Black Swan (not at all connected to the movie)

krito1389: I’m already working on a Sasuke/Kakashi were Kakashi did have a sexual relationship with Itachi in the past. Sasuke didn’t take the news well. That’s a work in progress.

Sorry for how long it's suddenly taking me to put out any updates, but I'm working on so many stories now and I'm in the midst of a rewrite of my novel, very busy.

----------

Kakashi carried Sasuke to his bedroll before waking Sakura. He told her about the report Sasuke received and bedded down too. Naruto was loudly enthused at the news they found someone when Sakura woke him. Sasuke rolled over and gave Naruto his scariest ‘how dare you wake me’ face. But they were up, so they stayed up.

Sasuke packed and ate quickly then dropped behind Kakashi and leaned and against his back to nap while the rest of the team finished eating. They were all shocked at Sasuke’s actions, but none more than Kakashi; it was the most public display of some kind of relationship Sasuke had yet made. The fact Sasuke was never known as a morning person made it less shocking and it was quickly forgotten. Except by the one who felt the Uchiha’s head snuggling into his back.

-----

They moved out again to find the other two. Sasuke suggested they go near the coast to find Suigetsu, closer to his homeland and it was closer to the Land of Grass where Karin was likely to be.

During the night, Itachi reported that Juugo didn’t know where the others were and he was happy in Lightning Country. Sasuke took that to mean, ‘Leave me alone.’ That did nothing for his mood.

They searched for another week and then their time was up. Disheartened, Sasuke just wanted to go home.

They arrived in Konoha in the early evening and reported to the Hokage. Afterward Sasuke wanted to go straight home while Naruto wanted to eat out. Sasuke shrugged him off and went home. Kakashi felt like he should treat the rest of the team to a meal so Sasuke went home alone.

Kakashi came home to find Sasuke in his own room. He let him sleep and spent the night alone.

-----

Sasuke wouldn’t talk about their failed mission. He was a little down, but it wasn’t a great difference from normal as far as Naruto and the rest of the village was concerned. But not to Kakashi. They made love twice in the two weeks and Sasuke often slept in Kakashi’s bed, but just to sleep. They did not have a another dom/sub session since the first. Sasuke was open to affection, but he had otherwise closed off again.

Summer was late, but came upon them like a juggernaut, as if to make up for lost time; the temperature rose noticeably day by day. Yet, even as the days and nights got warmer, Sasuke still joined Kakashi more nights out of the week than he spent in his own room. But Sasuke’s silence was worrying his lover and captain.

“Sasuke, I like it when you talk to me,” Kakashi whispered against his neck as he cuddled him. “You’ve barely said a word since we came back from the mission to find your team. Why are you so depressed? Is it because we failed to find all three?”

“Karin is crafty and a very strong woman, she had to be in order to survive in Orochimaru’s world and to be the warden of one of his prisons. She will do fine. Suigetsu never needed help except to be released from the tank Orochimaru captured him in. But Juugo needed me. Now he doesn’t. If he doesn’t need me, the others don’t. Any of them could find me if they wanted to. They just don’t want to. I’ve lost them.”

Kakashi gave a soft chuckle. Sasuke knew better than to get overly angry, but his aura was most definitely angry.

“You’ve never really needed anyone since you were a kid,” Kakashi said. “You’ve either been a loner or a leader. With us, you were a loner, and with Orochimaru as well I would think. You didn’t really depend on Orochimaru, did you? You just let him instruct you. I can image you barely tolerating his instruction. Am I right?”

“Ah.”

“You were a loner who needed no one and then you built your own team. For the first time you understood dependence. People needed you. Now they don’t. It’s like ‘empty nest syndrome,’ when children no longer need their parents and leave them. We Jounin with genin teams go through it too. I did when I lost the three of you.”

Sasuke was obviously deep in thought even though Kakashi couldn’t see anything but his hair.

“Just before the Chunin exams,” Sasuke said, “you chose to train me and palmed Naruto off and he ended up being trained by Jiraiya. Sakura was knowledgeable, but you and I both knew she was never going to be a skilled fighter. She should have been pegged as a medical-nin while she was still in the academy. I was the one, in your view, who needed you. You fought far more to keep me than them, right?” Kakashi didn’t say anything. “You almost convinced me that night. If Orochimaru’s men hadn’t found me where you left me, I might have taken your advice. You confided in me in order to keep me. I’m sorry I left you. I was an impulsive child. I am sorry; but I can’t fully regret it.”

