One Eye Between Them

MadaSasu: Wow. That is the most I love yous I’ve gotten. ^_^ Sorry it took a while, but sex scenes take time. And I changed things. Shisui was a troublesome character.
alien90210: It’s not often that a coughing fit inspires me. ^_^ And you’re right, there will be drama coming soon. It’s like two more chapters in I think. I haven’t written the entire story out yet.
lilbit1016: Indeed.
Angel: Thank you. Sasuke was fun to write in this one.
smint45: Drunk Sasuke was a lot of fun!

Thanks to PhoenixInnocence for the beta before I made changes, so those errors are all my own. ^_^

----------

Kakashi never wanted to stay asleep and in bed more than this morning, but his cell phone alarm was pinging annoyingly. He was warm and comfortable and he had to crawl over a thin body. That was the best part.

Itachi whined a little at being woken up and a little more at being crawled over. Kakashi fished through his clothes, guided by the glow of the phone through his pants pocket. He turned it off.

“I got to go to work,” Kakashi whispered. He was about to ask if Itachi minded if he turned on the lights, but stopped just in time. He turned on the light and dressed and moved the dresser from the door.

Itachi muttered something that sounded like, ‘Okay, bye.’

Kakashi slipped out of the room and hurried down the stairs.

“Kakashi-kun,” Mikoto said when she heard him come down stairs. “Do you want breakfast?”

Kakashi was blushing; Mikoto had to know what he was doing with her son during the night. “Sorry, no. I’ve got work this morning and I have to get home to change.”

“You’re always welcome.”

“Thank you.”

He ran out as fast he could, not wanting to face any male Uchiha this morning.

Itachi couldn’t go back to sleep, so he dragged himself out of bed. He groaned and felt his way to the bathroom. He took as quick a shower as possible. He trailed his hand against the wall to find his dresser.

Once dressed, he followed the wall to the stairs and gripped the banister down to the ground floor. He staggered into the dining room. His mother grabbed him.

“Son of a—”

“It’s me, Itachi.”

“Mother!”

“Sorry, dear.”

“I’m awake now.”

Mikoto guided Itachi to a chair. “I saw Kakashi leaving this morning.”

Itachi groaned. “I’m not going to get a speech, am I?”

“You’re in a foul temper this morning.”

“I wanted to sleep longer, but I couldn’t get back to sleep. Kakashi’s phone alarm woke us.”

“I’m not going to give you a speech; I like him and I want you to keep him.”

“I intend to. Father’s not pissed about him staying the night, is he?”

“No, he’s more upset about Sasuke’s impending hangover.”

Itachi sighed. “That’s my fault too.”

“’Tachi!”

Itachi lowered his head at the rebuke.

Mikoto’s tone was firm. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, is your fault. Taking any fault on yourself is to alleviate it from those who did this to you. To say that is to blame your father for sending you there.”

“I’ve never blamed father.”

“Then don’t blame yourself.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Itachi-kun,” Inoichi said as he approached with a plate.

“Thank you, Inoichi-san.”

“Itachi,” Fugaku said as he came into the dining room. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

Itachi hunched his shoulders and blushed. “No speech, please.”

“I was more concerned when it was Naruto. Kakashi is a better man. He’s wiser than Naruto and a fine man over all. He’s more handsome than Naruto as well.”

“Please, father, the last thing I need is to hear is that my father thinks my boyfriend is attractive.”

“He left for work,” Mikoto informed her husband. To Itachi, she said, “At least you’ve chosen someone you don’t have to worry about being ashamed of being seen with. He’s so handsome and such a gentleman.”

“Even Sasuke admitted the handsome part and Sasuke doesn’t like him,” Itachi said.

Inoichi delivered Fugaku’s meal.

“I think Sasuke likes him,” Fugaku said, “he’s just protective of his big brother. He wouldn’t have gone drinking with him if he didn’t.”

Mikoto asked about Fugaku’s work and Itachi listened, a little dejected. He was going to succeed his father eventually—that’s why he went to Africa—but now he was housebound. He felt useless because he couldn’t help his father anymore, couldn’t make his own living anymore.

Sasuke finally wondered in. “So loud,” he muttered as his parents talked.

“Hangover, Otouto?” Itachi nearly whispered.

“Hai.”

“You’re staying home,” Fugaku pronounced.

“Hai.” Sasuke winced at his father’s louder voice.

“Didn’t anyone ever warn you about our low tolerance to alcohol?” Itachi asked, still keeping his voice down.

“Hai, hai.”

“Is that all you can say this morning?”

“Hai.”

“Have you taken any pain killers this morning, Sasuke-kun?” Inoichi whispered when he brought Sasuke’s breakfast with a large mug of coffee.

“No.”

“I’ll get you some.”

“Thank you.”

“He can speak other words,” Itachi teased.

Sasuke growled at him.

“Be nice you two,” Mikoto said, smiling. “No sniping for one day.” Really, her two boys loved each other and all their sniping was good natured and amusing to her. She was so proud of her youngest: Sasuke had stayed right by Itachi’s side through everything. He dropped everything in his life and slept in Itachi’s hospital room every night.

When they first learned that Itachi had been kidnapped, Mikoto was a mess and even Fugaku was showing cracks in his stoic façade. When Mikoto was able to turn her attention to her youngest son, he was frozen with shock and worry. He was pale and his eyes looked like those of a frightened eight year old. Not having her eldest son within grasp, Mikoto latched onto Sasuke, hugging him and hardly letting him out of her sight. Sasuke let her, sticking close to his parents through the entire ordeal.

