Since they were on a team together, Itachi had changed all of Kisame's priorities. The shark man had always been someone who loved to have fun, especially after missions, good food and drinks were the perfect ending to work commitments.

They had been until Itachi joined him.

Which boy had changed him while remaining perched in his silences. Kisame had learned to read his sweaty face, his labored breathing, his increasingly thin body and his breath that smelled of blood.

"Do you want to eat something, Itachi?"

"No thanks, Kisame. I'm not hungry."

They had just escaped from the belly of one of Jiraiya's toads. If Itachi's Amaterasu hadn't been there it would have ended badly. But now Itachi was exhausted, Kisame could see it on his pale face.

"You're using your eyes too much, Itachi. You know it's dangerous."

No response, Itachi staggered after him. He would never have admitted his discomfort even under torture. But Kisame knew that the use of the Sharingan was not the only problem, Itachi was increasingly weaker. It took him longer and longer to recover from his efforts, his last day would soon arrive.

But now Itachi was here.

"I need to relax, Itachi. A trip to the spa is what we need."

No, Kisame didn't want to relax, he didn't give a damn about the spa. He would have liked to eat and get drunk until he forgot the infamous life of him collapsed on the table of some tavern. But Itachi had changed him, he had done it too without speaking.

Itachi had followed him without replying, it always happened when he was sick. Every day lately.

There was no one in the stone-carved hot water pools, the place was known only to Kisame and a few others.

Itachi had taken off his cloak in the clouds of steam, his back was to Kisame, his long tail of raven hair had fallen down the middle of his back. Without saying anything, he bent down to take off his shoes. For Itachi it was normal to undress in front of his partner, they were a team, work colleagues, both men. He didn't have any problems, the spa was like any other changing room.

For Itachi it was normal, Kisame felt an explosion in his chest. But what the hell had Itachi done to him? He was dying and he had never touched him. Kisame felt the loss of gestures he had never made.

Itachi had lifted his t-shirt which was too large to reach the waistband of his trousers, he was about to take them off.

"Itachi, I'm going to find something to eat. You wait for me here."

"It's okay Kisame, don't worry."

Itachi's voice was calm and persuasive, he hadn't even turned towards his partner. Meanwhile the trousers had slipped off.

Kisame had swallowed dryly, then had to jump away to calm his trembling. A few steps, then he turned again to look at Itachi secretly, he could see the flare of his skin through the clouds of steam.

Itachi, now naked, was immersing himself in the hot water. Kisame had taken a few steps forward to admire Itachi's slender legs moving, the use of the Sharingan had lowered his vision a lot, Itachi would never have seen him through the steam.

Itachi moved elegantly as he descended into the pool, he always was. Kisame had advanced further, wondering how Itachi was born with that grace.

Itachi sat where the water was shallower, Kisame knew that the pool was deep and that that was only a step, he couldn't see Itachi's legs dangling in the air but he could imagine them.

Kisame had gotten closer again, now he was looking at Itachi from the opposite side of the pool. Itachi's hair was damp, hanging in front of his face. He looked down at the milky water.

Kisame's heart exploded, he had always seen a few centimeters of Itachi's body at a time, he was always bundled up in clothes that were too large.

It could have been the last chance. Kisame had acted without thinking, he had immersed himself in the water without undressing and with Samehada in tow. He had reached the rough stone bottom, Kisame could breathe underwater and could have stayed there for hours. He walked along the bottom as if he were taking a walk, he had stopped only when he had seen the part of Itachi's body immersed in the water.

Kisame admired him transfixed. Itachi swayed his legs slowly, Kisame couldn't tear himself away from his slender ankles and elegant feet with purple nail polish. His slim, toned thighs killed it.

Feed me poison, fill me 'till I drown.

Kisame would have gladly died there, watching Itachi's ass resting on the stone, his butt cheeks tight and slightly square. Pubic hair black as coal, delicate hands with protruding veins resting on his hips. The red ring on his right ring finger was the only piece of clothing on Itachi.