The arms around him grew tighter. Sasuke felt Kakashi pressing his forehead against the back of his head. Sasuke put his arm over Kakashi’s.

“You didn’t need anyone either, did you? You were a loner like me.”

Kakashi didn’t respond.

“I regretted leaving you and Naruto. Everything, everyone else was expendable. And I’m sorry for everything I said the first time we saw each other again, though I meant everything at the time.”

“If Naruto hadn’t stopped me,” Kakashi said in a small voice under extreme control, “if I had killed you, I don’t think I would have survived a week. I’ve always loved you. You were the son I would never have.”

Sasuke pulled himself out of Kakashi’s grip. “Turn around.” He only turned over once Kakashi was on his other side. It was Sasuke turn to spoon his older lover and comfort him.

“I’ve always loved you. As long as I was in my right mind. I won’t leave you again. Not voluntarily at least.”

But I’ll always love my brother more. But Kakashi didn’t need to hear that. Especially right now.

-----

Kakashi remembered that day in the snow when his heart broke.

“She means to kill him herself.”

His own words threatened to break his heart. Sakura loved Sasuke almost as much as he did. His feelings were more paternal, but they were stronger in his opinion. As Sai talked about Sakura wanting to kill the one she loved in order to save him, Kakashi wondered if he could, should, do the same. What should he do? Save Sasuke by killing him? Perhaps Sakura and Sai had a point. Kakashi wanted to rip out his own heart; he couldn’t afford to feel this way; he couldn’t afford the turmoil in his chest.

As he continued after Sakura after finding her comrades passed out, he finally saw Sasuke for the first time in four years. Sasuke was behind Sakura, his own Chidori flickering around the hand aimed at her back.

Kakashi flew in and grabbed Sasuke’s wrist, diverting him from Sakura. He really meant to kill her. Sasuke looked at him without any added emotion. His gaze was the same no matter where he looked: a glare of complete disregard. The heart that was cracking before, split apart.

“You’ve fallen, Sasuke.”

Sasuke kicked at him, but Kakashi dodged it and broke away.

“Heh, one after another,” Sasuke said.

“Sakura . . . were you going to kill Sasuke on your own?”

Sakura would not answer him.

Kakashi inwardly sighed. “There’s no need for you take that burden on yourself. As the leader of Team 7, it’s my fault this happened. Sakura, I said things I shouldn’t have to try and reassure you. Maybe I was just trying to reassure myself. Sorry, I haven’t been a very good sensei.”

“That’s not true.”

“Sasuke. I don’t like saying the same thing over and over, but I will tell you one more time, don’t become consumed by revenge!”

Sasuke laughed hysterically. “Bring me Itachi and my mother and father! Bring me my clan! Then I will stop!” His mirth had become rage.

“I don’t want to kill you,” Kakashi said.

“You say it like you actually could! Don’t act like I’m still you student. I’ve been dying to kill you, Kakashi.”

This is what Madara had done to him?

Kakashi ordered Sakura to save Karin and take her out of there. At least she would be able to take information back to the village. Kakashi would not be following. He would die instead of Sasuke, with Sasuke, or . . .

Sakura began to argue.

Kakashi smiled as a man who was at finally at peace with what he was about to do, at peace with the fact he was going to die. One way or the other. “I will take the burden from you. It’s my duty. Go on, Sakura, hurry.” I don’t want you to see either of us die.

Kakashi raised his headband. “No matter how far Orochimaru fell, he still loved him. Now I know how Sandaime felt.”

“Then I guess your fate will be the same as his,” Sasuke sneered.

Kakashi would have shed a tear if it wasn’t for the years of discipline and training. He checked Sakura’s position.

He looked back at Sasuke and opened his left eye. He saw rage boiling up in Sasuke. “The Sharingan is the sign of the Uchiha clan and you aren’t even Uchiha, so you don’t ever use it around me, you scum!” Sasuke attacked. The water around Kakashi shot up like a geyser.

Sasuke was actually surprised to see Kakashi standing as the water fell away. Kakashi met his eyes. He looked up at the dark blue spectral figure grown up around Sasuke. “Is that Susano?”

“I never imaged that a non-Uchiha would be able to use the Mangekyo. Looks like that eye saved you. You should be grateful to the power of the Uchiha.” Every word of Sasuke’s scorn was like another stab wound to an already shattered heart.