Sasuke was the first one to rush to Itachi’s side when his gurney was taken out of the plane. Sasuke called his name as he ran up and Itachi held out a hand for him and pulled him closer until Sasuke climbed up onto the gurney and clung to Itachi. The men wheeling the gurney across the tarmac were forced to push both brothers as Sasuke wept against Itachi’s chest. Mikoto and Fugaku let Sasuke cling and stood by, just relieved to have Itachi back and that he was alive.

It warmed Mikoto’s heart to see the devotion Sasuke had for his brother. Itachi was the older brother and was expected to nurture Sasuke—he was babysitting Sasuke for years—but Sasuke could not be pried from Itachi’s side. Mikoto and Fugaku had to wait for Sasuke to sleep to lavish Itachi with relieved affection. Mikoto was proud of her sons. Even her grumpy youngest.

Fugaku finished his meal. “Sasuke, learn from this and don’t drink like that again. I don’t want you to end up like your great uncle Madara and your cousin Obito. They were such miserable drunks they lost all sense of right and wrong and who their friends were.”

“I’ll remember. I don’t really want another of these headaches again.”

“I may be late tonight.” Fugaku kissed his wife and turned to leave.

“Father,” Sasuke said and then winced at the volume of his own voice. “You’re friends with Haishi; would he approve of my marrying Hinata?”

“We’ve already talked about it. He’s looking forward to it, but we’ve agreed to split the wedding bill; he’ll pay for the wedding, I’m paying for the reception. Have you asked her yet?”

“Not yet. Still unsure how.”

“Nya, nya,” Itachi said, mimicking the scaredy-cat he was implying his brother was.

Sasuke pouted and glared at his brother even though he couldn’t see it.

“Ask her this week,” Fugaku said. “Half the wedding’s already been planned.”

Sasuke paled. “Yes, sir.”

“I also want talk to you about your future. Propose first.”

“Yes, sir,” Sasuke repeated. Fugaku smiled reassuringly and left.

“Sasuke,” Itachi said, “we can both try to go back to sleep or suffer together.”

“Hai.”

-----

Kakashi felt he was being stalked again. He had his three hour class in an hour and he sat under the same tree as yesterday getting ahead on the reading before class. Frankly, he found Aristotle boring as hell, but he plowed through it. He swore not to take another ethics class.

His stalker was seriously disturbing him. It was dense reading—and sooo boring—so his mind was easily pulled away by whoever was staring at him.

“Just come over here and speak to me,” Kakashi finally said without looking up from the book. “Stalking me is far more distracting.”

He did look up when someone approached him. It was Naruto.

“Uh, hey,” Naruto greeted nervously.

“Naruto. What do you want?”

“You’re Itachi’s boyfriend now?”

“Yeah.”

“How is he?”

“Often depressed, but he’s getting better. He’s sometimes happy. He’s even started getting back to his old self from what I gather from him and his brother.”

“That’s good. I may have left him, but I still worry about him. We were real close, you know.”

“You tried to cheat on him with Hinata.”

“You know about that?”

“Sasuke got drunk last night and told me the whole story.”

“I’m really not that bad a guy. I started having doubts about having a ‘boyfriend.’ No girl was ever interested in me except Hinata so I really wanted to try with her, you know? Especially after she changed. She was so quiet and then she turned into a stunner. I didn’t want to hurt Itachi. But then after he went blind, I got scared.”

“He’d be a burden.”

“Sort of, yeah.”

“I probably can’t take him to the movies, but otherwise, I see no problem.”

“Taking care of someone like that just really wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. But I miss him, you know? I’d say give him my best, but he probably doesn’t want to hear it. But I’d really like to see him again. Can you ask him? Just a few minutes. I want to apologize. I wanted to ask Sasuke, but he still hates me—and he’s justified. I really miss him. Both of them.”

“I’ll ask Itachi. I’m confident that after even the most sincere and heartfelt apology, Itachi wouldn’t take you back and his brother will never forgive you or let you near the house. I think Itachi would appreciate an apology though.”

“Yeah, a relationship is impossible now, but I want to see him again. Thank you. Here’s my number.”

Kakashi stuck the slip of paper in his book like a bookmark.

“Are Sasuke and Hinata really getting married?” Naruto asked.

“I don’t think he’s actually proposed, but it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion.”

Naruto nodded again in thanks and walked away. Kakashi sucked his cheek and went back to ancient Greek ethics.

-----

Kakashi stayed home that night, but called Itachi and they talked for a while about Aristotle and then about the literary culture of the US during the nineteenth century. He didn’t mention Naruto.

“Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?”

“Of course. But I’m starting to feel a little spoiled.”

“What’s wrong with that? I’ll come get you at six-thirty. Tell your overbearing little brother I’m kidnapping you for the night and all Saturday. I’ll have you back home Sunday morning. Bring a change of clothes.”

-----

Kakashi was a little ashamed to be picking up the heir of the Uchiha family in a used Kia, but he drove up to the door anyway. Itachi couldn’t see it of course, but Kakashi was certain that demonic little brother of his described every unflattering detail. Nevertheless, Itachi slid into the passenger seat without reservations.

“What would make the perfect evening for you?” Kakashi asked once Itachi was buckled in.

“Honestly? A really good burger, dessert, and sex. I hope to god we’re alone in here.”

“Actually, your father’s in the backseat.”

“Ha, ha.”

“I wish I did voices. I kind of want to take you somewhere nicer than Red Robin, but if that’s what you want.”

“I’m so used to fancy food that Red Robin—hell, McDonald’s—is a treat.”

