Fun and Games

A/N: Next update is going to take longer. I've officially ripped and thrown away the original manuscript. The story changed completely midway.

Ah, we're one step closer to the grand finale. And it's going to be goodbye to a lot of things.

For now, enjoy another update!

I close my eyes and count to ten. It's not her fault. It's definitely not Mom I want to scream at. "But Mom, why in the world should I buy Auntie Tsunade a parasol? It won't even fit in my suitcase!" I argue like a four-year old. Lately, relatives of relatives, people I don't even know have been calling either me or my parents to ask me to get them one thing or the other. Before this, I didn't even know I had cousins who watched anime! And now I'm fed up of it.

Just yesterday, an ex-classmate from middle school called me up to buy him a One Piece figurine. I'm going to get him the cheapest one I can find!

My darling mother whose temper I've inherited, blasts a heavy sigh, and looks at me exasperatedly. "Use that tone again with me and I'll break your legs young man!" her tone is so sharp that guilt comes to me naturally. Mom is not strict. In fact, she's awesome. But when she gets angry, there's a genuine fear of getting beaten. And her hand is very heavy.

Across the sofa, Itachi raises his eyebrows at me. He's shamelessly eavesdropping. He was sniggering a second ago when I complained about the parasol. I saw his shoulders shake. We once had a discussion if it was okay for him to talk to my parents but he wasn't ready yet. And I am completely alright with that.

"Anyway, I'll see about the parasol." I look at her sharply. "Don't expect anything. And as for the others, I'm not getting them anything."

"Naruto! Stop being selfish! This is not how I raised you."

"For heaven's sake Mom! I have my own stuff to bring and a luggage restraint!"

"Then buy them small trinkets. Who's telling you to bring a 16K television on your head?" she snaps sharply at me.

"The old lady who owns the convenience store at the intersection asked me to bring that too!" Mom gapes at me and I raise an eyebrow in triumph.

"Buy them chopsticks or something but don't come empty handed." I ponder over the idea, liking it immensely.

An evil chuckle leaves me, making Itachi quirk a brow questioningly. I disconnect the ear buds and put the call on speaker. Let him join in on the fun too. He should also know who I take after. "I won't be surprised if those monstrous twins poke out each other's eyes with the chopsticks." They are my least favorite cousins. Minions from hell, I tell you!

Itachi's eyes widen when he connects the dots and then he looks at me aghast, just like mom, only she's glowering at me. "Uzumaki Naruto, when you get back here, I'm going to whoop your ass till you can't sit!"

"I'll be fine." I hate the smirk that comes on my face when she catches it. My lover blushes and looks away.

"Minato! Minato!" Mom yells frantically, calling Dad. She looks back at me. "We sent you our little baby to study and you're coming back a pervert. I told Minato we shouldn't have let you major in Japanese. The cartoons were bad enough." Mom says, her tone cold and dry. If I was physically present in the room, she'd have definitely held true to her threat of whooping my ass.

"Calm down Mom. I'm sorry," I wonder what my lover thinks of me now. But he just looks vastly amused as he listens in. I wish he was sitting here beside me. At least then my mother would be civil.

"I didn't know I was raising such a cheeky miser!" Mom glares at me.

"But Mom-" I whine like Kiyoshi does when he doesn't get his way.

Itachi's shoulders shake again.

"Fine! Do what you will." She sulks, making a face and turning away.

Dad walks into the frame and sits beside her on the sofa. "Why are you making your mother angry, young man?"

"He's being a stubborn mule who refuses to listen." She complains to him.

I wonder where I got that from.

"I am not buying gifts for people I don't know." Then I look at mom once. "But I'll bring Auntie Tsunade an umbrella. Only because she's cool."

Itachi closes his book to listen now. Mom huffs again while Dad laughs. "Alright, that settles it. So what's the itinerary?" he asks me. "It's what ten days left before you come home, right?"

I look up almost instinctively to watch midnight eyes on me, guarded, hard. The thorn in my chest pricks. I wish I hadn't taken my ear pods off. I scratch my forehead and concentrate on Dad's face instead. "I don't remember. I'll just mail it you later."

Dad looks at me for a moment and I look up from the screen when Itachi stands up to walk away. The door to our room slams shut.

"Sweetheart, is everything alright?" Mom's anger flees in a flash when she looks at me. I wish she would hug me and tell me everything will be alright. Homesickness kicks me right in the solar plexus.

I blink the tears away and smile at them. "I'm fine. Everything is good. Everything is very good." So good that I don't want to come back. That I am where I belong.

Mom sighs softly, it's slightly wet. I can't bring myself to look at her.

"Baby…" she says and I hang up for the fear that I'll have a breakdown for real. I've held it together so far and I need to hold it together till the end. If I crash and burn right now, who's going to support him?

I wipe all wayward wetness from my face and make my way to him.

I open the door quietly. Itachi is seated at his desk holding a small, square box in his hands. It's wrapped in a black wrapping paper with a golden ribbon around it. The wrapping paper has been intricately folded in origami that looks gorgeous. He beckons me over and I move to stand beside him. He holds out the box to me. "This is for you," he smiles at me.

"What brought this on, so suddenly?" I ask him curiously.

"Open it," he only smiles.

I carefully undo the ribbon before the paper opens automatically to reveal a small perfume box. I glance at him and then at the box. "All this time you didn't let me see it!" I carefully open the box to see the name of a Japanese perfumery on the bottle. I open it and inhale like it's oxygen.

"Since I can't give you all of me yet, I'm giving you your favorite part." He smiles. I should've known. I should have definitely guessed.

"You may not know this but one day I went hunting for your perfume. I am truly obsessed with it, as you know. And you were being such a tease about it that I decided to find out on my own. I smelled every perfume in the shop twice to double check but I couldn't find it." I look at the label again. "No wonder!"

"It's made by a perfumery in Shikoku. This is custom-made."

"Whoa, so you chose all the ingredients yourself?" I ask him.

He blushes. "More or less."

"Guess burning all my olfactory cells and the thundering headache was going to be a waste after all."

Itachi just smiles. "Now, it's yours. It'll be with you wherever you go."

"Thank you." I place it on the table.

He pulls me close and wraps his arms around me, pressing his face into my stomach. "I don't want you to go." I know these are words he's been desperately holding back from saying. His eyes say them when he thinks I don't notice. It feels like I'm being crushed by a stone.

I'm still raw from the conversation with my parents and so the tears catch me unguarded. I hold them back. His hands tighten and I feel it.

The front of my t-shirt where Itachi's face rests is rapidly turning wet. His shoulders shake when he draws in a breath. A breath that's wet with sorrow. This time I don't hold back when I let the tears run. I lift his face and wipe his tears. "It's okay," I kiss him once. "It's okay," his mouth seeks mine. "It's okay." I kiss him one more time.

