Kisame popped the stiffness from his neck and grabbed his duffel from the conveyor luggage belt and glanced at his companion. Dark glasses hid his eyes, but his exhaustion was evident even with the orbs hidden from view. If he really wanted to, he could easily make a run for it and probably escape his escort. Not that he wanted to, but it was always an option.
His hands kneaded the muscles of his lower back before heaving a grumbling sigh. “Where to now?”
Ebisu ignored Kisame and marched determinedly from the terminal. His gait and speed bespoke his confidence Kisame was following him. And he was, but at a less rapid pace.
He was led to a garage and a waiting black SUV. He arched a brow at Ebisu. “Are you trying to pretend you’re a secret agent?”
Another man wearing equally dark glasses slid from the driver’s seat and walked forward. He extended his hand through his face remained blank. “My name is Shino Aburame. Ebisu works for me and I work for Mr. Uchiha.”
Kisame accepted the offered hand. “Kisame Hoshigaki. Is the secret agent gig necessary?”
“I don’t understand what you mean. Get in and I’ll take you to Mr. Uchiha,” stated Shino as he climbed back in. “And buckle up.”
Kisame was certain the man had no sense of humor. He had not cracked so much as a partial smile at the joke.
Shino’s hand ducked into his pocket and pressed a number on the phone before bringing it to his ear. “Sir, they just landed.”
There was a pause. “Yes, sir...I’ll bring him.”
“Was that Itachi?”
Shino removed the phone from his ear and pulled the SUV into drive. His eyes remained firmly focused on the road ahead of him as he guided the vehicle from the waiting garage. Ebisu sat calmly in the back and Kisame was sure the man was dozing behind his dark glasses.
“How long have you worked for Itachi?”
Shino never took his eyes from the road. “Two years.”
“Ah, you must be pretty good at tracking people down if Itachi calls on you a lot.”
“I found you, didn’t I?” smirked Shino in the first show of emotion since Kisame met him. “And it was obvious that you did not want to be found.”
“Touche.” Kisame chuckled and turned his gaze to the overcast sky. “So, where are we meeting Itachi?”
“The cemetery.”
***
Itachi leaned against the car, his body stiff and his eyes never leaving Naruto’s form as he stood before Sasuke’s grave. He refused to go any closer than the car, a cigarette dangling limply from his fingers. Smoking was a rare thing for Itachi, only when he was worried or stressed. Today he was both.
He kept his eyes hidden beneath dark glasses to hide the strain and sadness in their depths from any curious glances he might garner. At the sound of an approaching vehicle, he took a final drag of his cigarette before tossing it to the ground and stepping on it with the heel of a loafer.
Two men exited the SUV, one being Shino and the other a very familiar and brawny frame. He withdrew an envelope and tossed it to Shino without taking his gaze from Kisame. “It’s been a while.”
“You look good, Itachi.”
Itachi shifted his gaze towards the sky at the loud clap of thunder. “Thank you for coming.”
“Why don’t you tell me why you pulled me all the way back here.”
Itachi nodded towards Naruto’s now kneeling figure. “Him.”
“Who is it?” asked Kisame.
“His name is Naruto. He’s as precious to me as a brother so I expect you to treat him as such.” Itachi’s fingers itched to pull another cigarette from the pack hidden in his pocket.
“So, whose grave is he sitting by?”
Itachi’s mouth tightened and he turned from Kisame and moved towards the waiting car. “Sasuke’s.”
Kisame gave a small comforting grunt. “I’m sorry to hear about it, Itachi. I know what he meant to you.”
He moved to place a hand on Itachi’s shoulder only to have the body shift nimbly away from him. Even after so long, Itachi was easy to read. He did not want to be here, that much was obvious.
“Itachi--”
Itachi nodded towards Naruto. “You’re to guard him any time he leaves my house and once he’s physically able, you’re going to teach him self defense. I’d also like you to make sure he eats. He’s lost a lot of weight since it happened. Keep him alive and healthy.”
Kisame sighed and nodded. “We’re going to talk about this at some point.”
“Not if I can help it,” snapped Itachi as he snatched his pack of cigarettes from his pocket and shoved one into his mouth.
Shifting his gaze towards Naruto, Kisame moved through the tombstones to where Naruto leaned heavily on the tombstone bearing the name: Sasuke Uchiha. “Hey, runt. I’m your new bodyguard.”