“As you wish.”

They opted for one of the smaller booths in the bar. They ordered and chatted as they waited for their food.

“Oh, god,” Kakashi suddenly muttered.

Itachi tilted his head, not able to see why Kakashi swore. At least he’s stopped turning around at such things.

“My friends are here. They’re all ex-comrades. Bear with them.”

“Kakashi!” Gai cried out and led the pack of ex-soldiers into the bar area. They came to the table and Gai pulled Kakashi out of his seat and hugged him. “We haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“Busy.”

Gai turned to see Kakashi’s companion. “I see you got yourself a girlfriend.” Gai gave Itachi a leer that he couldn’t see, but he could feel.

Itachi growled.

“Itachi is my boyfriend,” Kakashi said.

“Oh, sorry.” Gai slipped out of flirting mode and into fraternal mode. “I’m Mai Gai. Pleasure to meet you.” He stuck out his hand, but Itachi made no move to take it.

“He’s blind you idiot,” Genma muttered.

“Pleasure,” Itachi said with an amused smile. “Rather than Kakashi introducing you, I’d rather you do it yourselves since I’ll know you by your voice.”

“I’m Genma Shiranui.”

“Hayate Gekko.”

“Yamato Tenzou.”

“Itachi Uchiha,” Itachi said once he was sure the pack was finished.

The ensuing silence was something Itachi was used to.

“You guys going out without inviting me?” Kakashi pouted, not wearing his mask since they were about to have dinner.

“You always resist,” Yamato said.

“To clubs and parties, not to dinner.”

“We’ll hit you up next week. We didn’t mean to intrude. Nice to meet you,” Yamato said to Itachi.

Once Itachi was sure they had moved away, he leaned forward. “If you want to join them, I’m fine with that.”

“Not tonight. You’re free to tag along with us in the future though. Don’t worry about Gai; he annoys all.”

Itachi smiled. His chocolate malt was brought with their salads. He sipped at it like a little kid; Kakashi expected Itachi to start kicking his feet. Seeing Itachi so happy made Kakashi smile like a fool. He thought Itachi seemed looser since he talked to Kakashi about Yahiko, more confident as well.

Itachi asked about Kakashi’s friends and they chatted about whatever. Itachi ordered the hot apple crisp and a Bailey’s shake for dessert while Kakashi snacked on his fries.

“Is there anywhere you want to go or do tonight?” Kakashi asked. “It’s still early.”

Itachi shied a little. Kakashi was overcome by the cuteness. “I would kind of like to go for a ride on your bike. Just a little bit.”

“That’s not a problem. I don’t get on it as much as I’d like. Want to go to the beach like last time where we can take our helmets off?”

“Yeah. I miss riding so much. And my car. It’s a gorgeous Bentley. There’s so much you take for granted about being able to see. I never realized how much I relied on my eyes. Even when they took the first one and threatened the second, I did think I wouldn’t be able to do this or that, but I didn’t realize just how much it would affect my life.”

“Yeah. Even just losing one eye was a problem.”

“Come to think of it, we’ve only got one eye between us.” Itachi smiled. “You know, I did have doubts last week, but now I can say easily, I love you. I really do.”

“I love you deeply. You are quickly becoming my world.”

“I still feel bad about how much you have to do for me.”

“Don’t. I get recompensed. Just looking at you is payment enough.”

Itachi finished up and they left.

In the main dining room, there were two men watching their smitten friend with his lover. The other two were forced to just hear commentary.

“He’s sooooo whipped,” Genma said.

-----

They went to Kakashi’s apartment to pick up his bike and gear. Kakashi wrapped Itachi in an oversized jacket and gave him his spare helmet. Then they were back out heading toward the beach.

Kakashi loved the feeling of Itachi holding onto him even if it was through a few layers of clothing.

The moon was out on the clear night. Itachi could hear the waves and smell the sea. There were few people out on this stretch of beach and Kakashi took their helmets so they could enjoy the wind on their faces. After a few rounds down the side street and the large parking lot, Kakashi parked.

“Anything you want to do while we’re at the beach?”

“I’ve never been a fan, but I love the breeze. I get bored. I’m sort of unsure on sand now too.”

“Let’s take a walk right here to stretch your legs.”

Itachi obediently dismounted. Kakashi guided him through the mostly empty parking lot.

“Is it nice tonight?” Itachi asked.

“Nearly a full moon; I think it’s waning. It’s perfectly clear, but only the brightest stars are visible because of the city lights and street lights. The moonlight is lovely on the waves though. We’re almost completely alone out here.”

With one hand in Itachi’s Kakashi put his other hand in his pocket and fingered the felt covered ring box there. Kakashi stopped and faced Itachi. He was about to get down on a knee when Itachi’s cell phone rang.

Itachi fished his phone from his pocket. “Otouto . . . . I don’t know . . . . You have a week, right? . . . . I’ve never really given it much thought . . . . I’m on a date if you remember . . . . Sasuke! . . . . I actually have every intention to . . . . Otouto, we’ll talk about this on Sunday. Goodnight.” Itachi ended the call and shut off his phone.

“Gaaa! That little brother of mine can be a pain. He’s freaking out over how to propose to Hinata. Like I would know. Being gay, I never gave it thought since I can’t really get married.”

“We’ll you can always have the ceremony if you wanted, just not the tax benefits.”

“Yeah, but I never wanted a wedding. You’re up there in front of so many people and it deals with very personal emotions and stuff . . . I’d just feel so exposed.” Itachi shuddered. “I’d rather elope. Anyway, let’s go back to your apartment and do the one thing Sasuke can’t right now.”