I bring in the laundry to fold when I notice Kiyoshi working hard at something. His tongue protrudes from his mouth as he concentrates on his project. I tousle his hair before I bend down to see what he's up to. Kiyoshi throws his hands over his artwork to hide it before he looks guiltily at me. "Naruto!" he chuckles in surprise. Just like he'd done many months ago. Guess I'm getting another priceless artwork for my collection.

I throw up my hands and move away. "Alright. I won't disturb you little man."

I move to pick up the last bedsheet to fold when Sasuke comes downstairs. He's carrying his laundry bag to the washer which is stuffed to the brim. "Whoa! Didn't do your laundry for a month or what?" I ask him, eyeing the mountains of dirty garments. His face is hidden behind the folds of his bedsheet. I take the basket from him and begin walking along.

"Something like that," he mutters before he bends down and starts loading his clothes into the washing machine. "Ran out of underpants."

"Then do your laundry faster, idiot!"

"Nope. Can't be bothered. I'll get Itachi to do it for me again."

"Nope. No bothering him. Do your work yourself man!" I nudge him slightly.

"Yes. Yes. I get it." He sounds like a reluctant teenager when he rolls his eyes and looks away. Then he pulls out a pink bottle and begins to open it. I reach over and hand him the blue bottle. "This one is the detergent."

He holds up the pink bottle. "And this is?"

"That's the fabric softener." I smile at him.

Sasuke puts back his bottle and takes the one I'm holding with a chuckle. He eyes the bottles of detergent and fabric softener before he looks at me. "Next, you'll be telling me which dials to press. You're completely at home here, aren't you?" he shakes his head at me.

"Is that a bad thing?" I thought we'd made progress in that regard as well.

Sasuke doesn't answer when he presses the dials on the washing machine which chirps happily. "Naruto you being here is not a bad thing at all! How can it be when we're all so happy here? It's…nice to see you here in this house…with him. It's just…after you go, it's going to affect all of us. And you know who's going to take it the hardest."

"Then what do you expect me to do? My going is inevitable. It's not like it won't tear me apart. Sasuke, do you even know this is home to me? He is home to me?" Tears prickle my eyes. Lately, the urge to cry has become second nature to me.

But I'm tired of pretending I'm fine. After the day Itachi broke down in front of me, I've become more sensitive towards his feelings. I'm not saying there's distance since we enjoy the same intimacy but there's a subtle change. And I'm not fine with it. In fact, I'm a mess.

Sasuke draws in a sharp breath when he looks at me. Tears run down my face. My head feels like a turmoil of thoughts and emotions.

I whisper the one thing I've never said to anyone. "I don't want to go Sasuke. I don't want to leave." I look at him desperately like I need him to tell me he has a way to make me stay. Build me this castle in the sand if only to last for a few seconds. I'm hanging on straws here.

Sasuke's eyes fill when he takes my face in his hand. He's the only one I can be this vulnerable with. This fragile. I haven't been like this in front of anyone ever since the night Itachi gave me my present. But for some reason, I know Sasuke will understand. "I know."

I cry and cry and cry.

Dinner finds us with puffy eyes and two pairs of identically curious midnight eyes. Itachi raises a quiet brow when he ladles miso soup in a bowl. "We were watching a movie. And it was a little too…sentimental." Sasuke answers dryly before smirking at me. Kiyoshi asks him what movie it was.

My eyes rush to my lover's whose other eyebrow joins the first on his forehead. So many unspoken questions in those eyes when they land on me. He knows the movie excuse is bullshit. And now he's wondering what could have made both of us cry like babies. And somewhere I know he's figured it out.

He stays quiet during dinner. I feel that twinge of resistance again. I want to know what he's thinking. But even after dinner, he manages to maintain some physical distance. It gets amplified when he practically forces Sasuke to do the dishes. I pick Kiyoshi and take him for a bath, my mind very much on Itachi.

After the bath, even after I dry Kiyoshi's hair, dress him up in his pajamas, get him ready for bed, I'm still thinking about it. Does he think something happened between Sasuke and me? No. I know he trusts me implicitly. And I haven't done anything to break it. Then why the cold shoulder? Why the distance? It isn't like him to be this way. The Itachi I know is more prone to speaking his mind than avoid it. But even if he was to come and ask me, it wasn't like I could up and confess that I'm a wimp who doesn't want to go back. As it is, the topic alone is a minefield we both tiptoe around.

I thought that night had given us a closure on the things we'd left unsaid, but I don't like this uneasiness that stirs in my veins. I bend down and kiss a sleepy Kiyoshi goodnight before making my way to our room. I heard him go in earlier. I brace myself not knowing what is up against us when I turn the handle and enter the room.

He's not there in the bedroom but I know where he'll be. I turn and make my way to the ofuro and sure enough there he is, sitting under the shower. I stand at the door and meet his eyes in the mirror. He doesn't turn around. A second later, I hear him say, "Come in. Close the door and wash my back for me." His tone is neutral.

I do as he says, making my way to where he's seated on the wooden stool. I pick up a rag and lather it before crouching down and haunching behind his back. His hair is tidied up in a bun above his head. The bones of his lean back stand taut when I run the rag across it. The move is not sexual. I work on the task I'm given in silence. I rub his back till it's covered in soap lather from corner to corner. I lean up and kiss the column of his neck but he squirms away.

"Itachi-sama, did I do something wrong?" I ask him, turning him around on the stool.

"I think you should stop giving Kiyoshi his baths." There's a dead finality to his voice.

So many thoughts one sicker than the other come to my head. "Why?" I manage.

Itachi sighs. "Look, you're only here for a week now. Kiyoshi needs to get used to the old habits of bathing with either Sasuke or me. It'll be troublesome to handle him if this continues."

"So is this how it begins? First you start keeping distance, then Kiyoshi, then this house? Build walls between us. Are you planning to chuck me out of your life too?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it." He looks up at me sharply.

I shake my head at him. "Fine." A muscle ticks in my jaw. "Anything else?"

He snaps his mouth shut and takes a deep breath. "What happened with Sasuke? Normally, I wouldn't ask but your puffy eyes warrant answers. What is it that you can't talk to me about?"

"The same thing you don't talk to me about," I answer.

"What do you want me to do? Sulk and cry about it? I want to enjoy these days before they end." He looks at me with conviction. "The truth is, I think about it all the time. And I hate it. The feelings that accompany it. It feels like someone is digging a hole in my chest and it grows bigger every day. It makes me want to run away from you and run towards you at the same time. What's worse is, I can't recall the me before you." Tears shine in his eyes when he looks at me. He agitatedly brushes them away. "You're younger than me and yet you're handling this better than me. How?"

I point towards said puffy eyes which brought out this confession. "I'm a mess, Itachi-sama. I'm an absolute mess. I lost it in front of Sasuke today."

"I figured. You made him cry too."

I scoff as I wipe a tear that runs down his face. "Sasuke said we're all happy here but here I am just making everyone cry." I didn't want to choose this bone to pick.

"Can't be helped. You're going to tear a piece of each of us when you go." His words are completely devoid of malice. In fact, his tone is so matter-of-factly that I stop to ponder over his words.