Naruto looked from the tombstone to stare at the giant that had interrupted his time with Sasuke’s grave and glared. He was sure that he had never seen a man so tall before. He couldn’t protest being a called a runt, because when compared to him, it was true.
The man had a tan that put his to shame, the dark color reaching all over and for a moment Naruto had to wonder if the guy tanned naked. He shook his head, angry that he had such a thought had ran through his head.
“Really, I’m sure that Middle Earth wants their giants back.” He retorted before returning his attention back to the headstone. It wasn’t the best of comebacks, but he hadn’t slept well the night before and his mind was suffering from it. But he couldn’t help the nightmares that plagued him most nights.
He wouldn’t ask Itachi for help, the man had done so much for him already that he couldn’t possibly ask for more. And without a job right now, Naruto couldn’t live on his own if he wanted to. It was a sad existence and there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
“I just look like a giant because you’re a runt,” snorted Kisame.
Kisame moved to place a hand on the tombstone with a heavy sigh. “Damn shame,” he muttered under his breath.
His gaze shifted towards the sky at the loud crack of thunder. “Come on, runt. It’s going to be a deluge in a few minutes.”
Naruto looked up to the sky and noticed the darkening clouds, if he had his way, he would have stayed. He glowered as he stood, not bothering to dust the dirt from his pants as he followed the tall man back to the truck. He shivered as the rain started to fall and soak through his thin jacket.
“Itachi, I’ve got the runt.” Kisame pulled open the door of Itachi’s vehicle and ushered Naruto into the front, his large hand flattening against the small of Naruto’s back for support.
Itachi had since taken up residence in the vehicle at the first drop of the rain. “I’ve moved Naruto into my house. You’ll be staying there too for the duration of your duty.”
“Talking business already, Itachi?” joked Kisame as he settled in the rear of the vehicle. “You could wait until I’ve had some lunch.”
Itachi’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. “Do you have anything better to talk about?”
“Give me time,” chuckled Kisame. “What about you, runt? Anything interesting to talk about other than business?”
Grinning mischievously, Naruto gave Kisame a sinister look before answering, “yo mama.”
He caught a glimpse of Itachi’s amused smirk in the rearview mirror. And gave the tall man a smug smirk, knowing he had stepped on the other’s tail feathers from the way he bristled.
Kisame frowned slightly and reached forward to slap the back of Naruto’s head. “Mind your mouth when talking about my mother.”
The vehicle swerved slightly as a curious sound escaped Itachi. It started small but soon he was laughing quite loudly. His hands gripped the wheel so powerfully, his knuckles were bleached white.
“Well, my mother was quite dear to me. I take offense easily.”
“Mama’s boy,” muttered Itachi, not quite under his breath, causing Naruto to nearly double over in mirth.
“You’re a mama’s boy?” Naruto whispered then started to giggle, doubling over. “A tall motherfucker like you?”
He couldn’t contain it and let it flow, the first time he had laughed so freely in months. It felt good, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders as Kisame stared at him.
“What’s it to you if I am?” grumbled Kisame as he sat back with his arms folded across his massive chest. “Itachi, you remember her.”
Itachi chuckled lightly. “I do. She was something else.”
“She wanted me to become a doctor, not that it would ever happen.” Kisame ran a hand through his hair. “Though, I did put up a good act until the cancer got her. I’m grateful for you arranging her funeral and footing the bill, Itachi.”
The smile fell from Itachi’s face. “She was a nice lady and certainly did not deserve an ungrateful son like you.”
The shadow in Kisame’s eyes faded and he let a low chuckle rumble from his chest. “I think she hoped some of you would rub off on me.”
Itachi’s lips quirked in a smirk. “She had good tastes.”
Naruto felt lost in the conversation, as he listened to the two men converse. Feeling awkward, he brought his hand to his face and rested his head there while he looked out the window at the passing scenery. There was definitely something between these two, or at least there had been in the past.
Sighing lightly, he thought about the day he had moved in with Sasuke, it had been raining just like this and he was worried about his manga getting ruined. His boyfriend had reassured him that they would be fine. But Naruto couldn’t contain his worry and they had ended up having an argument. He had stomped away angry and had spent the night in the car, ignoring all of Sasuke’s calls.
It wasn’t until morning that he had realized that he wasn’t in his car but in a bed. Sasuke was sitting beside him, brushing his hair out of his face and smiling gently. Naruto had felt like such a child in that moment that he had apologized for seemed like hours.