“Propose?”

“Shag.”

The ride home seemed long, but once he parked it seemed like only moments before Itachi was laid out on Kakashi’s bed. Kakashi kissed him and palmed his cock.

Kakashi’s lips moved to his neck and his hand further down between his legs to tease his entrance. He’d grabbed the lube before laying over his precious raven and now he slicked his fingers before penetrating the younger man. Kakashi didn’t rush this, gnawing on his neck and thrusting his fingers inside him at a leisurely pace. He stroked that wonderful bundle of nerves making Itachi moan.

Kakashi’s mouth moved next to a nipple and he started rubbing his erection against a nearly smooth leg. His fingers continued to explore the hot tunnel and his palm moved over his balls.

He couldn’t help wondering what Naruto and that bastard Yahiko would do to him. He didn’t want to touch him and kiss him the way his past . . . lovers had. He wanted to be unique to him, especially since he couldn’t see him.

He moved back up to whisper against Itachi’s neck, “I want to take you from behind.”

Kakashi took his fingers away as Itachi moved onto his knees, keeping his body upright. Kakashi wrapped his arms around him and nuzzled his neck as he pushed up into Itachi’s body. Kakashi thrust up into him slowly, savoring every inch of Itachi’s silky insides.

“Itachi, no one could feel better than you.”

“Best lover I’ve had,” Itachi sighed back.

“You have no idea how good it feels to hear that.”

“Jealous?”

“Very. But maybe not so much anymore. But I won’t let you go. I won’t let anyone else touch you.”

“Good.” Itachi pressed down onto Kakashi’s cock and groaned. “Harder.”

Kakashi tweaked a nipple even as he started fucking Itachi harder and faster. His free hand moved to just above Itachi’s groin, sliding between his stomach and his bouncing cock. He pulled Itachi to him as he thrust up.

“Fuck, yeah,” Itachi sighed.

Kakashi took his hand from Itachi’s nipple and pulled Itachi’s hair to the side to expose his neck. His hand returned to its previous occupation and he started to suck on his neck, scraping it gently with his teeth and licking at it.

“Bite me, mark me,” Itachi panted.

Kakashi obliged, biting hard where his shoulder met his neck then he tongued the wound gently, teasing the reddened flesh. He bit him under the ear and gave it the same treatment while continually thrusting upward.

“I can’t last long inside you,” Kakashi confessed. He gripped Itachi’s cock and stoked him.

Itachi twisted his hips a little and let out a cry when his prostate was hit dead center.

Kakashi cam first as he feared, but Itachi wasn’t far behind him, feeling Kakashi swell within him and filling his body with cum. Kakashi’s groans were right next to his ear and that sent him over the edge with a tingling running down his spine.

Itachi leaned back and Kakashi lean forward, holding each other up.

“Who’s sleeping on the cum?” Itachi asked.

Kakashi huffed and leaned his head on Itachi’s shoulder to see. “It’s just the pillow case. I’ll take that off and we’ll make do with one pillow.”

Itachi hummed in agreement. “Lay me down away from it. I’ve slept with cum in my hair before and didn’t like it.”

Kakashi growled.

“Heel, love.”

“Just tell me it was your own.”

“I don’t like to lie.”

Kakashi growled again.

Itachi laughed and turned, carefully feeling for Kakashi’s face and kissed him. “I’ll let you if you really need to mark me like a dog, but you’re dealing with the crusty tangles in the morning.”

“I’ll take you up on that some other night. Tired?”

“Yeah.”

Kakashi laid him down as requested and stripped the pillow and tossed the pillow on the floor, out of Itachi’s paths to the bathroom and the door. He used the case to clean himself and tossed that away too.

“I’ve got plans for tomorrow,” Kakashi said as he snuggled up next to his lover. “Sleep well.”

“Goodnight.”

-----

It was a chilly morning and Kakashi had no intention of leaving the warmth of Itachi’s body under the blanket. Kakashi was on his back and Itachi was on his side. Kakashi turned onto his side and nosed Itachi’s long hair. He didn’t want to wake him, so Kakashi just ran his hand down the side of Itachi’s stomach and molested his morning wood.

At some point, Itachi woke up to feel his orgasm building up. Kakashi stroked him to completion while rubbing himself on Itachi’s ass. Itachi turned and returned the favor and they kissed. Once both had cum, they showered together, playfully pawing each other. Kakashi helped his lover dress and then sat him down on the bed and combed out his hair.

“That feels good,” Itachi said.

“So beautiful. I never thought a man could have such lovely hair; so soft and glossy. You are simply gorgeous.”

“Simply?” Itachi asked with a pout.

“To put it simply.”

Itachi hummed.

After Kakashi took Itachi to breakfast, he took him to an outdoor concert. He’d had a chance to peruse Itachi’s iTunes which he or his brother had rated, and therefore Kakashi knew Itachi was a fan of Bach. They sat on the grass in the park and listened to the beautiful cello, harpsichord, and organ music. Itachi pulled Kakashi down to lay his head in his lap.

Once again, Kakashi fingered the felt box in his pocket. A concert in the park: a wonderful place to propose. But as he was getting up the nerve—he wondered just why he was this nervous; it wasn’t like they would actually be married—there was another interruption.

People applauded and Kakashi opened his eye and clapped and then he heard a deep voice nearby. “You always did love Bach.”

Itachi whipped his head around toward that voice and Kakashi sat up.

“Minato?” Itachi asked.

“Hey, ‘Tachi.”