“Sasuke. I know there’s more to you than just your clan. I know there’s more than hatred. Take another look, deep inside your heart.” Please.

“Are you still spouting that nonsense?”Sasuke smirked

“I know you know.”

Sasuke’s smirk vanished. “They’re all laughing. Itachi is dead so they can stand there laughing! They’re laughing because they know nothing!” Susano grew even more, sheathed in another layer of armor as rage poured off the boy he loved. Loved. The boy I knew is gone.

“Your laughter sounds like scorn and distain to me now! I want to change that laughter to scream and moans!” The chakra flowing from Sasuke was growing colder and more dangerous.

Kakashi’s heart bled for him. He understood. He painfully understood Sasuke’s rage and grief.

Sasano wavered and began to retreat. What?!

Sasuke grabbed his head and cursed. He looked up and his vision wavered. Behind him, Kakashi saw Sakura appear on the underside of the arch.

Sakura! What are you doing?! Stay out of this!

Sakura’s kunai stopped a hair’s breadth from Sasuke’s back. She couldn’t do it. Sasuke didn’t hesitate. He turned and grabbed her throat. Kakashi tried to run to her defense, but the affect of the Mangekyo on his body nearly felled him. Sasuke took her kunai from her hand and moved to kill her.

“Stop! Sasuke!” Kakashi was running toward them, but he wouldn’t make it in time. In that moment, he realized that some part of him would rather Sakura die than Sasuke. He knew Sakura was the one who deserved to live, but he wasn’t attacking, he was just trying to save her. He could have sent a Chidori Hound at them in the blink of an eye; it would hit Sakura, but it would merely injure them both and neither would die. But he had subconsciously chosen Sakura to die. Sasuke was going to kill her.

But Sakura was suddenly gone.

Naruto?! He had swooped in and taken her.

Kakashi was still in full sprint and he followed through with a punch, a punch Sasuke was able to block. It sent him into the wall, which he pushed off of to land far opposite his old team.

As Sasuke continued to talk about his revenge, Kakashi realized that history had made Sasuke into this. Sasuke was dead already. Now he tried to remember what Sasuke had been, what Kakashi had loved. He couldn’t see him anymore. Had Sasuke always been nothing more than an instrument of hatred and revenge, the one fate had chosen to bare the hatred of his ancestors? What had he loved? He loved that in Sasuke that reflected his own childhood. He pitied Sasuke more than he loved him. Perhaps it was all for the best.

Naruto made a shadow clone. Kakashi stepped in front of him. “This is my job. Naruto, Sakura, you two get out of here.”

“Kakashi-sensei, but—” Sakura tried to argue.

“If you stay, you’ll see something you don’t want to. Get out of here while you can!”

“I—”

“Sasuke won’t die from your poisoned kunai; he’s resistant thanks to Orochimaru. And . . you know how you feel, don’t you?”

“Kakashi-sensei, does that mean you’re going to kill him?” Naruto demanded.

Kill Sasuke. At least it would end the pain festering in Sasuke’s heart. At least Kakashi promised himself he wouldn’t feel the pain of Sasuke’s death for long; he never wanted to be Hokage anyway. Later, Kakashi was surprised when Naruto declared that he and Sasuke would die together, just what Kakashi had thought about he and Sasuke. Naruto had stopped him and Sasuke got away.

Months later, when Sasuke came home, Kakashi couldn’t believe it. It did seem to hurt Sasuke when he first came back and not even Kakashi would believe in him, but it also hurt Kakashi that he couldn’t believe in his precious former student.

But none of that mattered now. Sasuke was a warm heavy presence against him even in his sleep. Sasuke was here. He was alive and he was here. The boy he once loved as a son was gone. But the young man he loved as a lover was very much with him. And loved him back.

Sleep was comforting and dreamless after that.

-----

Kakashi had rolled a little further onto his stomach by morning and now Sasuke was practically lying on top of him. He pealed himself off Kakashi and slipped out of bed. He snarled at the mere fact he was awake. He had to go to his own room to grab a robe. It was a cool morning belying the heat of the coming day.

Kakashi woke remembering the night before. He didn’t weep often and couldn’t even admit that he had to Sasuke. Though he knew he had suppressed the sounds of his tears, Sasuke showed he was aware of them, but he’d not acknowledged them.