It was also one of his favorite memories. The way Sasuke had looked at him, had told him that he was in it for forever. But, he hadn’t kept his promise, Sasuke had been ripped from him and there was no one to keep him warm at night.
“Wake up, runt.” Kisame poked Naruto’s shoulder. “You’re off in lala land. Itachi asked you a question.”
Kisame watched as large blue eyes blinked dumbly at him. He had never seen eyes so blue. They looked like the ocean he had seen when stationed in Hawaii for a year--shimmered like it as well. “Itachi asked you what you wanted for dinner. My vote is anything because I’m starved.”
“I should make you cook for us as well since your salary is quite generous for a body guard.”
A snort escaped Kisame’s lips. “You wanted the best, didn’t you? The best don’t come cheap.”
Itachi rolled his eyes as he pulled his vehicle into the drive, waiting several seconds for the gates to open. “Who said you’re the best?”
Kisame grinned widely. “You did when you tracked me down to hire me.”
His gaze drifted over the expanse of the manicured lawn dotted with various stone monuments and fountains. “I can’t believe you still live here.”
“It’s a family home,” commented Itachi dryly. “If I’d had my way, Sasuke would never have moved out.”
He didn’t say it, but the thought wormed its way into his mind. If Sasuke and Naruto had lived with him, perhaps they would not have been in the sights of the other vehicle. What ifs always played havoc on his mind. It was one reason why he brought Naruto home. He could not keep Sasuke safe, but he would do his best to do so for Naruto.
Naruto had been startled by Kisame being so close, the dark eyes boring into him. He let a small sigh of relief escape when the other pulled back and began to talk to Itachi again. He thought for a moment about what he wanted. If he had his way, he wouldn’t eat anything. But Naruto knew Itachi would shove food down his throat if he refused.
“Can we just have a simple Caesar salad tonight?” He asked softly as the vehicle rolled to a stop and the large house he and Sasuke had lived in for about a month came into full view.
“No wonder you’re a runt.” Kisame stepped from the vehicle and stared at the house. “And Itachi is a pompous ass for wanting to live in a place like this.”
He grabbed his duffle from the back and began walking towards the main house. “I’ll fix dinner.”
Itachi chuckled lightly. “Maybe I’ll get a chef after all.”
His eyes flickered to Naruto. “He likes you. That’s good. People he doesn’t like always end up in not so pleasant circumstances. It’s probably why he was discharged from the military. He’s always held his own idea of right and wrong, regardless of what the current policy is. And he can cook like a five star chef. I’m not going to force you to join us for dinner, but in the future, you should take care of your health. Sasuke wouldn’t like seeing you like this.”
Naruto narrowed his eyes at Kisame, tired of all the runt jokes he went up to the taller and tapped him mid-shoulder. The man turned around and pinned Naruto with a look that asked him what he wanted.
“Just to let you know, some of us didn’t have mothers when we were children and had to forage for food, asshole,” he snarled as he stalked off into the house. Itachi’s words danced around his brain, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He would slip into the kitchen later, knowing that the Uchiha would have a plate waiting for him.
In the kitchen, Kisame skillfully chopped vegetables for stirfry while Itachi sat at the island calmly sipping a glass of chilled wine. “Tell me about Naruto.”
Itachi shrugged his shoulders. “He’s not taken Sasuke’s death well. He used to be quite the firecracker.”
Kisame sent Itachi a deadpanned look. “You’re not taking it well either. I’ve known you for too long for you to hide from me.”
“It’s been three years, maybe I’ve changed.”
“Don’t bother bullshiting me, Itachi.” Kisame tossed the meat in the wok he pulled from one of the cabinets before adding the vegetables and white wine sauce. “You’re just as fucked up as him.”
Itachi’s eyes narrowed. “Naruto was with Sasuke for several years. A few weeks before he died, they told me of plans to adopt. Of course the wait would be a while, but they joked about having all the time in the world.”
“You don’t have to hide your tears from me,” said Kisame calmly. “I’m here if you need me.”
Itachi sighed heavily. “Why didn’t we work out?”
“As good as the sex was, you couldn’t give me what I wanted and I wasn’t what you needed.” Kisame shrugged his massive shoulders and settled a plate of food before Itachi. “So, I left. It was the best thing for both of us and with Mama gone, nothing was holding me here.”
“Naruto worries me,” whispered Itachi. “Sasuke’s death has destroyed him and I’m afraid--”
Kisame frowned as he settled across from Itachi. “Is he suicidal?”
