Kisame had known that this was going to be a long day ever since he set foot outside the house in the morning; for this he was sure he could easily take a walk in a nearby park with all the calm he needed. He had taken the opportunity to call Karin telling her that for that day the management of the gym should have been entirely in her hands since he had had a big unexpected event.

"Don't worry, Kisame, everything is under control. There are Hidan and Sasori together right now but they still managed not to destroy anything" Karin on the phone was trying to keep her composure, but Kisame sensed that she was holding back giggles and sighs. Hearing someone grinning in the background cleared all doubts, evidently Deidara had every intention except to train.

When the cat is away, the mice play!

Kisame shook his head in amusement before putting the phone back in his pocket and continuing on.

His unexpected big guy had previously had the name of Itachi. However, soon, through those obsidian eyes, Kisame sensed that there was more to him. The dark haired always spoke with the utmost composure, he had done so by begging him to take him to Nagato's house. But Kisame had managed to see the tail of that storm that would soon be unleashed in the folds of that granite demeanor that Itachi maintained on every occasion.

You really have above average intuition, Itachi. You asked me to accompany you to Nagato's, talking to me as if you were connecting the plot of the comic film you saw last night eating popcorn on your bellies on the sofa. But your eyes screamed, as always, transmitting to me all the apprehension you actually felt.

Now would come the gigantic questions that Kisame would have had to go through even taking into account a disappointment. Sasuke was arriving, consequently if until recently it was unlikely that Itachi would return to his house, now it was highly unlikely. It had already been clear the previous day that the two brothers urgently needed to confront each other, this was absolutely not a problem for Kisame, it wouldn't have been for anyone. But he had seen more in those beautiful black eyes when Itachi had expressed the desire to get up from the stretcher. The fact that he had devastating feelings of guilt towards Nagato and who knows who else probably wouldn't have allowed him to open his heart so easily to another person.

Kisame would have gladly given him the time and space he needed to get out of this and the traumatic events he had in his life. However, there was a risk that Itachi would slip through his fingers if he loosened his grip too much.

Kisame sighed, lowering his gaze on the gravel and white path. His gait now appeared slightly swaying, which always happened when he had thoughts nagging him.

Perhaps the most complicated phase of his life would have come in the next few hours, he would have had to find the perfect balance so as not to be intrusive with Itachi in such a difficult moment for him, without however letting him go too much risking losing him.

I love you, I wasn't lying tonight even though I only had the courage to tell you because you were asleep and I was sure you couldn't hear me. I've always known it, ever since I first saw you six years ago, and I still didn't know what your face looked like. Now I'm more than sure.

"Are you here too? Busy day, right? Cigarette?"

A rough and scratchy voice had almost made him jump. Kisame turned around hoping that his start wasn't too much noticed when he found himself in front of Kakuzu. He couldn't understand how he could have been so silent, he had come up behind him without realizing it.

"No thanks, I don't smoke."

"You're right, I should stop too. Except that unfortunately life is bitter and everyone tries to sweeten it as best they can" Kakuzu's voice now seemed distorted in the effort to keep the cigarette on the tip of his lips while the little wind that was blowing lightly made it difficult for him to light it.

Kisame smiled lifting his chin with a sympathetic gesture.

"So you have a gym" Kakuzu had finally succeeded in his intention of lighting the cigarette and had joined Kisame "I see a guy like you well, I bet it was your dream since you were a child. Sorry you know, but I've been here for a while and I heard you on the phone."

Kisame was pleasantly surprised, that rough olive-skinned big man was showing himself in a completely new guise compared to the miserly manager with whom one had to intercede to have the weasel for twenty minutes. Kisame understood in that moment that even with him life must not have been too kind, certainly that job did not correspond to the dreams he had had as a child.

"To be honest, yes, it was the main goal of my life and I fought with all my heart to achieve it. The passion for sport has been with me practically since I was born."

I'm not so sure now that this is the primary purpose of my life, it was until a few days ago, but now…

"How many disciplines do you deal with?" they had resumed walking with their faces lost in the sunlight.

"For now only bodybuilding, but I have the necessary space to expand" actually that had been a project of his from the beginning, the building had another room at the moment unused. "

"Would you need other instructors, or would you do everything yourself?"

"I would say yes, everyone has the field of him."

"Do they have to be graduates in motor sciences?"

Kisame was starting to wonder where Kakuzu was getting at, however what was now on his square face was a frank, kind, and sincerely interested expression. His bright green eyes had taken on an almost melancholy look.

"It's not necessary, I'm the manager and technical director, it's just that they have the perfect skills in that discipline. I can teach myself the necessary motor science concepts."

Kakuzu had become thoughtful, he blew a puff of smoke before continuing his speech: "You see, Kisame, maybe you didn't know me in the most honorable of situations, I've always been for everyone the stingy manager who treats dancers as merchandise sell to the highest bidder, but strange as it may seem I care about those guys, they are friends. I wouldn't have been here today otherwise. Nagato is related to both Itachi and Yahiko and I to them. Perhaps you had already intuited this the night you allowed yourself to be with Itachi, I had already understood just by seeing you that you were different. I got the confirmation when I saw you doing everything to just talk to us."

