nin shook his head, expression softening.
"And if it doesn't work? If he doesn't get better?"
"I'm done talking to you about this. Goodbye Hatake." Sasuke snapped. He turned on his heel, deciding to walk another path to the center of the village. He half expected Kakashi to come after him but instead the man merely shook his head and walked back towards his apartment, bitterly disappointed. When he moved to walk through the door his eyes widened upon seeing Itachi standing at the entrance, arms crossed and leaning his shoulder against the door.
"Itachi." Kakashi blinked and Itachi inclined his head. Kakashi released a low sigh, running a hand through his silvery hair. "You heard all that." He muttered and Itachi hummed, nodding. He turned his head away from the man, licking his lips absently.
"I need to speak to him."
"I know." Kakashi murmured, voice just as soft as Itachi's. The Uchiha looked down towards his feet, the bandages keeping him unreadable to Kakashi who watched in quiet concern.
"Tonight…if you could please walk me to the compound I would be very grateful…I'd like to give him a little more time to sort out his emotions." Itachi's voice trailed off. Kakashi moved back into the apartment, closing the door behind him. He fought the urge to reach for Itachi and touch him. The Uchiha looked ashen and if it was from overhearing Sasuke or his illness, Kakashi couldn't tell.
The house was quiet tonight. And blessedly empty now with Juugo taking some solo missions. It allowed Sasuke the chance to be by himself and be alone in his always swirling thoughts. Sasuke moved down the hall, bare feet padding against the cool wood. He rubbed the side of his head absently. He flicked on the lights to the kitchen, grabbing a cup off the counter and filling it with water. It was late out and he wondered why he was even still awake. Suigetsu and Karin were due back from their mission tomorrow afternoon, Sasuke had enjoyed the silence while it lasted. He set the cup down, rubbing at his eyes in exhaustion.
Sleep was eluding him tonight as it had the last night…and since Itachi was left in the mud. That sight refused to leave him. That and Itachi's empty eyeless stare whenever Sasuke would close his own eyes. Those far too narrow shoulders and skin that was paler than it should be…The spiky haired Uchiha shook his head as if to get rid of his morbid thoughts. He leaned forward against the sink, gripping the edge in a white knuckled desperation. Now, it seemed that Sasuke had too much energy mixed with bone aching tiredness. He moved away from the sink, feet silently sliding over the floor as he decided to crawl back into bed. The young Uchiha rounded the corner of the kitchen.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke turned swiftly, eyes activating in surprise at the voice. He spotted the source of the voice, sitting on one of the stools. The boy's eyebrows quickly narrowed as his eyes took in Itachi sitting at the counter, ankles crossed and hands folded in his lap.
"Why are you here?" Sasuke snapped out instead of a greeting. Itachi's lips twitched into a humorless smile, head tilting to the right.
"You know why I'm here, Otouto." He replied in his normally soft spoken voice that at the present grated on Sasuke's nerves. He grit his teeth, arms crossed over his chest.
"Oh? Enlighten me then Aniki." He spat out the last part as if it were a curse. Itachi appeared nonplused and slowly stood, gripping the counter with a bony hand as he turned his face towards Sasuke."
"It is time for that now…isn't it."