He turned to look at Sasuke, but found him gone. He got up and put on his robe to find him. He shouldn’t have been afraid of not finding him, but he felt a thrill of panic. He was enormously relieved to see Sasuke making breakfast dressed in his thin black robe. He really couldn’t lose him again, not after last night.

Sasuke finished plating two plates, aware that Kakashi had joined him. He was about to pick the plates up to put on the table when Kakashi grabbed him and pushed him down into his chair. Sasuke was surprised, but even more so when Kakashi knelt down, wrapped his arms around his hips, and put his head in his lap. And not in a sexual way.

Sasuke petted his hair and smiled fondly down at him.

“I love you,” Sasuke said.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you again.”

Sasuke’s expression fell slightly; he felt guilty, aware what pain he’d caused his Team during the last four years. Considering Sasuke had started this relationship, Kakashi had really fallen for him. That brought his smile back. Sasuke bent down over him, barely able to lay his forehead on Kakashi’s back due to his head being in the way.

“I wish I could reassure you, but I can’t guarantee I won’t die.”

“Just promise not to leave.”

“I promise.”

After another half minute, “The breakfast you made is probably getting cold.”

Sasuke straightened. Kakashi got up and fetched their plates.

Kakashi sat down, but they both avoided each other’s eyes; having such an emotional conversation the night before and their display of affection made it a slightly awkward meal.

Kakashi looked out the window. The sky was blazingly clear even so early. It would be a hot day. What day was it? Kakashi rarely kept track of the actual day. July. July? Sasuke’s birthday was approaching. He’ll be seventeen. He couldn’t help thinking how miserable it must have been for his mother to be pregnant and give birth during the hottest time of the year. He wondered if that had any bearing on Sasuke’s constantly annoyed attitude.

“Mission today?” Sasuke broke in on his thoughts.

“Yeah. It’ll be a weeklong mission no doubt.”

“A week?”

“Probably. It’s some distance away.”

Sasuke hummed. “I’ll take a shower.”

Kakashi wondered if he wanted to be away from the village during his birthday. He didn’t like attention and hated it when their team celebrated his birthday four years ago. Amused, Kakashi formed a plan.

-----

A B rank mission on the extreme southern border of the Fire Country; it took nearly two days just to get there, but they were home in a week.

Kakashi hung back with Sasuke as they approached the village, letting Naruto and Sakura walk in the lead. It gave him the opportunity to caress Sasuke’s hair, combing it with his fingers to flow back and up even more perfectly. Sasuke let him touch him without even an annoyed look or stiffening up. Once, Naruto looked back at them and Kakashi mimed pulling a leaf from Sasuke’s hair and Sasuke turned his head to frown at him. Everything looked perfectly normal. Once Naruto turned away, Kakashi continued with his grooming. Kakashi left off when they were too close to the village gates.

They made their report. Sasuke didn’t take notice of any of them as they left the Hokage tower and he headed in the direction of his and Kakashi’s home. Kakashi followed Sasuke while Naruto followed Sakura.

“Come on, Sakura-chan,” Naruto whined, “have dinner with me.”

“You paying?”

Naruto panicked, not sure if he had enough money after all, and checked his wallet as Sakura continued to walk away. “What’s this?”

Sakura turned to look at the tone of Naruto’s voice. He pulled a piece of paper from his wallet and opened it.

“From Kakashi?”

Sakura started checking her own things and found a note in her wallet too. “When did he—?” She read the note out loud.

“’You probably remember that Sasuke’s birthday—his first since returning to us—is in two days. However, he’s smart enough to expect an ambush, so I’ve made reservations at his favorite restaurant tomorrow afternoon. Instead of training, we’ll meet there for a surprise party. Invite anyone you think would like to come and who Sasuke doesn’t loathe. Short list. Please bring gifts. (Would be embarrassing if I was the only one) Remember, it’s a SURPRISE party. Not a word to Sasuke.’”

“Awesome!” Naruto said. “Sasuke won’t like it though. But that makes it even better!”

Sakura smiled. “Did you buy anything for Sasuke yet?”

Naruto looked nervous. “Ahh . . .”

“You forgot, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t even think about it.”

“Well, then let’s go shopping and find something for him.”

“Wait. You didn’t get anything for him either, did you?”

“Well, I didn’t think he’d want anything, so . . . Anyway, let’s go and we can go around and invite all our friends!”