Kakuzu paused, probably he wanted some confirmation from Kisame, maybe he wasn't used to saying phrases like that for this now he was looking for a sort of reassurance for having done well. They looked into each other's eyes for several seconds without saying anything. Kisame was disconcerted to hear him talk like that but not really that much.

Kakuzu took a long breath before continuing, as if he needed courage: "I'm worried, especially for Itachi. That has never been the right job for him, his health has always been fragile and stress can only aggravate the situation. Do you know that he was a trapeze artist before? The broken shoulder was the end of his career, after which he had to fend for himself and Sasuke. Obito did what he could to help him out, but now I'd say he deserves something better. I'm saying these things to you because I've seen how you look at him, the thoughtfulness with which you touch him. I've known that you are special since that night when you just talked to him. Don't let him slip away, Kisame, or it could be the end of him."

As soon as he finished speaking Kakuzu immediately returned to where he had come from, without saying goodbye, without waiting for an answer. Maybe those words that he wasn't used to pronouncing he felt close to him, but he wouldn't have said them if he hadn't considered them more than right. Kisame had remained there, nailed down. The truth has this effect, which is why most people don't want to know it, ending up hating whoever tells it.

Kisame had been right from the moment he saw Itachi. He didn't know his face and the color of his eyes, had never heard his name but sensed his undeniable talent which was far too much for the job.

Itachi, why didn't you tell me all this? Do you seriously think you deserve so little? Do you really think you're so bad that you're entitled to nothing?

He turned back to look at the white path he had walked down feeling his eyes fill with tears. There, at the end of that lane, there was someone who needed him. Now more than ever.

Shisui drove slowly as if this were an absolutely normal day, he didn't want to admit to himself that he was actually upset by what could happen once they arrived. He, on the other hand, had experienced firsthand everything that the accident when they were little had left behind. Of course they were all shocked but it was Sasuke who suffered the most. At the age of eight he had had to find himself alone, that cursed day, to manage the situation. While he was calling Obito, he was already aware that his life had gone through a meat grinder in a few seconds when perhaps, up until a few minutes before, he had smiled confidently like all children of that age. Indeed, taking that phone, he was sure that Itachi was dead too. Although he was upset he had known how to act in the best way. Already at that age he had proved to be much more intelligent than the average, as on the other hand Itachi had also been as a child.

Oh yes, life can be turned upside down in a few fractions of seconds after which the world and the people you knew are always the same while you find yourself catapulted irreversibly light years away while remaining standing still in the same spot. Change everything around you without you being able to act.

However Sasuke hadn't managed to disconnect his older brother from that event, anger and resentment had submerged his entire life until that New Year's Eve when they all gathered together.

Shisui had never known what Itachi and Sasuke had talked about outside the restaurant, but he had been certain of one thing since the first moments he had seen them return: Itachi had known, without a shadow of a doubt, how to find the perfect words to say at that moment. Those capable of recovering Sasuke, in a few minutes, from all those years during which he had destroyed himself and their relationship. Basically a whole life.

Obito hadn't succeeded, Shisui himself had failed, but Itachi, that evening that had started only as a bad party, had performed the miracle of knowing how to find the right words at the right time.

Shisui had seen them both born, noticing their different characters since childhood, the two brothers also had a totally opposite way of managing pain. Itachi was little more than a child, he had always handled the torment in a compliant way. He swallowed remaining conciliatory with everyone, without however losing sight of the really important things and people in life. At the time they stuffed him with tranquilizers and other medicines so that his heart problems, which they had all decided to keep Sasuke in the dark about, would not worsen further. His easygoing nature had certainly never helped ease his health. After the accident Itachi had remained in bed completely sedated for whole days. Sasuke was, on the contrary, combative and fiery, he never accepted an injustice or any setback without a fight. Shisui recalled that he had often wished for a similar personality for himself, even Madara had been more or less like that in his youth from what little he had known him.

Sasuke ended up growing up without having the opportunity to refine his tools for managing anger and relationships with others, after the separation of the two families, in fact, he was left alone with Itachi who was often absent to work and study .

Ever since he was very young, Shisui had always been particularly attracted to Itachi. he was fascinated beyond belief by his style, his class and finesse, he was fascinated even by the way he moved. Although he was objectively very handsome, Sasuke had always been more virile and self-confident.

When Obito lost his parents in the accident, Shisui and his family often took care of giving a hand to the two brothers, often leaving someone in their company even during the night. Shisui gritted his teeth for a moment remembering the moments in which he slipped under the covers next to Itachi's body, completely rendered helpless by the drugs, slipped next to him wrapped in the semi-darkness. Although Itachi's will was completely annulled to prevent him, during the first days, from being devoured by pain, his skin was warm and alive, Shisui pressed him tightly against him thus remaining to hear him breathe even for half hours. Itachi's body was as thin and lithe as a reed. On subsequent occasions he had kissed his forehead and his delicate white face.