Itachi sighed and shrugged. “I want to say no, but there are days when I don’t think he wants to kill himself, but I know he wants to die.”
“He’ll be alright. If he has something to focus on, it will take his mind off of Sasuke for a bit. And trust me, self defense is really going to keep his mind clear about anything but how fucking tired I’m going to make him.”
Itachi smiled faintly. “I hope you’re right.”
***
Naruto sighed as he flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as his thoughts whirled through his head. He still didn’t know what to make of Kisame. The man was massive, that was for sure, and he seemed to have some sort of street smart about him. But that could have happened in the military, and Naruto couldn’t bring himself to care.
He was lying to himself, but would never admit that. Rolling over, he turned the lamp on and pulled a book that Sasuke had been reading before his death from his duffle bag. He propped it open as he settled against the headboard of the bed and read.
As time went on, his eyes started to droop. It wasn’t that he was bored with the book, the activities of the day had caught up with him and he fell asleep with his head against the board, the book tightly clutched in his hands.
Naruto was sleeping so deeply, he didn’t hear the door crack open. Itachi stood silently at the foot of the bed, his gaze taking in the dark bags evident beneath Naruto’s eyes. He had initially come up to ask Naruto if he wanted some dinner, but instead found him asleep clutching a dog-eared book.
Slowly, he tugged the book from Naruto’s sleep-lax grip and turned it over to view the cover. It definitely did not seem the type of story Naruto would read. It was a cerebral novel like the sort Sasuke always kept on hand.
Itachi’s fingers tightened visibly on the cover when he realized it was one of Sasuke’s books. His grief was overshadowed by the knowledge of Naruto reading this simply because Sasuke had. From the shape of it, Naruto probably read it multiple times, his mind mentally caressing the same words Sasuke had while still alive.
The book fell lifelessly from Itachi’s fingers onto the bed. He backed slowly from the room and pressed fingers to his temples. Naruto should be improving on his grief, but instead he seemed more closely to regressing; though, Itachi was one to talk. He ignored his brother’s death, rigorously pushing it from his thoughts as if not thinking of it made it less true.
“Itachi?”
Itachi’s gaze jumped to Kisame. For a moment, he was tempted to invite him back to his bed in favor of using him to forget his grief. He quickly tamped down the urge and gestured to the room across from Naruto’s room. “Your room is there. I would appreciate if you would start working with Naruto as soon as possible.”
“Sure. Maybe the runt and I will go for a walk tomorrow.”
Itachi nodded. “Make sure you’re prepared if you leave the grounds.”
Kisame grinned broadly. “When am I not prepared?”
Itachi did not bother to even attempt a smile. His gaze shifted towards the hall and he began to make his way towards his waiting room. “I’ll be at the office all day tomorrow, but make yourself at home.”
“Good night, Itachi.”
***
The pain in his neck throbbed as Naruto woke, he pulled away from the headboard and winced as it spread through his shoulders. He couldn’t believe he had fallen asleep like that. It was then he noticed the book was gone from his hands. Panicking, he searched the bed for it and sighed in relief when he spotted it by his legs. Picking it up, he placed it back on the night stand.
He glanced at the time and noticed that it was around nine in the morning. That meant that Itachi had already left for the office and wouldn’t be around for a few hours. He would be left alone today and that was fine with him.
Scooting off the bed, he gathered his shower supplies and headed to the bathroom. So distracted by his thoughts, he didn’t notice the other body approaching and slammed into what felt like a brick wall. Large hands settled on his shoulders as he was steadied and Naruto looked up into amused brown eyes.
“Sleep well?” asked Kisame with a toothy grin. “I thought we should get you up and about after you have some breakfast. It will be good for you to move around, and you look a little pale. Itachi filled me in on your stay in the hospital. We’ll take it easy until you’re fully healed.”
Kisame could feel Naruto bristling and patted his head much like he would a dog. “I’ll start making breakfast while you shower. It will be ready in thirty minutes. It is the most important meal of the day after all.”
Naruto glared at the man. “Who are you to boss me?”
The words were said in anger and he didn’t regret them, at least not in that moment. He tried to brush past Kisame, but he was stopped by a hand across his chest. It was very similar to the beating he had received, and shuddered as he remembered the pain.