-----

Sasuke woke in his own bed. He still loathed Kakashi’s teasing and as punishment wouldn’t come to his bed. Last night it was about his height and Kakashi’s suggestions as to how make him grow faster during his last growth spurt. Sasuke did have to admit the one about stretching his spine by hanging from the ceiling might help. Nevertheless, Sasuke spent the night in his own room.

Kakashi acted normally that morning. Sasuke watched him to see if he knew tomorrow was his birthday and if he was planning anything. He saw no sign.

But Kakashi was rather affectionate; he wouldn’t keep his hands to himself as the morning wore on. Sasuke gave in and indulged him in long kisses as Kakashi’s hands explored every inch of his body. Sasuke finally broke away to make lunch, but Kakashi grabbed him and sat him up on the table.

“What are you doing?”

Kakashi just crouched and opened Sasuke’s loosened pants and took him into his mouth before Sasuke could object. Sasuke leaned back on his hands. Rather than argue, Sasuke brought up his knees and braced his heels on the tabletop.

Kakashi slid his rough tongue up and down the underside of his cock, sucking gently at the same time, then deepthroated him, swallowing to convulse his throat around the head. Sasuke started growling. Kakashi backed off to concentrate on the head, stabbing the slit with the tip of his tongue. Sasuke shifted his weight to lean on only one hand, the other going to Kakashi’s head, trying to force him down again. But Kakashi kept his own pace.

Kakashi rubbed at Sasuke’s perineum, caressing his scrotum at the same time. He used his other hand to pull down his own pants to pleasure himself as well; they didn’t have time for remuneration.

Sasuke’s abdomen tensed up when Kakashi began humming, vibrating his lips that were tight around his girth.

“Kakashi, I’m . . .”

Kakashi slowed down on Sasuke and sped up on himself. Once he got close enough, he sucked harder on Sasuke’s erection and cam into his own hand. Sasuke let loose in Kakashi’s waiting mouth. Maybe because it was the middle of the day or because they weren’t in the bedroom, Sasuke suppressed his cry, giving only a deep moan.

Sasuke sagged back and caught his breath. “Damn it, Kakashi, now we don’t have enough time to eat.”

Kakashi stood up, making of show of enjoying Sasuke’s load. Sasuke blushed slightly. Kakashi pulled up his pants with his clean hand and sat down. He pulled Sasuke up and onto his lap, back to front.

“You can eat this,” he said as he offered his soiled hand. Sasuke looked at it for a moment before giving in, closing his eyes, and licking up his lover’s mess. Kakashi watched him intently as he licked up every drop.

“Damn, you’re so sexy,” Kakashi whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

“And hungry,” Sasuke said without a hint of flirtation in his voice. “We got to clean up and go.”

Kakashi kissed him and let him go.

Sasuke continued to suspect nothing about his birthday as Kakashi sent him ahead to the training grounds. Kakashi took his normal detour, the reason for which he had already confided to Sasuke.

Sasuke was alone; Naruto and Sakura absent. Finally, Kakashi showed up.

“Oh, I’m early.”

“No, you’re totally late,” Sasuke said, sincerely irritated to be standing here alone. “They just aren’t here.”

“Oh, well, maybe they forgot.”

“Both of them?”

“We might as well go grab some lunch then.”

He led Sasuke back into the village and his favorite restaurant. Sasuke gave Kakashi his own version of an approving look—which anyone else would have thought was an amused, tolerant smirk. He entered and was greeted with cheers. He stopped dead at the sound. He stood dumbfounded for a full three seconds before he rounded on Kakashi with a glare.

Kakashi ignored that look and pushed him over to the table and down into his seat. Kakashi sat opposite him—though he wanted to be right next to him to torture him, but it was safer this way, for their secret and for Kakashi’s health.

The entire rookie nine were in attendance, as were Neji, Lee, and TenTen; Naruto had even dragged Konohamaru and his team to join them. Kakashi frowned at seeing Sai; he had told the other two to avoid anyone Sasuke loathed. But the really surprising one was Tamari.

“Gaara can’t leave Suna whenever he wishes, so I came in his place.” Sasuke bowed his head to his benefactor’s sister—who was sitting next to a disgruntled looking Shikamaru.

They feasted and Sasuke was able to relax. He might have lost Taka, but here were friends who came together for him—though more for an excuse to party, and none of them would deny it. This gathering really did lift his spirits.