Itachi grabbed Kakashi’s shoulder and used it to stand. He held out a hand and a very handsome blond with a red headed woman approached and took it, pulling him into an easy hug. Kakashi stood as well.

“Itachi,” the woman said as warning that she was there before she hugged him tightly.

“Kakashi, this is Minato and Kushina Namikaze, they’re Naruto’s parents. Minato, Kushina, this is my boyfriend, Kakashi.”

Kakashi had thought the blond man looked familiar. Both Namikazes’ faces darkened a little at the mention of their son’s name. Kakashi shook their hands nevertheless.

“Don’t hold what Naruto did against us,” Kushina said to Kakashi.

“I don’t,” Itachi said to Kakashi. “Minato and Kushina treated me like family and were harsh on Naruto too.”

“What he did was inexcusable,” Minato said. “And you should know, we’ve been friends with the Uchiha for years and we’re nearly as protective of Itachi as his own family.” There was a playful hostility in Minato’s eyes.

“Thank you,” Itachi said. “I doubt you have to worry about this one.”

“You’re on a date,” Kushina said, “we’re interrupting. We just had to stop by and say hello. Our families need to get together for dinner soon, without Naruto around of course.”

“As much as we disapprove of what Naruto did, we don’t particularly want Fugaku and Sasuke killing him,” Minato said.

“Or Mikoto,” Kushina added. “Never underestimate we women when it comes to our precious cubs.”

“I’ll pass along the proposal,” Itachi said. The use of that word made Kakashi nervous. This chance was ruined. He still had half a day.

“Goodbye, Itachi,” they said and left.

“Bye,” Itachi said. Kakashi nodded. “Sorry about that,” Itachi whispered.

“It’s okay.” Kakashi put his arms around Itachi from behind. “I was wondering: do you like dogs?”

“I do. I never had a pet. At least not of my own. We had a cat when I was younger. Sasuke’s a cat person, but I like the affection of dogs.”

“I love dogs. There’s an adoption drive on the other side of the park. I thought we’d go over and just ‘test drive’ a few.”

“I’d like that.”

They walked to the adoption fair and the staff were very accommodating, letting Itachi sit on the grass while they brought over a few dogs to play with him. He could roll a ball and the dog would bring it back, pushing it into his hand as if knowing he couldn’t see it. He even let the puppies gnaw lightly on his fingers.

Kakashi stood aside with a worker and asked quietly what dog would be best for someone who was blind. The answer was obvious: a service dog.

“The dog needs to be well trained and service dogs are trained practically from birth to behave around the blind or whatever disability they’ll be helping with. A dog too energetic would be likely to trip him. You’d best get a service dog. Give the shelter a call and we can give you the number of a service.”

Kakashi thanked her and then went over to play tug of war with a Rottweiler while Itachi pet a sleepy puppy. He always regretted not being able to have a pet in the military and now he realized there would be no going to shelters and just adopting strays. But Itachi liked dogs and looked like he was having fun so a dog was not out of the question.

Kakashi escorted a happy Itachi to the car. “We have quite a bit of time before dinner, is there something you want to do?”

“Not really. I don’t get out much anymore. You and Sasuke are the only reasons I leave the house. So much is geared toward seeing that there doesn’t seem to be anything to do when you’re blind.”

“What did you used to do?”

“Actually I worked a lot at my father’s company; I was going to succeed him after all. Now it’s all on Sasuke’s shoulders. I went to the gym quite a bit, running, the theater, though the theater’s not so bad; so much of it is dialog. I love Shakespeare and that’s something I can still enjoy.”

“You know I love Shakespeare. I’ll keep that in mind. We should go to the gym together; I can watch you, spot you, and I can work out between your sets.”

“I’d thought about that.”

“Then we’ll start this week.” He was holding Itachi’s arm, but he pulled him closer and kissed his hair. “Let’s walk around downtown to prime our appetites before we go to dinner.”

“Okay.”

They went to dinner at an upscale Japanese restaurant. This was it, he had a few hours to sort of propose. He wanted to show up the abominable little brother tomorrow. He’d checked the internet for ideas of how to do it and almost all of them involved the proposee to be able to see. It wasn’t a real proposal, just a . . . commitment ring sort of thing, so asking the conductor of the concert to announce it earlier wouldn’t have really worked. And then there was what Itachi had said last night about not wanting to do this sort of thing in front of a lot of people.

They had to walk down the quaint downtown main street again to get back to their car. It was about the time most shops closed, but there was a bakery still open.

“Want dessert?” Kakashi asked.

“I’ll always say ‘yes’ to dessert.”

Kakashi ushered him inside and read out the menu. They ordered two coffees and a baklava. They sat at an outdoor table and Kakashi tried the pastry, but left it to Itachi to consume.

Now or never, Kakashi thought.

Kakashi stood and knelt next to Itachi’s chair and turned him a little so he faced him. He carefully touched Itachi’s glasses before he pushed them back over his head. He took one hand in his and took out the ring box, opened it, and guided Itachi’s hand to it.

“Unfortunately it can’t be marriage, but I wanted to make this official.”

Tears escaped the corners of Itachi’s eyes. “I love you, Kakashi,” Itachi said in a fragile voice.

Kakashi took Itachi’s left hand and slipped the ring on his finger. Itachi touched it, trying to ‘see’ it.

“Silver band with embedded diamonds and onyx. Three each.”

Tears still streaming down his cheeks, Itachi looked at Kakashi reproachfully. “Diamonds? I don’t want you spending that kind of money. Not on something I can’t even see.”