"I'm leaving behind a piece of me too. I'll be leaving behind someone without whom I'm not me. And that too, just when I've had you." I look away angrily.

"I hate that it's too early. I hate that we're parting when we've only just begun. And I'm scared. Scared that one day you might come to begrudge us, this relationship. And it's not because I don't trust you. I know you enough to never doubt you in that regard. But three years is a long time. What if you change your mind? What if you get tired of waiting? I don't doubt you for a second, Itachi-sama. But what if my inadequacy somehow makes you rethink this relationship?"

Itachi thinks about my words. "While I cannot advocate that it might not happen, I'll say this. The day I come to this bridge, I'll go back and remember the times when I was happiest. And I know for a fact that it was when I was with you. That should be enough to make me want to run back to you. Besides, I know what it feels to be inadequate. And you are in no way that. You're enough, Naruto. More than enough."

"I hope you never stop feeling that way."

"I know I won't."

"Promise me you won't clamp up on me again?" I ask him quietly.

"I didn't clamp up or anything. I just… you occupy a huge chunk of my thoughts Naruto. I'm so used to you that I can't imagine coming here every night without thinking of you here. You can't imagine what it feels like to be left behind. I've gone through it once. And it feels like I'm willingly going to go through it again. Only this time, I know I'll catch up. And that's why I think I can make peace. Three years is long enough for us to know if we'll pull through."

"How high do you the chances of our happy ending are?" I ask him, smiling.

He smiles. "Pretty high."

"I thought you'd say that."

"Oh Naruto! What am I going to do without you?" he sighs exasperatedly.

"Use your hand," I wink at him and he laughs. I badly want to pack him in a suitcase and take him with me. I'll never have enough of that laugh. "Besides you have Kiyoshi and Sasuke and Shisui with you."

He perks up at that. "Shisui will be delighted to hear that. He's been pestering me to meet him for days."

"For how long have you known Shisui?" I ask him, tracing patterns on his arm.

"Ever since we were in our diapers? We've bathed and slept together in the same bed more times than I can count." He laughs.

I frown. "Saying things like this when you know how I feel about Shisui. You're really sly sometimes."

He laughs again. "I never thought I'd say this out loud but when you get jealous, it turns me on."

I bite his lip. "Talking about getting turned on when we're talking about your best friend is not cool at all." I shrug his hand away.

He smirks shamelessly. "But what can I do? I'm very turned on right now." he spreads his legs, showing me proof.

I stand up. "How many times did you say you bathed with him?" he opens his mouth but I beat him to it. "Nevermind, I don't want to know." I hold out a hand for him. "Now I'm going to make it so you never think of anyone else here, ever again."

"Alright then. Let's see what you've got."

"Come here," I beckon him over as I step into the bath. He grabs my hand and climbs in. The moment he steps into the water, I grab his face and kiss him. Small, rough kisses filled with a desperation to have him like this. His hands push him to the edge and he places his hands on either sides of me. He cages me in and participates in the battle of dominion in each kiss. My hands rise up to undo his hair, loving the moment it falls into a straight wave down his back. Artless strands cover his face when he leans in for another kiss.

The moment holds before it's driven by desire when I pull him close and fondle his ass. It fits in the palm of my hand like it belongs there. I squeeze it once before I thumb his entrance. It twitches. Water sloshes noisily around us. I press him down over the ledge till he's bent over and put my mouth to his hole. I've never rimmed him before. He's always been reluctant about it and I respect that. But tonight I can't resist. I don't even want to resist. He flinches but doesn't shy away from my tongue. I twist it inside. His hands tighten to pain on mine when I find his spot. I rub against it while I work on opening him up. He doesn't get much time before I manage to find us some lotion for lube, work it over my cock, turn him around and push it in one single stroke and bury myself inside him.

Itachi exhales when all air is forced out of him. His back bows and a low sound leaves him.

"There…when you touch me there, it feels like my brain is going to melt. No one has ever touched me there before you and I don't think I'll ever let anyone else touch it." Soft shaky breaths coat the words in their heat, their pleasure. His voice alone drives me insane. It's low and needy.

I look at him. "Anyone else? First Shisui and now anyone else? You really like playing with fire, don't you? This is mine. Bring someone else near it and watch me destroy them." I pull out slowly, making him roll his head back and let out a low mewl before I push back into him again. "Squeezing me like you never want to let me go. You're turning into a wanton. It's so hot, it drives me crazy."

Itachi breath leaves him with a grunt and a soft quiver. His lower lip is caught between his teeth. I rub my fingers over them and his mouth opens to accept two fingers. I grab his tongue and rub it gently. He gasps as saliva runs down his mouth. His tears race down with each thrust and he tries his best to hold his voice in. "Let it out. I want to hear you scream in pleasure." I release his tongue and lift his leg up for a deeper angle. He holds on to the ledge like it's his lifeline.

He moans when I enter him savagely again and thrust hurriedly. I set the pace and he follows. Little sounds escape him when I change angles. "Ngh…" he cries while I lick his tears. "I'm going to lose my mind."

"Close?" I ask when he turns his face for a kiss.

He nods, his tongue coming out to meet mine. We move together, driving faster and faster towards the crash. He tightens around me when he comes without touching himself. He shudders when he empties himself, splattering his spend all over the ledge. It runs down to mix with the bath water. I have half a mind to lick it but it's lost in the water. He tightens like a vice around me, holding me inside him. I try to pull out but he holds me inside. "I just came very hard. Give me a minute."

I pull out and lift him up instead before taking him to the sink and depositing him against the ledge. His eyes meet mine in the mirror. Before he can say a single word, I push back into him. His eyes close and his face contorts into an amalgamation of pleasure and pain. "I haven't come yet," I bend down and lick his neck softly. I place my hand around it and lift it up. "Look up. Eyes on the mirror. I want you to know who belong to. I want to see you watch me come." My tone resembles his authoritative one, the one he'd used when I'd entered the ofuro. Slowly, almost as if he's in a trance, his eyes move up to mine and he nods.

He clutches on to the edge of the counter while I pile-drive into him like a madman racing towards my own completion. Itachi's face contorts in pleasure when he bites his lip again. "If you keep hitting me there, I'll turn weird Naruto. Something is coming. I'm going crazy Naruto. Your cock is driving me crazy. Slow down or I'll lose my mind." His eyes close to half-mast when they look at me. They close in helpless pleasure when he tightens around me once again and I empty myself inside him while he shoots streams of clear liquid across the counter.

"Naruto," it reverberates across the walls of the ofuro. I turn to smirk triumphantly at him at having placed my mark on this place too.

He falls like a doll in my arms and passes out. I eye the clear liquid coating the edge of the sink and then my lover who sleeps peacefully, unmindful of what he's just released.

This man, one day. I swear.

I fan him gently after I lay him down on the bed. I cleaned him as best I could. I smile contentedly when I watch him sleep. Passing out on me after driving me insane is a foul, but I'll forgive him because he scaled new heights of pleasure today. But goddamn! My Itachi-sama squirted! Didn't know he could surprise me like that. He's going to have a thundercloud over his head when he recalls this. Oh I'm so going to gloat about it!