He lost all his bravado in that moment, angry at himself for losing his posture because of a dumb memory. Naruto tried to shake the hand from his shoulder, but it only tightened as he was held in place. Kisame was strong, Naruto would give the man credit for that, but it was only physical strength. Naruto would gauge his mental strength throughout the day, a plan already forming in his mind.
“Don’t be a brat. You’re not well, and I don’t just mean your mental state. I bet if I pulled your shirt off, I would be able to count your ribs. I’m not just your guard, I’m also here to take care of you physically.” Kisame tightened his fingers on Naruto’s shoulder before pulling away. “You’re killing yourself without even noticing. If you want to talk, I’m a good ear. I won’t judge you.”
Kisame eyed Naruto’s thin frame with a frown. “Damn, you’re a skinny one. I’ll make a southern breakfast for you. That should set you on the right track for gaining some weight.”
He grinned broadly at Naruto’s scowl. “I’ll see you in the kitchen in thirty minutes, runt.”
Naruto wanted nothing more than to wipe that grin off Kisame’s face, but settled for being a brat. He would show this giant just what he was capable of when he put his mind to it. The Terror of Konoha would rise again and come back better than before.
“I’ll get there when I get there. Guard or not, giant, I am still my own man.” Naruto hissed as his eyes narrowed. “And my problems are my own, I wouldn’t want to burden you anymore than you will be in the near future.”
Brushing past the taller man, Naruto didn’t even glance back as he entered the bathroom and slammed the door shut, the sound echoing throughout the hall. Leaning against the door, he smiled as he felt like his old self. He would show Kisame that he was a force to be reckoned and he would start with the man’s showering supplies. It wasn’t hard to determine what showering supplies were Kisame’s.
He dug in a cabinet under the sink until he pulled out the hair dye that had been left there some time ago during a prank he’d attempted and failed to perform on Itachi. He had shoved the dye under the sink and forgot about it until now. Naruto wasn’t sure if it would still work, but it was worth a try. Taking the Old Spice shampoo from the stall, he opened and carefully poured the pink dye in. He didn’t splash a single drop as he finished up. He shook the bottle for good measure and placed it back exactly where it had been. He disposed of the evidence where no one would find it and started getting ready.
After his bath, though he was loathe to head down to the kitchen where Kisame waited, his stomach demanded food. So he made his way down to the kitchen where the smell of eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits wafted through the air.
Kisame turned from the stove upon seeing Naruto step into the room. He immediately placed several large dishes filled with a variety of food on the island where two clean plates and silverware waited. “Just in time, runt. Eat up. I’m going to start working on your endurance today. Nothing strenuous since you’re still healing.”
Kisame pulled out a pad and pen before taking a seat across from Naruto. He piled food into his plate and began jotting down equipment he would have Itachi purchase. If he was going to get paid his obscene salary, he would make sure the job was done properly.
Naruto couldn’t resist the food that was laid out before him. The smell was just enticing as he lightly loaded his plate up. He eyed the older suspiciously, no one should be able to cook food this good unless they went to university or something.
“Where’d you learn to cook?” He asked curiously, eyeing the taller man as he took a bite of eggs.
Instantly flavor exploded in his mouth, he could taste cheddar cheese, garlic and other spices he couldn’t quite name. The taste was so good that he was sure that the man had made a deal with the devil to make food on this level.
“My mother.” Kisame set aside his pen. “Well, she taught me the basics. Hanging around Itachi for so long in our youth, I developed a bit of an addiction for good food. I knew I couldn’t depend on Itachi for good food so I took a few cooking lessons on the side and started buying a lot of cookbooks. I’ve improved quite a bit since Itachi last saw me. He made sure to tell me that I have a job as his chef once my job with you is finished.”
Kisame barked out a laugh. “I’ll teach you some techniques if you like. Good food always makes things feel better, even if only for a while.”
“Maybe,” Naruto answered as he thought it over. All kinds of pranks ran through his head at such an opportunity. The chaos that would ensue would certainly be worth it. “So tell me, have you and Itachi fucked?”
The question was to the point and Naruto felt no shame in asking it since it had been torturing his mind since the day before. Sasuke had been correct in the fact that he had no tact and was blunt to the point of being cruel. But one didn’t grow up on the streets with a sense of innocence. All that was washed away within a day.
He stuffed some more food into his mouth as he waited for a reply, his legs swinging from the bar stool as he gave Kisame a look that clearly said ‘get on with it already.’