Naruto sat next to Sasuke and was constantly putting an arm over his shoulders or a hand on his back. He was lucky Kakashi wasn’t more jealous, but Kakashi did feign jealousy whenever he caught Sasuke’s eye when Naruto was also touching him.

After feasting for over an hour, Naruto was getting anxious to give Sasuke his gift. He finally foisted it on him. Sasuke opened it. A stack of coupons for free ramen. Naturally.

“I wouldn’t mind if you share ‘em with me,” Naruto said. Sakura wacked him in the head.

Most of the others gave him more practical gifts like weapons, but he also got decorative dangles to hang from the hilt of his sword—those were from Sakura and Ino. TenTen provided one of his favorite gifts: an intricately written scroll for summoning a variety of weapons—only one weapon included, but still one of the most useful. The two Hyuuga cousins shared a gift, a beautiful ink painting; Neji and he were of similar disposition and were both concerned with their clans, so Neji’s taste was actually very close to his. Sai of course gave him one of his drawings. Lee gave him a green jumpsuit. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him.

“They are perfect for training!”

Sasuke lifted an eyebrow.

Tamari’s gift was rather heavy. “From Gaara. Can’t say I understand it.”

Sasuke opened the box and pulled a heavy metal and glass lantern half out of the box by a chain meant to hang it with. It had a small candle in it and kanji painted on the glass sides. Sasuke got a good look at one kanji and slid it back into the box.

“It a personal message from the Kazakage,” Sasuke said as he closed the box and set it aside. He gave Tamari a small smile. “Thank him and tell him I’ll remember.”

Seeing Naruto about to press Sasuke about it, Kakashi pulled out an unwrapped gift, summoning everyone’s attention. He held out a plush black swan.

Sasuke was confused and mortified. “Why did you—”

Kakashi put the swan next to his head, the fake tail feathers were exactly like Sasuke’s hair. “Your hair.”

The others guffawed or chuckled and Kakashi’s one visible eye closes with a hearty smile. Sasuke blushed slightly.

“Just kidding.” He dropped the stuffed animal—which Sasuke caught and put beside him—and threw another wrapped gift to him. Sasuke opened it. “Custom made kunai,” Kakashi explained. “They’re just like the one’s my sensei used, minus the time-space jutsu markings.”

Sasuke nodded a bit more deeply this time than he did to any of the others.

Then, after a few more minutes passed, the biggest surprise of the night: the Hokage burst in with Shizune in tow. Everyone stood.

“Happy Birthday, Sasuke!”

“Lord Hokage?” Kakashi was just as surprised as anyone else.

“I heard there was a party and had to stop in. Now, how about the birthday boy pour me a cup of sake?”

“Lord Hokage,” Kakashi said, “they’re mostly underage.”

“Oh. Well, we must have a toast. Sake for three of us!” she shouted to the staff. Shizune stood at her side a little disgruntled. Sake was delivered to the three adults. “To Sasuke. We’re all very happy to have you home.”

“Kampai!” they all cheered. Sasuke blushed as those closest to him touched his tea cup. He gave Kakashi a halfhearted glare. Kakashi smiled broadly in response.

Tsunade finished off two bottles—which she made Sasuke pour for her more once—before leaving. Sasuke stood to receive everyone’s parting wishes as they filtered out. Naruto and Sakura volunteered to help Sasuke carry his spoils home; they really just wanted to check out their house, neither having been inside Kakashi’s home not even to the apartment that was destroyed in Pein’s attack.

Sakura was the most eager to see Sasuke’s room. She was disappointed by its plainness. It was also scrupulously clean. She deposited an armful of gifts on his bed and looked around more closely. The only decoration was a few weapons on the walls waiting to be taken out on a mission or summoned in the field.

“Why don’t we hang these now?” She took up the two pieces of artwork. She positioned each against the black placed on the walls. Once she was satisfied with their positions, she looked to Sasuke for approval, which he gave. “Do you have something to hang them with?”

“Kunai?” Naruto said. Sakura hit him with the framed drawing.

“Senbon?” Sasuke wasn’t much better.

Kakashi appeared. She glared at him as if he would say ‘shuriken.’ However, he present a hammer and nails. The pictures went up as Sasuke sorted through the rest. He tossed the plush swan on his pillow and arranged the weapons to take stock of them. He unrolled TenTen’s scroll and assigned a few of the weapons to the summoning glyphs and summoned the weapon TenTen included. He rolled up the scroll and put the weapons in his empty bottom drawer or his closet to await summoning or displaying. Sasuke set the box with the lantern on the dresser.