I'm grinning like an idiot when those resplendent eyelashes move and then Itachi blinks at me. "How long was I out?" he looks at me earnestly like he really needs to know the answer.

"Uh…not too long." I smirk at him. "But passing out from sex…do you remember the end?"

"Come here and cover my face for me," he commands.

I move to comply then eye him. "What for?"

"Right now, I can't move a single muscle and I'm so embarrassed, I can't even look at you. To think I urinated like a child. I don't know what to say."

"It wasn't pee." I look at him.

"But I know it wasn't semen," he looks at me.

I nod slowly when he opens his mouth then closes it again.

"Please just really cover my face quickly. Or better yet, dig me a grave."

"There's no man on earth who doesn't enjoy making their man squirt, Itachi-sama." I smile. "And now we have another reason to only remember me when you take a bath."

"Bath," he gasps. "We did it outside, again." He shakes his head. "This is going to drive me crazy. This is going to kill me."

"We've done it there before, what're you talking about?" I look at him. He tries to move his body and winces in pain.

"Not how we did it tonight. Imagine having to explain to a three year-old why Daddy is hard!" he looks up at me when my shoulders shake. "That's not what I meant. God, sometimes you're so childish!" he gasps again when I begin laughing.

"Who me or God?" I ask him. He lets out a frustrated chuckle.

"I knew you'd say that!"

"Now shut up and let me kiss you."

He smirks at me. "I knew you'd say that too."

He laughs and I steal it with a kiss.

I wake up before him. Lately, I've always been waking up after him. Even after shamelessly ogling him for most of last night, I marvel at his beauty. His mouth is slightly open and he snores softly. How much do I have to be in love with this man to think this sound is music. Tears spring up again. I quickly blink them away. I don't want to cry first thing in the morning. But it's hard to imagine opening my eyes to a different view.

I turn away to wallow in misery, disentangling myself from him. I think I understand what he meant when he talked about a hole being dug. I feel the same way right now.

His arm on my back catches me off-guard. It sleepily yanks me back. I turn to look at him to find him moving his mouth like he's chewing something before he mumbles something incoherent which sounds suspiciously like, "dying cherries Naruto," before his breathing evens out.

It's cruel how I want to smile even at this moment. He's tangled his whole body to mine. Calls it his personal heater when he curls around me and purrs like a content cat.

Little minx.

I watch him sleep. The gentle rising and falling of his chest the only indication how real this moment is. How absolutely tangible he is. My hand moves, as if to ascertain that fact over his heart. It's strong sure sound puts me to sleep once again.

I'll be strong for us. I promise.

Kiyoshi lies on his stomach and tries not to pass out on his art project. Recently, he's even reduced his tv time to focus on this work. His left hand holding the crayon relaxes and streaks across the precious artwork. I grab his hand before it can do some damage. Midnight eyes peek open and he moves to cover his work. "Naruto! No!"

"I didn't see anything. C'mon, let's go to bed." He nods and I move to lift him up.

Pale arms I know like the back of my hand, grab him before I can. "The bath is free Naruto," Itachi holds Kiyoshi in his arms and looks at me. I bathed already after I returned from my evening run. He knows that too. After all, he was the one who'd ordered me to go take one.

Kiyoshi sees me take a step before he starts wriggling and crying. "No, I want Naruto," he cries.

"Sorry Kiyoshi, but I really need to bathe." I don't wait for the words to register when I turn. His wails follow me all the way to the bathroom in Itachi's room.

It hurts. I knew it would. I just didn't know it would hurt that much.

My first step towards separation.

I stand under the shower for a long time and let the water drain my pain.

"I suck at packing. I am totally going to I'll forget one thing or the other." I eye the massive pile of stuff i have yet to stuff in my suitcases. Itachi comes to stand beside where I'm squatting on the floor.

"Who did your packing when you came here?" He asks me, squatting down beside me.

"Uh...Mom."

He chuckles amusedly. "Little Naruto still needs his mommy to pack his bags," he laughs.

"Shut up. I really suck at it, okay!" Being touchy about it with him is unfair but hey I can't be good at everything now, can I?

"I could help you pack," Itachi offers with a smile when he looks at me.

I smile and nod at him. "That would be great."

"So, when do we get started?"

"Why? The faster we do it, the faster I'm out of your hair?" I ask him teasingly.

"Hmm. That sounds like a viable plan. I was beginning to get tired of you already."

"Then it's time I showed you some new tricks in bed. How about we start with tying these pale wrists?"

"I knew you'd say that! You're becoming awfully predictable."

"In that case, you show me new trick."

"And tire myself out all over again? No, thank you." He primly looks away.

"Tiring your partner out is good, Itachi-sama. That way he won't have the energy to let his eyes wander."

"Is that why you plough into me like a maniac?"

"That and I can't stop myself from going a little…overboard."

"A little? A little? Your huge thing is going to rip me a new one!"

"Eh? But I don't remember you complaining about it. What was it? Ah, when you touch me there, my brain melts…"

His nostrils flair angrily. "We couldn't have gone on if I didn't like it."

"Ah c'mon. You're not implying you'd dump me if you disliked rough sex?"

"Or sex in general. I mean I could have been in love with you in the most platonic sense of the term."

"And then what would we be? Best friends where I eternally used my hand while I pathetically watched you fawn over a woman? No thanks."

"I don't think I'd do that. I mean, even then I would love you, in a way."

"And then you'd go ahead and marry someone else and build a family. Thinking about it makes me want to plough your ass like I've been accused of."

"Then I guess we're really lucky I like it."

"Now come here and let this predictable Naruto show you what he's capable of."

"Less talk more work." He turns around once, stopping me from making a grab at him. "Also, you're making breakfast tomorrow." I nod. I know I won't leave him capable of walking.

Sure enough, next morning he staggers into the kitchen, limping horribly and giving me a murderous glare. He gulps down two glasses of water.

"Good morning," I bestow him my sweetest smile. "I've got toast and eggs ready and," I reach beside him to pour him a cup of coffee, "fresh coffee," I offer it to him and he takes it sulkily.

"So," I touch his bottom lip where a droplet of water sits. "Are we still doubting my capabilities?"

Itachi winces. "Never again, you monster! Never again."

I throw back my head and laugh.

We negotiated about the souvenirs I owe my cousins and he's promised to take me to some stores that can provide what I need. And I'm still getting my middle-school classmate the cheapest One Piece figurine I can find. I don't even care which character it is.

"Let's hit the thrift store," I say, looking around for the escalators. "I'm sure I'll find half the things there."

Itachi nods, walking with me. We walk around the store, passing through various departments. We lift up objects randomly and play around like kids. He laughs when I pick up a family-sized packet of chopsticks. There are six pairs of them. "I have these cousins I absolutely hate. They are six and have a very bad habit of climbing on top of everything and anyone they can find. Absolutely incorrigible. Even their parents have given up on them."