“They’re small diamonds. It’s not like I’ll be doing it often. Though I’d like to buy you some studs for your ears. I got a matching ring for myself. And don’t offer to pay for it. Let me spoil the rich kid a bit. And hell, I could be lying and the diamonds could be glass.”

“I love you. If it was a proposal, my answer would be ‘yes.’” He cleared his throat. “Now take me home and ravish me.”

“Yes, sir.”

They were once again on Kakashi’s twin bed, kissing even more passionately than before.

“Let me ride you,” Itachi said when he couldn’t breathe anymore.

“Please.”

They traded placed and Itachi held out his hand, Kakashi gave him the lube. Though he couldn’t see Itachi’s fingers enter his ass, Kakashi loved the view of this beautiful raven over him, fingering himself, his hips thrust forward and the look of pleasure on his face. Itachi moved back and up to position himself over Kakashi’s hard cock. He lowered himself down.

Having had sex the night before and his several years of experience, Kakashi’s sizable cock slipped in without much resistance. Itachi sank down until he was all but sitting on Kakashi’s balls, his folded legs on either side of his hips kept his weight off the sensitive organ.

He barely hesitated before lifting himself up and started fucking himself on his lover’s cock. His erection bounced as his body moved, his own balls pressing against Kakashi’s groin.

Itachi was a sight to behold. Despite his neglect of exercise since he came home and his love of sweets, Itachi was still thin. He’d been half starved and malnourished when he came home a few months ago. As he stretched, Kakashi could see the muscle there and even the ridges of his ribs.

“Take out your hair tie,” Kakashi requested. Itachi obeyed, throwing the red band to the side and shaking out his hair to flow over his shoulders.

Being blind made it difficult to keep his balance. He leaned back to target his own prostate and nearly fell to the side. Kakashi sat up a bit to grab Itachi’s wrist. He took his other wrist and held him up as Itachi leaned back again to change the angle of penetration.

Itachi started groaning even before he found that bundle of nerves. With Kakashi keeping him upright, Itachi was able to lean far back, his bobbing cock pointing at the ceiling.

“God, that feels so good,” Itachi crowed. Kakashi bucked his hips every once in a while to change it up as Itachi kept thrusting his body downward.

Tired of the difficult position, Itachi leaned forward and Kakashi moved his hands to Itachi’s chest and felt down his ribs and lean muscle. His hands finally came to rest on Itachi’s still moving hips. Itachi leaned further forward to place his hands of Kakashi’s chest for added leverage. With his hands on Itachi’s hips, Kakashi could better thrust upward.

“Give me your cum,” Itachi sighed. “Fill me up.”

“I’m getting close. You’re so fucking gorgeous.” He bit his lips to keep from telling him how much he wanted to see Itachi bathed in cum. See it in his hair, on his face . . . That, however, might spark unpleasant memories. He could think it though.

As they both got closer, Kakashi slid a hand to Itachi’s bobbing cock and started to stroke it.

“I want your cum,” Kakashi said. “Cum for me, baby. Splash it all over me.”

“Fuck, fuck . . .” Itachi was close; he started moving faster. He arched his body back and his prostate was struck again and he cam hard, letting himself cry out in ecstasy, unashamed to writhe like a porn star and cry out like a slut.

Kakashi could stand it no longer looking at that gorgeous sight and the tight heat clutching him. He cam inside Itachi.

Itachi leaned down and panted over Kakashi’s cum strewn chest. Once he got his breath, he trailed his fingers over Kakashi’s chest to find the drops of semen. He scooped it up and brought it to his mouth.

“Fuck, now I have to fuck you again,” Kakashi said.

“I have no objections.”

“First, why don’t you finish cleaning my chest?”

Itachi smiled and trailed his fingers down Kakashi’s chest again to find the drops again. He scooped up every drop and deposited it in his mouth.

“Did I get it all?”

“You did, but there’s still residue.”

Itachi gave him a feigned look of annoyance and bent down to lick his chest. Kakashi’s breathing increased as Itachi stuck his tongue out as far as possible and tilted his head up; if Itachi had eyes, he’d be looking up at him seductively. As much as he didn’t want to think about Sasuke—being a bit of a boner-killer—Kakashi thought about Sasuke’s eyes to imagine what Itachi’s had looked like. The boner-killer little brother couldn’t stop his excitement at the mental image.

Finished, they trade places and Kakashi went for Itachi’s puffy nipples while they continued to recover. He ran his teeth over the swollen nub. He slid a hand under Itachi’s back to hold him against him as he suckled on his chest. Itachi threaded his fingers in Kakashi’s hair and massaged his scalp.

Kakashi slid his free hand down Itachi’s hip to his lower thigh and hitched it up. He was recovered and he moved to reenter Itachi’s already lubed and well-used hole. Itachi kept his hands in Kakashi’s hair. Kakashi rocked into him before going all out and fucking his raven hard. If he’d had a headboard, it would be knocking on the wall. As it was, the bed wasn’t silent and neither was Itachi, moaning and groaning with every thrust.

Realizing he was going to cum before Itachi, Kakashi grabbed Itachi’s cock and quickly stroked him to bring him closer to orgasm.

Itachi whined as he got close and was too tired to cry out. Kakashi held back until Itachi was well over the cliff. With that last spurt of cum, all the energy abandoned Kakashi and he was barely able to land next to Itachi rather than crush him.

“Fuck, baby,” he sighed. “I think I shot my soul into your body.”

Itachi chuckled. “I’ll take good care of it.”