He caressed him whispering: "I love you."

Why didn't I ever tell you when I was awake?

Itachi let out a few soft moans without moving or opening his eyes.

All of this was due to Shisui's constant fear of exposing himself, which often made him regret not trying. Shisui still carried this characteristic of his personality with him.

But what am I always afraid of? Of a refusal? Whatever you want, at most they could say no.

The situation had unblocked one day by chance when neither of them would ever have expected it. In fact absolutely nothing should have happened on that occasion, Itachi's entry into the bathroom while Shisui was in front of the mirror admiring himself from all sides in front of the mirror making strange faces was just a coincidence.

"Is something wrong, Shisui?" asked the minor who had been observing him for a good minute without the other being even aware of his presence.

"No nothing, it's just… I wish I had eyes and eyelashes like you."

The major had lowered his eyes in embarrassment, he had felt a blush and inside he was certain that Itachi was laughing at him. But, contrary to all his thoughts, the younger had given him a kind and understanding smile inviting him to sit on the small stool in front of the mirror. Shisui followed Itachi's every movement without being able to take his eyes off him, he even had the impression that his head was making noise as he constantly turned around to observe the silent and graceful movements of the minor. He seemed to dance as he turned away from him to take a few items of make up from his purse that no one had ever dared to open. Itachi's hair, while not as long as it is now, was already beautiful and shiny. Itachi had advanced towards him with a serene expression on his beautiful face, sitting on his lap in the most natural and naïve way possible. He just wanted to make him up to highlight and make him notice his innumerable merits.

Shisui was as if struck by an electric shock as soon as their bodies came into contact, it was incredible how Itachi managed to be terribly exciting even in the simplest gestures, Shisui shivered while the younger pushed his hair aside with one hand from his forehead to better examine the gaze in order to extract its strengths with the make-up, meanwhile a serious and at the same time sweet expression was taken over by those incredibly magnetic eyes.

Shisui felt blushing sensing the breath of the other on his face, he loved those raven locks that constantly fell in front of his face, so he couldn't stop his hand that stroked them to restart them.

"Itachi, don't you dare cut your hair, ever."

His voice came out terribly trembling, which is why Itachi's hand froze in midair squeezing the mascara brush between elegant fingers, his beautiful eyes wide. A few seconds after all the objects that the minor was holding flew onto the white tiles, the cap of the kajal jumped allowing the latter to leave a black scar on the floor. Shisui's hands had forcefully made their way under the gray t - shirt of the younger cousin who felt the sex of the big bully swell under his buttocks. Itachi didn't oppose the slightest resistance while Shisui started kissing him and, immediately after, he lifted him to carry him on the bed. Their young bodies were entwined by now practically naked, the caresses and sighs were unstoppable when Shisui felt Itachi and his skin now on fire snatch from his womb, finding his father's bloodshot eyes just a few centimeters away.

Shisui just had time to think that perhaps he had been attracted by the sound of objects falling from Itachi's hands in the bathroom before receiving the first of a long series of slaps that ended downstairs in front of Sasuke's eyes. That time Shisui hadn't been afraid to expose himself and this had cost him a catastrophe with his family.

From now on, I won't have to be afraid to express my feelings. That time the end of the world happened but I see around me that it's not always like this. Kisame, for example, if he didn't demonstrate what He feels Itachi would have already sunk into an abyss.

When Itachi came to work at Susanoo he was already with Nagato. Shisui couldn't deny that he felt a rusty iron stake pierce his chest even for a few seconds. The two cousins had lost sight of each other for several years, however Shisui understood in that moment that he was still overwhelmingly fascinated by Itachi. He had also discovered that the younger had listened to him on that sentence that had escaped him broken by passion on the last day they had seen each other: he had no longer cut his splendid hair which now reached beyond half of his back.

I didn't want this disaster to happen, I really did. Now many things have changed, we are no longer kids and that situation hasn't existed for some time.

Shisui sighed thinking that both Itachi and Nagato had only known pain in life and that they both deserved some relief now. Itachi had already found someone special, everyone, including Shisui, had noticed the way Kisame looked at him. His cousin certainly needed time, however Shisui found himself thinking with a hint of melancholy that he couldn't afford to let Itachi let someone like Kisame escape.

I certainly won't be the one to stop you from being happy from now on. Indeed, I will have to do everything in my power to make this happen.

He gave a hint of a smile turning for a moment in the direction of Sasuke who was in the passenger seat with his eyes fixed on the road. Shisui knew that what now seemed like coldness in reality wasn't anymore, he seemed to perceive all those feelings that had awakened in the heart of his younger cousin. His large, black eyes were fixed on the road, but his fine, delicate lips no longer had that frown to distort them. The line of his chin was relaxed, the white hands were no longer contracted and tense, only those who knew him perfectly could grasp these slight differences.

No, no one now has the right to stop you from being happy, don't worry, I will always be with you.