Kisame would have died of a heart attack if he hadn't resurfaced, and then he had to go look for the promised food. Itachi could only swallow dango and little else, never more than that day would Kisame have been happy to bring him his beloved sweets. He had promised himself to change with Itachi, to take better care of him for the little time he had left to live.

He wanted to resurface but something was blocking him, it took Kisame a few seconds to understand that a stone on the seabed had moved, jamming his shoe and knee-high. He had tried to take it off, first calmly, but then he started to struggle due to nervousness.

"Itachi!"

The cry had risen transformed into bubbles.

"Itachi, help me!"

Itachi hadn't heard him, he kept swinging his marble legs in the water. Kisame wouldn't die from lack of breath, but from hunger and thirst. Who would take care of that sick little thing?

Damn, how Itachi had changed him.

Kisame had also thought about using Samehada to shatter the rock, but he had been distracted by Itachi's beauty and was low on chakra due to tiredness and hunger, there was little space and he could have severed his foot.

"Samehada, go get Itachi."

The faithful weapon had freed itself from its leather belt to resurface on the surface. Itachi had dived in shortly after, looking like a white angel in flight bathed in light. The ripples of his surface reflected on his marble skin, the black silk of his hair floated softly around his face, his obsidian eyes wide in search of his friend. The necklace given to him by Sasuke rested on his protruding collarbones.

As soon as he spotted Kisame, Itachi immediately approached, sliding quickly into the water. He had examined the situation, then had taken Kisame's face in his delicate hands, he seemed to want to kiss him but had activated his Sharingan. The red glow was enchanting, Kisame couldn't help himself.

I can't summon the Susanoo, Kisame. I'm exhausted.

Itachi had only used his eyes to communicate. Kisame had never seen the Susanoo, but Itachi had explained to him that it was himself, an extension of his unbeatable will. But it was a painful move and caused a strong burning sensation in every cell.

Kisame had called Samehada back, the sword had returned.

"Don't worry, Itachi, I can send you my chakra, you know I have a lot of it. I only ask you to let Samehada give you a scratch, he won't hurt you if I don't want to" Kisame had grabbed his friend from his hands, holding him at the bottom.

Kisame, I can't breathe. Leave me.

The shark man had seen Itachi roll back his eyes and inhale water. Kisame had squeezed his thin waist, then had attached his mouth to his to extract the water and give him air.

"Just hold on, Itachi."

If this was a kiss, Kisame had dreamed of it his whole life. Only now did he realize how much he had wanted it. Itachi's lips were velvety, Kisame had held him tighter, his hand had slipped to his hips. He let Itachi breathe into his mouth, he closed his eyes, Kisame could see the crown of his long lowered eyelashes.

Itachi had relaxed, hugged him. Kisame's hands were down on his buttocks.

Kisame had always thought he was affectionless, but he had changed for Itachi without realizing it.

Itachi had jumped slightly when Samehada had scratched him, he was absorbing chakra and Kisame could feel him gaining strength. Mouths didn't come off, Itachi was breathing thanks to his friend. A large hand of orange flames had crumbled the stone that held Kisame captive.

The shark man had felt Itachi's body collapse in his arms, he had squeezed himself like a lemon to help him. Kisame had risen to the surface without taking his mouth off Itachi's.

Kisame had picked up Itachi, he was light, he had carried him out of the pool. He was walking on the grass to get out of the curtain of steam, Itachi was curled up against his chest, he was exhausted. He hugged Kisame, looked at him while a small smile curved his lips.

That was love, Kisame didn't need more.

"Wait here for me, Itachi" Kisame had placed him on the grass.

The shark man had shed his wet clothes, then sat down next to Itachi. They had embraced each other naked in front of the bonfire that Itachi had lit in an instant, drying their trembling bodies. Words were useless. That was love.