Kisame eyed Naruto. It really wasn’t his place to discuss his previous relationship with Itachi, but if it got Naruto to open up, Itachi would forgive him.
“When we were younger, but not in several years. We both moved on with our lives in separate directions.” Kisame spooned some more eggs onto Naruto’s plate and then his own. “It was a mutual separation. I don’t regret it and I doubt he does or I would be the last person he called. Itachi is the type of person, if he doesn’t like you, he really doesn’t like you.”
“Ah,” Naruto answered lamely as he glared at the eggs. “I don’t think I can eat those.”
His tone was that of a petulant child as he gauged Kisame’s reaction. He was telling the truth, his stomach was already at the point where if he ate anymore he would puke it back up. He pushed them around with look while he ignored the pointed look directed at him.
“So what’s on the agenda? What am I being forced into?” He knew that whatever would come out of Kisame’s mouth he would dislike, so he only half listened the response.
“Today, just a little walk. Once your body is ready, we’ll get more intense with actual training--general self-defense and then some eastern skills.” Kisame cocked his head slightly. “Possibly karate or jujutsu. I’ll wait and see how you take to it. I might throw in some kickboxing for the sake of exercise. Punching and kicking is a good way to burn off excess frustrations. It will probably help your mind as well as your body.”
Kisame’s smile widened into a grin. “I’m sure you will hate me more than you already do when we get into the good stuff, but not getting your ass kicked regularly will be thanks enough. You’re too good looking to wear bruises. It’s time for you to stop being a victim.”
Naruto blushed at the good looking comment, no one had ever told him that besides Sasuke. And he felt his heart grow heavy again. His lover would be disappointed in him right now, with how he was treating himself and how he moped around.
But he couldn’t help it, he was still convinced that he was the one who should have died in the accident. Naruto had been the only one who had sustained heavy injuries, while Sasuke only took a blow to the head. He didn’t really understand all the medical talk surrounding the head injury, only that it was enough to kill Sasuke.
“Does it get better, Kisame?” He whispered, rubbing at his chest. “Does the guilt ever go away?”
“Not if you don’t let it.” Kisame sat back with a frown. “You just have to grow stronger and realize that just because the ones you love aren’t with you physically, doesn’t mean they are completely gone. At least you show your grief. That’s a step in the right direction.”
Thinking of Itachi frustrated Kisame. His old friend was drowning in his grief, but refused to even admit to it. It was obvious to anyone who knew what to look for that Itachi Uchiha was just as fucked up as Naruto, he simply did not show it. For now, Kisame would help Itachi by helping Naruto. Perhaps then both of them could move on.
“If you’re finished, let’s take that walk.”
Naruto slipped Kisame his plate and watched as the large man scraped his uneaten food into the trash bin and place it in the dishwasher. Naruto moved from the table and grabbed his trainers that were by the door. They were old and worn out, the sole coming out of the left one. He hadn’t thought to bought new ones, his funds were low and he had to save every penny he could.
He could feel Kisame’s calculating gaze on his dirty sneakers, but Naruto ignored him as he tied his shoes, taking at least five minutes to complete the task. He could have tied them faster, but he wanted to test the man’s patience and see just how much it would take to rile the other up.
He stood a little too quickly and his head swam, he started to teeter just a little, strong hands steadied him and Naruto smiled slightly.
“I’m okay, I just stood up a bit too fast.” He said as the hands stayed on his shoulders, their warmth sinking into him.
“You’re in poor shape, runt. We’re going to have to fix that. I think part of it is your weight. The first order of business is to put some weight on you. You could carry another twenty or thirty pounds easily.” Kisame matched Naruto’s pace as they exited the house.
Even in the baggy clothes, it wasn’t hard to see Naruto’s slender frame. While it was true he was built to be lean, he was leaving lean and bordering on gaunt. Such a state would not do in Kisame’s mind.
Kisame watched his companion carefully. As soon as his stride began to flag, Kisame stopped. They had barely made it to the end of the long drive. Part of Naruto’s stamina was his injuries, but the majority of his quick tiring was his malnourished state, something Kisame vowed to work on immediately.
“Itachi tells me you and Sasuke were together for a while before his death. Why don’t you tell me about him? I don’t remember much about the kid. I hung around with Itachi during a time when he was not on good terms with his family and spent as little time there as possible.”
Naruto didn’t want to answer, it hurt to think of all the good times they had shared. But he found himself opening his mouth anyway. He started off with how he had first met Sasuke in middle school, when they were just thirteen.