"Are they the ones you wish would poke each other in the eye?" he asks me with raised amused brows. I nod and cart them, smiling evilly. He chuckles. "But at this day and age, don't you find all of this in your country too?" he asks, lifting a set of porcelain shot glasses. They're white with illustrations of men doing sumo. I like them immensely.

"I do but somethings are just available here only." I take the glasses from him and cart them as well. He laughs when he eyes my cart.

"Who are they for?" he asks me.

"For me."

"Making plans of using them with someone?"

I think for a moment. "Nah. I'll just use them as decorations, I guess."

"So you like collecting quirky things as well, hmm?" Itachi looks at me thoughtfully.

"You didn't know that?" I eye him dubiously.

"I know you like to collect anime related stuff but didn't know you were into this as well."

"Well, I've never really segregated it that way. It's more like, if I like it, I buy it. I don't really care about its usage."

"Your room must be full of trinkets from here and there." I pick up a mug that has some relevant images of things belonging to the Izu Peninsula. Since it holds special historical reference, there are many things from America. It's quite educative as well. I cart it too.

"At this rate, you'll be hauling the store home," Itachi says, leaning down and plucking out the Izu mug from my cart and placing it back on the shelf.

I protest but he shakes his head. "I thought we were buying things for your cousins today," he points out.

"I haven't had my quota of the things that can only be found here."

"My darling, your ticket comes with a luggage constraint."

"One cup isn't going to make a difference."

"Nope."

"Sheesh! Remind me never to bring you again for shopping these things."

"I, on the other hand, firmly believe you should bring me along. We need to do something about your penchant to recklessly spend." Itachi looks at me seriously.

"Says the man who booked us the best room in Atami!"

"That was that. This is this." He really looks slightly mad at me.

"Fine. I won't buy any more knickknacks, okay. Not for me, at least." I exaggeratedly roll my eyes but he sighs. We begin strolling the cart away from the home and kitchen section. We're nearing the anime section. My heart picks up pace like a kid in a candy store. I've been to this section at least once every month. Kiba and I have come here to find the rarest of items at dirt cheap rates.

"You don't look like you're new here," he quietly walks up to where I go to admire my favorite Vegeta figurine. I want it so bad, it's crazy. But it's very expensive. Not to mention, a hassle to carry home. So I've nipped that wish in the bud.

"Ah yes. This place has stuff that I can't even find in Akihabara. Kiba and I have spent hours here! I once found a Portgas D. Ace's poster for only five-hundred yen, only to see the same poster priced at five thousand in a store in Ikebukuro." I rub the back of my neck. "Sorry for babbling. I just got…carried away."

Itachi looks around my wonderland. "You're adorable Naruto!" he laughs before picking up a K-on! figurine.

"Nah. I'm such a nerd."

"That side of yours is cute too." Itachi smiles, putting the figurine back and looking around with mild interest. "You'll burn holes on my face if you keep staring like that." He picks up another object and looks at it. I quickly look away.

"So what are you getting your cousins from here?" he asks.

"The smallest anime objects I can find. I'm skipping rare anime. The list is too long." I pull out my phone and pull out the memo. Mom actually sent me a list. She's clearly not to be deterred.

"Alright then," Itachi claps his hands together and looks at me. "Let's get to it, shall we?"

I nod and call out the first demand.

We've spent more than an hour and now we're finally sorting through the objects we're actually going to buy. Itachi grabs my phone and we count the relatives and the presents.

"No parasol for Auntie Tsunade?" he asks, smiling.

"Nah. I'll just buy her an umbrella. A foldable umbrella that can actually fit in my suitcase. She can pretend it's a parasol."

He laughs, steering our cart towards the checkout counter. "That way it's useful too. Good thinking."

"I'm learning from the best." I mutter, my attention caught by a kettle that looks like it's hand-painted. It's got the quintessential cherry blossom motifs but it captures Japanese aesthetics in a very subtle, delicate sense. It would look right at home on our dining table. I turn and add it as a last minute item. The sales clerk rings it up.

I pull out my wallet and pay. "That kettle is beautiful. You've got good taste, I'll give you that."

I look at him for a long moment. "I know. It'll look perfect on our dining table." I wink.

Itachi blushes. Seeing him blush, I blush. And then we look at the sales girl who blushes too. I didn't even say anything lewd! She quickly gets to frantically pressing buttons on the screen, her cheeks still pink.

"Your change is three hundred and fifty-six yen," the girl chimes as she keeps the change on the tray and proceeds to pack my purchases.

I move to pocket the change. "By the way, what's your wonderland?"

He looks at me confused. "Wonderland?"

"I mean, just like how I turn into an absolute otaku in the anime section of a store, what turns your otaku on, so to speak?"

"Hmm, bookstores, I guess."

"So, like the Academia store downstairs?" I talk about the bookstore where I once found them by sheer coincidence.

Itachi thinks for a moment. "More like the Book-Off near the bridge?"

"Why haven't we gone on a bookstore date before?" I ask him.

He laughs. "We spend nearly every day in a bookstore, Naruto!"

"Still, it'd be fun," I nudge him slightly for effort.

He lifts his wrist and looks at the time. "Well we've got an hour before dinner and I drove us here, so…"

"How about, we drive down there and-"

"-Make out under the bridge?" Itachi asks when I stop and look at him.

"I was going to suggest flirting in between aisles in Book-Off but I like your plan better."

"That's the spirit!" Itachi laughs.

The sales girl we'd both forgotten about is the shade of a tomato when she clears her throat to draw our attention. We turn to look at her, blushing because she is. It's weird how we could probably be making her uncomfortable, but we can't help it.

She hands me two huge paper bags. Itachi takes one. She bows once and then twice and then touches her cheeks. "Please come again. Please!" She doesn't bother hiding her excitement.

Itachi hides a laugh behind a quick bow before he exits the shop. He's getting used to this now. Meanwhile, my mind veers back to Hinata's words from Disneyland. We move quietly towards the automatic doors. "Do you think we look like a BL drama?" I ask him.

Itachi makes an incredulous face. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"I mean, I think I've made a few clerks uncomfortable."

"You are what some people think is exquisite. A giant blond man, smiling charmingly at everyone. What's not to like? And then you go twinkling your eyes at them. They've got to be blind to not react the way they do when they see you. Only for your face to turn in my direction as you stop focusing on your surroundings."

"And let's not talk about the flirting," he shakes his head, laughing.

"Alright. I'll admit I'm guilty of that. But you flirt back."

"Why not? I want people to know who you belong to."

"You call me petty but you're plenty petty yourself." I stab him in the chest and he laughs and unlocks his car.

We place our purchases in the boot space, leaning down at the same time. "Only when it comes to you Naruto. I think I'm becoming oddly primitive about you."

"Now you get what I feel? I once wanted to piss in a circle around you, just to mark my territory!"

"That is disgusting!" he laughs and kisses me once. "But something inside understands."