“Good. I’m going to pass out now.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

-----

Itachi woke to his face and hair being caressed. He opened his eyes to see large vibrant blue eyes and thought first of Naruto, but the metal bars in his eyebrows and nose reminded him that he was not home in his boyfriend’s bed, but in Africa. But those blue eyes were kind and sad.

Yahiko didn’t stop caressing him even after he saw Itachi’s black eyes open. Something about that frightened Itachi. That hand fell to Itachi’s chest to glide over a nipple then down his abdomen. Part of Itachi’s mind shrank back, the part of him that was a rape victim, fearful and ashamed to be of no other use than a concubine. The other part of him was excited and even eagerly anticipating that hand reaching his cock.

But when Yahiko’s hand reached his cock, Yahiko didn’t smile at his little slave’s reaction. Like he normally did.

“I want you to ride me, weasel.”

The pet name sent a tingling down Itachi’s spine. A little embarrassed, Itachi got up on his knees and straddled Yahiko’s nude, powerfully muscled body. He grabbed the lube and lubed his fingers and reached behind him. He was embarrassed even though he’d done this in front of Naruto and others before him, but because he felt like a slave it was humiliating.

He put a hand on Yahiko’s chest to steady himself as he guided Yahiko’s cock into him. But he found that Yahiko wasn’t as hard as thought he’d be, but he was hard enough to penetrate him.

Itachi fucked himself on Yahiko’s cock as it grew harder. He put both hands on Yahiko’s chest to help him steady and rock himself. He found that thinking of himself as nothing but a sex object was arousing even as it shamed him. He opened his eyes, wanting to see that lustful look of ownership in Yahiko’s eyes, but Yahiko’s eyes were soft.

Yahiko reached out and put a hand to Itachi’s face and guided it down. Itachi stopped moving his hips as he was drawn down. They locked eyes. Yahiko’s eyes darted between focusing on Itachi’s right eye then his left. It was like he was trying to look inside or to memorize every detail of the stark white sclera, black irises, and completely black pupils. Itachi was malnourished only a little more than Yahiko, but he was slightly anemic without any clear veins in his eyes. But Yahiko sought out every single one to map. Itachi expected to hear the words ‘I love you’ come from Yahiko’s lips with the way he was looking at him.

Yahiko’s left hand remained on Itachi’s cheek while the right went to his ribs. More and more Itachi expected to hear those words. He was certain about it.

“Do you trust me, my dear weasel?” Yahiko asked instead of saying what Itachi wanted him to. Maybe this would all be better if Yahiko did love him.

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t. I wish I could be worthy of your trust, Itachi.”

The use of his given name made Itachi swallow. “I trust you.”

“It’s just business, Itachi. I would never hurt you otherwise. I wish I could have had you under different circumstances. You’re so beautiful. Please, continue.”

Itachi was unsure what to make of what Yahiko said, but he started moving again. He shut his eyes as he sought out his own prostate and saw to both their pleasures. But Yahiko couldn’t maintain his erection this morning and he slid out of Itachi’s body.

“I’m sorry, my dear weasel. I’m too distracted. Let me take care of you.” Yahiko took Itachi’s erection in his hand and stroked it until Itachi cam on Yahiko’s stomach.

“What’s wrong?” Itachi asked once he caught his breath.

“Forgive me. I never want to hurt you again.”

Yahiko looked at Itachi’s lip like he wanted to kiss him, but didn’t. And he couldn’t look Itachi in the eyes anymore.

He took Itachi to the small bathroom attached to his room and cleaned them both up and gave Itachi black clothes. He pulled Itachi’s head closer and he kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry.”

Fear welled up in Itachi as Yahiko escorted him to the large room where he was normally raped. Deidara was standing near the wall nipping at his thumb nervously. Kakuzu stood near him looking even more unhappy than normal. Kisame stood alone looking angry. Sasori and Zetsu were expressionless. Hidan was practically vibrating with excitement. There was only one person absent.

Yahiko guided Itachi into the center of the room where Kisame stood. Kisame gripped Itachi’s arm and Yahiko let go.

“The dead drop for your ransom was compromised,” Yahiko said in a hard voice. “You—and by extension your father—must pay a price.”

Kisame wrapped a powerful arm around him and put his hand to Itachi’s throat to keep him still. He dropped to his knees with Itachi pinned against him and Hidan came closer. Itachi knew Hidan was a sadist and he was deeply afraid. His body struggled on its own against Kisame’s grip, but it was to no avail. He sought Yahiko’s gaze and saw sadness there, but he knew no help was coming from him.

Hidan crouched down and pulled Itachi’s pants off.

“Kakuzu, Sasori, hold his legs,” Hidan ordered. The two most emotionless men of the group obeyed and grabbed Itachi’s ankles and knees to keep his legs still and open.

Itachi still had lube inside him from this morning thankfully as Hidan thrust into him without hesitation.

“Now, now. If you struggle too much you’ll only make it worse.”

The hand around his throat pressed his head against Kisame’s chest. Kisame’s chin came down to steady his head. Hidan pulled out a scalpel.

With Kisame pressing his hand against his throat, Itachi’s couldn’t really scream as Hidan pulled his eyelid up and attacked his eye. Hidan gave him a few thrusts as he cut out his eye.

When Hidan had his eye, Kisame kept hold of him, but not as tightly. Itachi shut his eyelids tightly, even over the eye he no longer possessed. Now Kisame was just trying to control the crying, wildly struggling mess in his arms. But Hidan wasn’t done; he got off on Itachi’s pain and struggling. He cam quickly, then Kisame held Itachi more comfortably, Kakuzu and Hidan letting go of his legs. Itachi wore himself out from crying and finally went limp.