“We didn’t like each other, to be honest,” he said, his blue eyes lighting up as he thought about Sasuke. “We fought like cats and dogs, had detention all the time because of it. He missed his clubs because of it and I was kicked off the basketball team. I hated him for it, because basketball was the only thing I liked back then. Practice kept me out of the orphanage and out of trouble for the most part.”
He blew a piece of hair out of his face and noticed that it was getting long again. He doubted he would cut it any time soon, he liked it shaggy. He turned to Kisame and noticed that the man was actually paying attention. Everyone always tiptoed around the subject of Sasuke, always saying he didn’t have to talk about him. But Naruto felt that he was keeping a part of his lover alive.
“So, I got fed up with him, that had been the last straw. I was cornering him in the classroom after class and tripped on my own feet,” Naruto smiled fondly at the memory. “We ended up in an accidental kiss. We were so shocked that we didn’t talk to each other for weeks. But he approached me one day, pulled me into a kiss and told me that I was his. I accepted.”
Kisame snorted and folded his arms across his chest. “That sounds like what an Uchiha would do. Arrogant bastards, the lot of them.”
Naruto’s eyes grew wide. “Itachi might find out you said that.”
“Do I look like someone who cares? Itachi is a good man and has had a rough life at times. He knows I respect him, and he also knows he’s an arrogant son of a bitch. It’s just the way they are. Must be a genetic thing or something.”
Kisame noticed Naruto’s flagging energy and steered him around back towards the house. “You’re getting tired. Why don’t you head inside.”
“What about you?”
Kisame began stretch his muscles, the slow walk had done little to warm up his muscles. During the last few months, exercising was difficult to fit in his schedule between sleeping and his two minimum wage jobs. It was hard to believe there was no work for someone who had spent the better part of his adult life serving in the military. Working for Itachi would allow him to get his body back into shape while protecting Naruto.
“I’m going to take a jog around the property. Itachi promised me anything I needed, so I’m going to get some weights and punching bags once you’re at a point to use them. I don’t want you to start off too hard. First thing for you is to build up your muscles and stamina. Then, we’ll get into some weight training.”
“Okay, I’ll probably just watch T.V. or something.” Naruto said as he took a shaky step to head back to the house. His foot faulted as it hit the ground and he stumbled forward, he closed his eyes expecting to hit the ground, but once again strong arms caught him and held him up.
It seemed that every time he was around Kisame, something would happen that the other would have to catch him. It irritated Naruto and he pushed himself away from the larger body, glaring at Kisame as he started once again for the house, but all the energy drained from his body from the short walk and he collapsed to the ground.
Angry at himself, the universe, everything in his life, Naruto pounded his fists into the dirt, cursing. He couldn’t stop himself as the rage flowed through his veins and fueled his fists. Angry tears stung at his eyes to the point where he couldn’t see anymore. Finally, he exhausted himself out and just sat there, staring blankly at the ground.
Kisame sighed at the stubbornness in Naruto. “Stubborn runt,” he mumbled and moved to wrap his arms beneath Naruto’s elbows.
With a slight heft, he tugged Naruto unsteadily to his feet and the scooped his arms beneath his knees to carry him bridal style towards the house. He could feel the anger, frustration, and embarrassment working through the slight body cradled against his chest.
“You’re as bad as an Uchiha. It’s alright to ask for help sometimes.”
He carried the silent Naruto into the den where a television and several couches were arranged. He left Naruto sitting on a sofa and moved to the kitchen to grab a soda. “Drink this.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be jogging?”
Kisame shook his head. “I’m not sure I should leave you now.”
“Jeez, I’m fine. Just go.”
Kisame sighed and nodded. “I won’t be gone long. Don’t do anything stupid.”
With those words, he left for his jog, leaving Naruto sitting on the sofa.
Naruto scowled as he watched Kisame leave, not happy that the large man could carry him so easily and that he hadn’t used the perfect opportunity to prank the other man. It would be a loss he would mourn for a bit. He snagged the remote up from the couch and turned on the large flat screen. He channeled surfed while he sipped his soda, it was a Coke Zero, the only soda that Itachi ever kept in the house.
He set the can on the stand beside the couch and curled up on the couch. He watched whatever was on the T.V., not really paying attention as his eyes began to drift. Naruto couldn’t shake the sleep off any longer and fell into a deep slumber in the warm sunlight.