"But that doesn't mean I'm into golden showers," I look at him.

"I'm not either." Itachi laughs when he pokes his head out and I follow suit.

He closes it before we move on either side of the car. Me on the passenger, him on the driver's. But he stops and comes around. "Drive us there?" he holds out his key fob. I've never driven here before since I don't have an international driving license. I'm not going to be stupid for a little thrill.

I shake my head at him. "No. Can't afford to do something irrational that could land both of us in trouble."

"Have you always been such a good boy?" he asks.

"Yup. Can't afford a strike or a permanent record. I have to come back here."

"Ugh, fine! Watch if I'm ever going to be generous to you!" he says, walking around and getting into the car. He closes the door and I watch him amused when he continues his drivel. "See if I ever give you the keys to my car again! You'll have to crawl on your knees and beg for them. And then I'll con-" I grab his mouth in a kiss.

"Let's take a road trip across Japan in this car, once we're married."

"Eh? You're not buying us a new car when we get married? Aren't I owed some dowry?" Itachi deadpans.

"First a large diamond ring and now a car! Just how rich do you think I am?" I roll my eyes at him.

"It's not how rich you are but how rich you will be in three years."

"Whoa! Too many expectations on my fragile shoulders, Itachi-sama!" I pretend to look surprised.

"Don't pretend. I know your potential, Naruto."

"Stop putting me on a pedestal."

"Stop undermining yourself! Honestly, I have days when I miss the peacock you, regardless of how high-handed you sound. You have things to achieve in three years. Expectations to upkeep. Promises to fulfill."

"Greedy and calculative, huh? Anything else I should remember?"

"You belong to me."

"And possessive too."

"Only about you Naruto. Only about you." He looks at me. "And that's why, I'm not inclined to say I won't be down for some…pee business."

"Have you tried it before? Piss play?" I ask him. I've never liked it and now I want to try it. Squirting Itachi made me lose my mind. I wonder what a urinating Itachi can do.

"Nope. Never saw the appeal. Not before you. Then again, I've never wanted to piss on anyone else…so…why not?"

"That is that. This is this."

"No. They're basically the same things! It's all about preferences."

"What if either of us hates it?"

"Then we let it go. We don't have to like everything we do."

"Is there anything I do that you don't like?" I ask him.

He hums as he turns on the ignition and smoothly veers the car onto the main street. His right elbow relaxes against the ledge as he runs a finger across his upper lip. Finally he laughs. "It's funny how I find tiny habits of yours annoying sometimes but right now I can't think of a single one." He shakes his head at me.

"Rose colored lenses, Itachi-sama. Never take them off."

He drives us to a hideout under the bridge, parking his car. "Pfft! As if I need them to see you."

"Am I that transparent?"

"Nah. I just think I have lenses that make me see through you. All of you."

I cover my body when he eyes me appreciatively. "Pervert!"

"Add that to the list. I don't mind." He says, moving a leg over to move across to me.

"So you're a greedy, calculative, possessive pervert?" I summarize.

He tickles my sides before he bites my neck.

"Only for you Naruto. Only for you."

An hour later, I wipe the cum from my stomach and watch him catch his breath. His hair is a wild mess and he looks thoroughly spent. "Can I ask you a question?"

Starting conversations with this question have become rare. Mostly I ask it out of habit. But today I'm oddly thoughtful. Itachi stops wiping himself to smile at me. "Sure."

"It's just…you knew I was going to be here for a year. And you knew this day was going to come." I look down at my hands. "Didn't you perhaps think about this? Be reluctant about this relationship with me? Keeping the matter of your sexuality aside, weren't you just a tiny bit afraid of what our future could hold together?"

"I think it was the day Kiyoshi and I first invited you to our house. I was everything you asked me till that day. I was anxious and hesitant. Normally, I don't bring anyone home. I don't like people in my private space. But I didn't think twice. You just fit right in. And that's when I knew I wanted you in it. I saw us smiling in that house and I couldn't unsee it.

"And I think it's because I want it so bad, I want us to achieve it. It's such a silly fantasy but it holds so much worth that I gave up being afraid. And I know the only way I can have you is by letting you leave now. I'm beginning to make my peace with it but the offset is yet to set in. If anything, it sometimes feels like a voluntary punishment. But I've placed my bets on a happy ending, so I can say I'll be fine."

"Do you trust me that much?"

"I have to. Because I love you, I'll let you go."

"Even though you hate it?"

He nods. "Even though I hate it." He rights his underpants and zips up. He turns to me when he starts doing the buttons of his shirt.

"So don't go doing reckless things and focus on procuring your dowry, instead."

"Dowry in this day and age! We're equals, you and I. That's why you can't keep demanding things without giving me something in return. What are you bringing to the table?" I look at him challengingly. If he wants these things, I should be able to get my rights on things as well.

Itachi turns honey-warmed black eyes to me. "What do you need?" he asks.

"Nope. Answering a question with a question is cheating!"

"But I've stated my needs loud and clear. What are yours?"

"Unlike you, I have to think about it. Ah! How about a Lamborghini?"

"Give the man a hand and he's willing to dance on my head," Itachi shakes his head. "Stop trying to get me to buy you a car when it's you who's expected to bring one."

I laugh. "Touché. What car would make you happy?"

"I'm not opposed to having a Maserati but I guess I could settle for a posh Lexus."

"You really expect the world out of me, don't you?" I laugh.

"Well…you are an exemplary student."

"Of course, sensei," I jab it in, faking a sick smile.

Itachi laughs. "Once a tutor, always a tutor."

"Some tutor who seduced his innocent student."

Itachi straightens. "Oh please! You're so far away from the word innocent that it's shouldn't even be a distant relative in your vocabulary! Besides, you seduced me first."

"Uh-huh? Did I?" I smile with a smile so innocent it could put a baby to shame. "When?"

"Don't you remember the evening I came to deliver your bookshelf? Don't tell me you didn't just wear you short shorts to seduce me."

"Wow! Are you even serious right now? I didn't even know you were interested! For me, you were very much Sasuke's straight elder brother till then. Unattainable, might I add."

"And yet your endless legs had other thoughts when you crossed and uncrossed them in invitation?"

"What could I do? My brain cells fried up when I was near you. Besides, you were bent over at work. It was hard to imagine anything else. And I was nervous." I turn to him. "So the reason you left so abruptly was because you were turned on by my legs?"

"Oh get off your high horse! I was mad at you because you didn't talk at all."

"You didn't initiate conversation, either!"

"That's because…" he looks away, "I didn't know what to say."

"And I'm being accused of ignoring you when you're literally the center of my focus!"

"Am I? Your eyes drilling holes in your phone definitely said otherwise."

"At that time, yes! Now, if we're in the same space, I am…let's say I'm grossly aware of you."

"Grossly?"

"Yeah, if you knew how much, it would gross you out. It grosses me out sometimes how I'll keep looking for you. Does it disgust you?"

"Why should it? I like having your attention on me. It makes me feel like I own you. And I like owning you very much. Does that disgust you?"

