Chapter 22 — A Lover Cannot Be Cured

With Itachi's words still burning in her ears, Kyoko searched out Kakashi. She found him at Training Ground 3 with Gai. But instead of training, Kakashi was laid out on his back, talking while Gai did handstand push-ups next to him. Gai was the one to see her.

"Kyoko-chan!" he cried, flipping himself to his feet. In a blink, he'd made it across the training ground and swept her up in a hug, spinning around. "Kakashi's been telling me all about yesterday, and I am so happy for the two of you!"

She clutched at his shoulders, closing her eyes to avoid getting dizzy. "Thank you, Gai. Can you put me do—" The last bit of her word was lost in a yelp as he dropped her.

Gai wiped at his eyes, chest heaving. "It just, just fills me with so much joy to see how happy you two make each other. And now that you two see it too, and now that you two have admitted your undying, selfless, endless, beautiful love to—"

"Gai, please," Kakashi begged, sounding strangled. He cleared his throat. "Um, sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you until tonight."

Gai glanced back and forth between the two of them, eyes getting brighter and brighter. With a squeal of delight, he threw his arms around them both and dragged them into a hug. "I'm so proud of you two!"

"Thank you," Kyoko said, her voice muffled from the way her face was trapped against his pec. She caught Kakashi's gaze, though he quickly glanced away, and pink dusted the skin just at the edge of his mask. "Uh, Gai, could I talk to Kakashi for a minute?"

"Yes, of course." Gai squeezed them both tightly one more time before releasing them. "I'll take this opportunity for a run. Talk away, my sweet love-birds!" And then he took off.

Kakashi groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled. "Maybe I shouldn't have told him until after dinner."

Kyoko shrugged. "I think it's sweet. Though, about dinner." She hesitated.

Kakashi snapped ramrod straight, eye wide. "Are you changing your mind? Not that you're not allowed to change your mind. I mean, we don't have to have dinner. Not if you don't want to. That'd be okay. I just— Please, please don't change your mind."

"Kakashi. Of course I still want to have dinner."

"Oh." His shoulders sagged. "Okay. Good. Because I do too."

"But I can't today." When he straightened again, she reached out and took his hand. "Could we move it to tomorrow?"

He squeezed her hand and looked down, lacing his fingers with hers. "Still at Ichiraku?"

"Of course."

"Okay. Is . . . something wrong?" He looked up at her, frowning. He used his free hand to cup her chin. "You look worried."

She shook her head and brought her hand up to keep his in place against her cheek, leaning into it. "Just a family situation." She paused. "Do you . . . remember what you told me on our last mission? After the building collapsed?"

His hold on her tightened, and his frown deepened. "What? About . . . how we can't save everyone?"

"Right. That's it." She smiled, knowing full well that it didn't reach her eyes. "You can't save everyone."

"Kyoko," he murmured. "Tell me what's wrong."

She shook her head again. "I'll tell you about it tomorrow." She moved her hand from his to brush her fingers against the edge of his mask instead. "Can I?"

In response, he let go of her and cupped her face with both hands. As she pulled down his mask and leaned forward, he met her halfway. Her eyes closed, and she felt him drop one arm around her to pull her in close.

They were interrupted by a loud whoop of joy.

Kakashi jerked back, already scrambling to yank up his mask, although it did little to hide how red his face was burning. "Gai! What is wrong with you? I thought you were on a run!"

Kyoko turned to find Gai standing at the edge of the training ground, a hand over his eyes. He was grinning. "I was! I finished just in time to give you my encouragement. But I can assure you that I did not see you with your mask lowered, because I made sure to—"

"Encouragement?" Kakashi echoed, voice strained with incredulity. "I'll show you encouragement!" He took off after Gai, who immediately started running again.

Kyoko smothered a laugh. As they vanished between the trees, though she could still hear Gai's occasional thrilled laugh, her smile faded. She sighed and rubbed at her eyes to make sure they were dry. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and left.

When she made it home, there were already bodies. Already blood staining the street. She kept her chin up and her gaze forward, knowing that if she looked down she might not be able to keep going. She made it to the house, took off her shoes, and knelt facing the closed door. Bowing her head, she waited.

Before long, she heard his footsteps. If anyone knew how to move quietly, it was him; this was his way of letting her know he was coming. The door slid open, and she didn't move. He didn't say anything. Kyoko took a loud breath, and he finally stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind him.

"I'm sorry."

She looked up, closing her hands into fists against her knees. "Itachi—"

"I don't want to do this, and I'm sorry that I am. Forgive me." It wasn't quite begging, but it was close enough. "Please."

"If you'll do one thing for me," she murmured.

Itachi stepped forward, grip tightening on his tanto. "Anything," he choked out. He stopped right in front of her. "What is it?"

She stared up at him, her ribs threatening to break under the barrage of her frantic heartbeat. "Can I see the eyes Shisui gave you?"

He winced, his eyes closing and squeezing out a couple tears. Kyoko rose up on her knees and reached up. She brushed the tears away with her thumb. Itachi flinched back, eyes snapping open again. She dropped her hand. "Please."

He nodded, swallowing loudly. Red bled into his eyes, and the black in them molded to form tomoe that then twisted into blades.

Kyoko sat back with a shudder. "Thank you," she whispered. "They're beautiful."

His sharingan turned glassy, more tears escaping. "I'm sorry. I'm—"

"It's okay." She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. "Be quick."

His gaze hardened, and his mangekyo shifted to spin slowly. He lifted his tanto and touched the edge of the blade against her throat. "I'm sorry." He sliced deep.

She choked on the blood that flooded into her lungs. She fell, and Itachi followed, his hands grabbing at her. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

It's okay, she couldn't say. And I'm the one that should apologize for making you do this. Or I should have protected you better, even back when you were small and no one had hurt you yet.

"I'm sorry."

Kyoko blinked up at the ceiling. There were a lot of odd parts to that. Mostly, she didn't think she should be able to blink anymore.