***
Outside, Kisame used his jog as an opportunity to explore the grounds. It was more extensive than one might think, extending outward into wooded areas. There was even a small fishing pond located further inward that Kisame knew for a fact was kept stocked with fish even if Itachi wasn’t keen on fishing. The entire property was enclosed with gates and fences. Uchihas tended to be very private individuals and protective of what they considered theirs.
He paused for a moment by the pond. Maybe he would bring Naruto fishing. There was no relaxing activity quite like fishing. Even if not even a single fish was caught, the peaceful sense created was satisfying enough. Maybe when Naruto was a bit healthier, they would make the trek down to the pond.
Continuing on his jog, he was covered in sweat by the time he reached the main house. His shirt was plastered to his body and his hair dripping droplets with each movement. “Damn, I’m more out of shape than I thought if that little run kicked my ass.”
He paused on his way towards the waiting shower to check on Naruto. He was right where he left him, sleeping soundly. Kisame left him where he was, knowing he could use the rest while his body healed itself.
Sweat soaked clothes were shed and he stepped into the shower. The temperature created steam in the room, making it difficult to see. He lathered soap into his hair before reaching blindly for the body wash and liberally coating his bathing sponge with the suds. Closing his eyes, he began scrubbing his body while allowing the water to loosen his muscles. The slight soreness he would have tomorrow would be worth it.
He was so relaxed as he ducked his head under the spray, he didn’t notice the pink hue of the suds working down his body. His fingers furrowed through the strands to ensure all the soap was gone. It had been a while since he had taken this much time in a shower.
Popping his neck, he slowly cracked open his eyes and scanned down his body to ensure he was free of suds when the color staining the white tiles glared back at him. His eyes moved over his body widening at the pinkish hue his skin had taken. “Oh fuck, no.”
He ducked his head under the shower and began scrubbing at the locks. He lifted his bottle of shampoo/body wash to his nose and sniffed. The heavy fragrance all but masked the distinctive odor of dye. “Mother fucker.”
Kisame stumbled from the shower and stared at his reflection. While his hair wasn’t a neon pink since he thankfully wasn’t a blond, there was a definite undertone of color, not to mention his body was stained with the dye as well. His eye twitched and his fingers clenched on the sink. Itachi wouldn’t dare; it wasn’t his style. That left only one person.
He tugged on a pair of clean pants, foregoing the shirt and stomped down the stairs. His only consolation was he knew Naruto couldn’t outrun him. “Naruto,” he snapped at the couch where the current bane of his existence was still snoozing. “Get up, you little shit.”
Jerked from his sleep, Naruto sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He blinked up at Kisame and busted out with laughter, the sound was truly happy. It was the second true laugh that escaped his lips in the past few days. He doubled over on the couch, clutching his stomach as he continued to laugh.
“I’m...not sorry,” he said between laughing fits. The picture of a large man such as Kisame with slight pink hair was enough to keep him entertained for months. When the laughter finally died down, he peeped open a blue eye and smiled at a furious Kisame.
The wide grin on Naruto’s face was the only thing that kept Kisame from throwing him over his knee and spanking him. Other than the occasional outburst, he had not seen Naruto do much but mope around. Still, he had ruined a perfectly good bottle of soap.
“You’re lucky I don’t beat up invalids, because you’re this close to getting an ass whooping.” Kisame displayed two fingers to show how close Naruto came to getting punished.
Kisame’s eye twitched faintly at the widening grin on Naruto’s face. It almost made a liar out of him as the temptation to give the runt a spanking rose again in his chest. Clenching his fist was the only thing he could do to restrain himself.
He turned on his heels and stalked towards Itachi’s portion of the house to steal some soap. He would likely be scrubbing his skin raw in the shower to get the remainder of color from his skin. His hair was another story and would likely carry pinkish highlights for several days even with multiple washings. Revenge would be sweet when he was working Naruto into the ground in his boot campesque training.
Naruto sat up and wiped the tears from his eyes. He couldn’t believe how good laughing at Kisame had helped. He knew that it would be hard to top this prank, but he would find something. The expression on the ex military man’s face was priceless and it had burned itself into Naruto’s mind.
But there was a nagging little voice in the back of his head telling him that what he had done was shameful since Kisame hadn’t judged him yet and had carried him back to the house. Maybe he should apologize, but he shook that thought from his head. It was too much fun messing with Kisame and Naruto wouldn’t stop.