I shake my head, vehemently. Disgust? Why would being this man's disgust me? I wanted him from the moment I saw him. I was his, the moment I saw those clear eyes look up at me.

"We're goners, you know. You and me."

Itachi's stomach growls, making me laugh. He sits up and belts himself in to the passenger seat. The keys are in the ignition. He nudges his head slightly at me. "I'm hungry. Let's get going." His tone is a carefully crafted shade of neutral. His eyes meet mine. "Live a little."

He knows I'm inclined to deny. But I place my left hand on the wheel and start the ignition. I laugh when I'm on the road and muscle memory kicks into place. His car is light to drive. It takes me a minute to adjust things and reacquaint myself with the feel of being behind the wheel. I only relax once we hit the main road.

We drive in silence and I'm thankful for that. I dare a look at him once we slow at a red light. I pull the hand brake and turn to him.

He grabs my face and kisses me smack dab. "Should've known you'd look hot. We should have done this the moment you landed in Japan. I'd have known at that moment that I was going to keep you."

"No turning me on. There's only so much thrill I can take." I warn him, switching gears and hitting a left. It's amazing how well I know my way around here. Home. This quaint little town is home to me.

"Ah, then I take blowjobs while you drive are out of the question as well?" he asks me so casually, he could very well be asking me what we should get for dinner. That's what he should be thinking about. Not ways to turn me on or worse get us both killed.

I glare at him. "Seducing the driver is a no-go."

His hand brushes my thigh, nails skimming along the fabric. I drive us left and stop the car. "Tch, you're no fun."

"And you're no longer allowed to touch me when I drive."

"Spoilsport."

"Pervert!"

"Idiot!"

I sigh, turning on the ignition again. He turns to me bedroom eyes in full focus when he stares. "It's something I want to try."

I don't remember where we're going. Only I'm taking us to the only deserted road I can find. I don't turn when I hear him unclipping the seatbelt. "You're going to get us killed," I groan when his hand wraps around me. I'm hard. I've been hard from the moment he planted that idea in my head. "Please don't." he replaces his hand with his mouth.

It's so bad that by the time I stop the car, Itachi is bent over, my cock in his mouth.

At this rate, I don't think I can last.

Little minx.

The ticking of the clock is the only music in the living room after putting Kiyoshi to bed on Friday. My lover turns a page of his novel and shifts his head a little on my thigh. I'm completely engrossed in the book I'm reading. The most powerful characters in the story are assembling for the battle when the doorbell rings. I look up startled before looking down at my lover whose eyes widen in surprise. He straightens and stands. "I'll go check," he says.

I straighten when muffled voices sound.

Who can it be? A neighbor? A friend? A relative?

My heart picks up pace as I try to work around the concept of how I should place myself in this house, in their lives. My relation to him is only known by a fair few. When I can't take it anymore, I poke my head into the corridor. Shisui stands chatting with my beloved who is shaking his head frantically. "Not tonight," I hear him say.

Shisui turns his head around from Itachi's and looks up at me when I walk up to them as casually as I can. He turns his eyes to Itachi's and says, "Ah, now it makes sense."

"Hi Naruto. Glad you're here. Saves us time." Shisui smiles at me nonplussed and loops a casual arm across my lover's shoulders.

Huh? I'm right here, hello!

"For?" I eye the hand around that lean shoulder which very much carries my mark under that t-shirt before I look at him.

He snorts before removing the hand. He holds up his hands in surrender and says, "I only need your permission to take this idiot out for our Friday drinks."

I'd forgotten they had a custom like that. These past few Fridays were all spent together. He'd never mentioned it and so it was out of my mind. "You don't need my permission Shisui. What the hell?" I laugh.

"I told you so!" Itachi looks at Shisui with anger born out of embarrassment.

"Always good to confirm," he winks at him and then blinks when I glare at him. Then he rolls his eyes before he looks at me. "I'd forgotten you were like this."

I nod. "So please don't try anything funny," I say very seriously.

Shisui looks at me for a moment. "Don't you have a grave misunderstanding about something?" he asks me.

"I hope I don't," my tone is just like Kiyoshi's when he's vehemently denying something. Beside Shisui, Itachi's lips tilt up.

"I don't know why you don't know this but I have a girlfriend, Naruto."

"You do?" I ask like someone who's fundamentally dumb.

I look at Itachi bewilderedly. "Why didn't you tell me this?" I look back at Shisui. "Then why didn't you bring her with you on our trip to Disneyland?" I ask, thinking of all the times they could have said something. Hiding this when Itachi knew how I felt about Shisui feels mean.

"Because she's away. She works in Hokkaido," he explains.

"This is not done," I manage to finally say when I look at them. "I need an explanation."

Shisui looks at Itachi puzzled before turning to me. "But I thought this idiot told you!"

"Keep the insults out of this, please." I smile tightly at him, furious at having being denied such an important piece of information. Shisui's eyes widen for a second. I look back at Itachi who's red and eyes me with guilt. "For now, I'll let this go. Seeing as it is nine o'clock, if you bring him back by one, we're good."

Shisui sighs before he looks at my lover. "All because of your ignorance." He eyes Itachi funny who keeps avoiding my eyes. "Hurry up and go get changed! Your lover didn't need to give his permission but he's sure got rules about everything." Itachi eyes me and laughs.

Shisui smacks him on the back, making me glare at him. Itachi walks towards his room clearly wanting to run away from this situation.

Shisui turns serious eyes to me. "Naruto, I've known Itachi all my life. And, while it is not a path, I'd have chosen for him, I can see that he's happy. I can see how much he likes you. But being together is going to redefine a lot of things for him, for both of you. And while I don't doubt for a moment that you'd move heaven and earth for him, I'm scared it's going to be a lot more challenging than you think. I know you don't need me to tell you this, but be patient with him. He likes to figure things out on his own first and then make his decisions."

He smiles when he looks at me. "Though, I bet you knew that already."

I don't say anything back. He claps me on the shoulder. "Though your time together is coming to a close, treat him well."

I nod sincerely. "I'm sorry, if I was mean to you."

Shisui waves his hand away. "It doesn't matter." He smirks when he looks up again. "So, do you have any more instructions for me?" he raises an eyebrow at me. His wavy hair stands in stylish curls. This man's suave nonchalance is unnerving. His smirk widens. "Any particular brand of alcohol you'd want him to drink? Or what he should or should not drink?"

"I may be petty but even I know my limits Shisui," I laugh.

"Hmm, but I didn't mean it like that. I meant, I could get your boyfriend as drunk as you want him," he places his hand around my shoulder.

"You mean you could…"

"Manipulate him into drinking as much as I want? I'm his childhood friend Naruto. I know him like the back of my hand." Shisui smirks triumphantly when the door to our room closes.

When he puts the biggest difference between him and me into words, it pinches. That ugly serpent called jealousy raises its head. I squish it down. "Inasmuch as I'd love to, I want him to have fun tonight. Let him do everything he wants to."