“Thank you,” he said to both of them. They took the hint to leave, wished him a happy birthday one more time, and Kakashi showed them out.

Sasuke took the lantern out of the box. It came with a hook and Sasuke hung it near the wall opposite his bed and hung the trailing chain against the wall. That done, Sasuke threw himself on his bed and grabbed the swan, hugging it close.

Kakashi returned and leaned against the door frame. “Have fun?” he asked.

“It wasn’t as bad as I feared. But I hate being the center of attention.”

“I know, but I couldn’t resist. I thought a party might raise your spirits.”

“It did. Thank you.”

Kakashi looked at the swan in Sasuke’s arms. “Forgive me for the gift?”

“I like it. At least no one seemed to infer anything from it except that you like to tease me.”

“Well, I am your sensei; I’m entitled to teased you. It’s still your birthday for about another twenty-six hours; how would you like to spend it?”

“You already sucked me dry. We can wait ‘til tomorrow for anything more.” Kakashi was getting jealous of the swan Sasuke was cuddling. Sasuke noticed. “Why don’t you sleep in my bed tonight?”

“I think I will.” He left to change out of his uniform. Sasuke was already under the covers when he returned so he shut off the lights before getting into bed next to him. He looked at the lantern. “Can I ask what it means?”

“When I attacked the Kage Summit, he said ‘We have walked through the darkness of this world, that’s why we are able to see even the smallest flicker of light.’ I told him at the time, ‘I have long since closed my eyes. My only goal lies in the darkness.’ Then when I fled to Suna I told him someone forced me to open my eyes once again and he let me stay. That small candle will only give off a small flicker of light. It’s his way of reminding me not to shut my eyes again.”

“I’ll force them open again if I need to.”

Sasuke hummed in agreement.

-----

Kakashi let Sasuke oversleep; it was his birthday and he hated waking up. When he did wake up, he was a bit happier than normal having slept longer than normal. Later, Sasuke hefted and got a feel for the weapons he was given. They were all splendid blades.

“Guess I actually have to give them all something on their birthdays. Except Lee.”

Kakashi was going to retort, but someone knocked on the door. Sasuke followed into the living room while Kakashi opened the door. A young girl with a black ponytail was there holding a package.

“Uchiha Sasuke?” the girl asked. Sasuke came forward. “A man asked me to give this to you.”

Sasuke accepted it. “Thank you.”

She walked away immediately; Sasuke watched her. There was something familiar . . . the red tie in her ponytail. No . . .

Sasuke sat on the sofa and opened the package. A pair of Fuma Shuriken. He read the note inside.

If you had these you probably would have been closer to defeating me in our little battle. Chakra blades. I know they’ll be useful to you. It wasn’t signed, but Sasuke remembered his rigged Shuriken hitting Itachi in the thigh when they battled. That ponytail with the red tie . . .

“That idiot,” Sasuke sighed.

“Huh?”

“That wasn’t a little girl.”

“Then who?”

Sasuke activated his Sharingan as a sign. Kakashi understood.

“Who knew he was that reckless or foolish?”

“At least he gave me something useful.” Sasuke took one of the giant shuriken out and opened it. He channeled his lightning nature into it and it crackled nicely. Sasuke smirked. “I hope we face some earth nature shinobi soon. Let’s go spar; I want to try out some of these weapons.”

-----

Sasuke was heading for the shower when they got back, but Kakashi grabbed him.

“No need for that,” Kakashi said. “I think you should wait until I dirtier you more.”

“I worked up a sweat.”

“I like being able to smell you. We can do whatever you like.”

“Like we don’t do everything anyway.”

“Not recently. And you still haven’t fucked me yet.”

“Lazy; I like not being the one doing the work.”

“Well, get dressed up and I’ll do all the work.”

“No. You really want to be doing something like that with my . . .” Sasuke was hesitant to even speak Itachi name or say ‘brother’ even when they were alone in Kakashi’s house. “With him potentially still in the village? What if he decided to make a visit under the cover of darkness?”

“Good point. But he must have accepted that we’re lovers.” Kakashi nuzzled his neck. “We’ll just shut the curtains.”