"That will be nice. But he could get sloshed in the process, be warned." Shisui smirks at me again.

"Then you better make sure you know your way here because if he's not back by one, I'll come for you. And that won't be nice." I smile at him sweetly while Shisui throws back his head and laughs.

"Eh, cut us some slack! We're hanging out after ages because of you, you know!" Shisui pouts.

"You'll have plenty of opportunities soon. So take whatever I'm willing to offer nicely."

"You sound more like his dad than his boyfriend."

"All the more reason for you to be sure he's here on time, young man." I adopt the tone my dad uses when I seriously glare at him.

"You're so fucking amusing Naruto. Two o'clock," he has the nerve to bargain.

"Amusing is the last thing you'll find me if he's not back before one-thirty." I smile sweetly at him.

He laughs nodding but my eyes immediately move away when Itachi steps into the corridor.

He wears his heather-grey button-down shirt with black jeans. I have half a mind to make him change back into his pajamas and then send him. But the moment his eyes meet mine, he shakes his head as if he knows what I'm thinking.

Shisui turns to me and smiles. "I'll bring back your most precious Itachi-sama on time if I can. "See ya Naruto!"

Itachi sits down to put on his shoes at the entrance. I perch on the seat beside him. He smacks me on my back. "Then, I'll leave the babysitting to you, darling." He promptly kisses my cheek.

I turn my face and kiss him. "When you come back, you better have a good explanation about why I didn't know about Shisui's girlfriend. For now, go have a good time," I smile and kiss him again. "And come back home to me safely."

Soft honesty spills from midnight eyes when he smiles at me. "I'll go and come back soon."

"Take care," I whisper softly.

I snap the book shut and look at my watch. The almighty summit is underway and I haven't been able to concentrate after midnight. And now it's past twelve forty-five.

For how long do they drink together? Do they always stay out this late?

I sit up on the sofa and consider calling him. Getting an estimate on when he'll be back should at least give me some relief. But I don't want to seem like a worrywart. And I know I shouldn't worry. I trust him. And somewhere I'm trusting Shisui on this too.

No! No thinking about negative things. I'll let him have his fun.

Ten minutes pass by with no sign of him.

Maybe I'll go wait by the station or the nearest intersection.

They didn't take the car. Maybe I should. He'd texted me the name of the place they were going and that was it. I didn't press for more information though I wanted to. Admitting that to him despite my petty disposition, makes me feel like dying of shame.

But now I'm getting worried when it's past one. I check on Kiyoshi. Ten minutes past one. I'll go wait for him before I call him. I move to open the main door when it opens. "Eh?" Itachi looks startled to see me. "Were you going somewhere?"

"You were late so I was just going till the gate." I smile at him.

Itachi pulls me to him and hugs me tight. "I missed you too."

I hug him back when he clasps his hands behind my back and leans into my shoulder. Then he laughs before he loosens his arms from around me and looks up. His cheeks are pink, his eyes slightly unfocused behind his glasses when he looks at me. "I think I pissed him off," Itachi chuckles.

"Why?" I ask. I've never seen him this drunk. While it worries me, this moment that sticky feeling in my chest overtakes everything when he looks at me. "I called him Naruto five times." He raises his hand to show me five fingers.

I raise blond eyebrows at him. "Shisui reminds you of me?" I tease him, shamelessly waiting for his next words.

"Idiot. I kept thinking of you." He puts his arms around me again.

It's a blessing to see him like this. This pliant Itachi is one I never want to show anyone. "What did you think about?" I ask him.

He looks at me and drunkenly smiles. "I knew you'd ask that! Pervert!"

I yank his nose. "Calling me a pervert when it's your head that is filled with smut!"

"And whose fault is that?" he pulls on my nose too and leans heavily into my arms around him.

"Guilty as charged. So, did you have fun?" I ask him.

Itachi looks up at me. "Yes. I had a great time."

"Thinking about me, I know." I wink at him. He's confessed to that of his own accord.

"That and…I'd forgotten what it was like, hanging out with Shisui."

"I'm sorry that I've been keeping you from your friends," he looks back at me as sharply as he can in his current, inebriated state.

He shakes his head. "You don't have to be sorry about anything. I stayed because I wanted to." He grins at me. "It was good to see you here at the entrance waiting for me. It made my heart skip a beat."

I'm already so-honest Itachi-sama just lays himself bare in front of me. I bend down and kiss him. I'll do it for you as many times as you want me to. But the words die in my throat. I don't want to talk about the future right now. I only want this man in my arms with me here for the moment.

Itachi tightens his arms around me. "I'm home," he says.

"Welcome home," I whisper back.

He rests his head against my shoulder and promptly falls asleep.

It doesn't take me long to lift him up and deposit him on the bed. I remove each piece of clothing methodically without waking him up before sliding some shorts on him and covering him with the duvet. He immediately curls to his side and lets out a snore.

I make my way outside and turn off all the lights before moving to the kitchen where I make him some honey water. Seeing how badly he staggered, he's going to have nails pounding inside his head in the morning. I'll make him drink some.

With the glass in my hand, I make my way back to the room. Itachi makes a sound and I'm beside him. I place the glass on his nightstand and stroke his hair softly. He looks uncomfortable so I pat him awake. "Are you alright? Need to hurl?" I ask him softly.

Unfocused eyes open a fraction and he shakes his head at me slowly. "Aren't you coming to bed?"

I turn off the lights and join him. His arm grabs mine and puts it around his middle. "Now it's good."

I smile slightly before moving in closer. He shifts and molds his planes and curves to mine. I run my fingers over his forehead. "Your fingers are cool. They feel so good." He's so cute.

I continue stroking his forehead almost mindlessly. My mind is reveling and drowning in the fact that seeing him back home, safe here in our bed brings me peace and a sense of satisfaction I've never felt before. Even though I've always thought how he feels so right, the righteousness I feel right now simply being beside him doesn't change. It only deepens and matures to something so innately profound, it fills me up.

The me who fell in love with this man to infinite proportions was a young fool in love. Someone who could have willingly gambled everything away on the whimsical notion of being physically close to him. Only because I couldn't stand the physical distance between us. Because irrationally when I advocated how we belonged together, I wanted physical proximity perhaps more than anything. And even though that need to stick to his side like a magnet hasn't changed, I'm now more focused on small moments with him, small moments without him. He's welcomed me fearlessly into his world, shown me his friends, brought me into his house. I want to protect his world with him. I want to be a part of it. The me now wants to focus on making all of it come true for the long run. The me today thinks, it's alright to go back home. The me right now will be okay, turning around at the airport. I'll be okay during our little parting.

If a third person is to look into our relationship, they'll definitely laugh at all the flaws and plot holes we have planned. Our little parting, will be to them nothing but empty words about an uncertain future. The two of us will sound ridiculous to them for being so immature, so unrealistic, so impractical about things.

But I know our little parting will bring us back to each other. This time, forever.

And only for this man who puts so much trust in that future, in us, I'm going to do my best.

For him. For us.

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