Deidara brought Yahiko a damp washcloth. Yahiko knelt down and cleaned Itachi’s face of the blood and tears and eye humours. Yahiko straightened Itachi’s hair and a picture was taken. That picture and the mutilated eye were immediately sent to Fugaku.

Yahiko picked Itachi up and carried him back to his room. Itachi fell asleep at some point.

Itachi awoke to someone caressing his face. Just his cheek. He opened his eyes, but there was something over his right eye. He reached up and felt a bandage there. He panicked and grew nauseous, realizing the nightmare had been real. He ripped at the bandage, not wanting to accept the truth, wanting to find his eye still there. Yahiko grabbed his wrists and restrained him.

“I’m sorry, Itachi, I’m sorry.”

Itachi collapsed against him, weeping. He was alright being held for a few moments, but then he struggled out of Yahiko’s arms, not wanting to be touched. He ended up in the corner. He’d torn the bandage off and Yahiko saw the wound.

Itachi wore himself out again and Yahiko crouched next to him. “I’m truly sorry, Itachi. I never wanted to harm you like that. I never wanted to damage your beauty.”

“Please, just send me home,” Itachi sobbed.

“I can’t do that. But your father will work harder to retrieve you. I’m sure you’ll be going home soon.”

Once he fully calmed down, Itachi went to the bathroom to wash his face. That’s when he saw the damage. He screamed.

-----

Kakashi awoke to screaming. He turned in his small bed to see Itachi was missing. Itachi was on the floor, pulling himself against the wall, terrified. Kakashi dropped from the bed to pull Itachi against him and sooth him.

“It’s alright, Itachi. Shhhhh. It’s okay. You’re safe. Shhhh.” He rocked Itachi and petted his hair.

It took a few minutes for Itachi to calm down. “Kakashi?”

“Yeah. You’re safe.”

Itachi snuggled further into his chest. “Hidan,” he sobbed. “Hidan cut out my right eye.”

Kakashi didn’t say anything, just rocked him gently and continued to stroke his hair.

“I’m sorry. You did so much to make yesterday perfect and I had to have a nightmare.”

“It’s okay. As long as I wasn’t the cause,” Kakashi said lightly.

“No, not you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Who knows, I might develop PTSD later on; some say they get it a few years after the trauma. Just comfort me like this when it happens.”

Itachi gave a little huff.

“It’s early. I’ll take a shower and change, then I’ll take you home and you can shower and change and we can have breakfast with your family. ‘K? Lie down for a while.” Maybe Sasuke’s prescence would help Itachi right now. He was planning to take Itachi home today anyway.

Itachi nodded and Kakashi helped him off the floor and back into bed. Kakashi crouched at the bedside and caressed Itachi’s hair. His heart swelled. He didn’t like the fact Itachi was tormented by what happened, but he also wanted more than ever to protect his little raven. Itachi slipped into a doze and Kakashi hurried to shower, not wanting to leave Itachi alone too long.

He gently woke Itachi and helped him dress and took him home. Kakashi used Itachi’s key to open the door and helped him upstairs and into his room. Itachi showered and dressed and Kakashi escorted him downstairs, catching Inoichi to let him know they would be joining the rest of the family for breakfast.

When Sasuke came down, he spotted the pair in the living room. He narrowed his eyes at his brother. “Your phone was off.”

“You called at an inopportune moment.” Something occurred to him and turned to Kakashi. “The night on the beach, were you going to give me the ring then?”

“Ring?” Sasuke was startled. “You gave him the ring?”

“You knew about it?” Itachi asked.

“I showed him to get him off my back,” Kakashi said. “And yes, I was going to give it to you when your brother called.”

He couldn’t see, but he could still glare. “Sasuke,” Itachi growled. “If you interrupted us on purpose . . .”

Sasuke put his hands up even though Itachi couldn’t see it. “I didn’t, I swear.”

“Hn. I turned off my phone to keep you from interrupting again.”

“What if something happened?”

“You had Kakashi’s number.”

Sasuke surrendered. “So, you got the ring.”

Itachi held up his hand with the ring.

Sasuke turned to Kakashi. “You did that on purpose to show me up.”

“Yep!” Kakashi’s eyes made happy little rainbows.

Sasuke grumbled and headed for the dining room; Kakashi and Itachi followed him, Fugaku and Mikoto soon joined them. It took Mikoto five minutes to notice the ring on her eldest son’s hand.

“Oh, Itachi!”

Sasuke scowled.

Itachi couldn’t stop a smile and he couldn’t kill it either. “He gave it to me last night.”

Mikoto stood and came around to hug her son. “I’m so happy for you.”

“It’s not marriage,” Itachi protested.

“As good as,” Kakashi said.

Mikoto shifted her affection to her new son-in-law, hugging him and kissing his forehead.

“I take it you approve?” Kakashi asked.

“Of course I do. If Fugaku or I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

Something told Kakashi that she didn’t just mean in the house having breakfast, but here in the land of the living.

“Those better not be cubic zirconia,” Fugaku said.

“Diamonds and onyx.”

Fugaku nodded in approval. He even let a smile slip. “So Sasuke, the ball is in your court.”

“Next week, okay? I’ll ask her at the next opportune moment. Um, how did you . . .”

Itachi described the last two days—minus the sex and nightmare—and conveyed the Namikazes’ wish to meet up. Fugaku agreed to call Minato to schedule lunch or dinner.

Itachi seemed to have recovered well from his nightmare. Kakashi had expected them, expected depression and so forth and was a little glad Itachi finally had a nightmare in his presence, just to relieve—or meet—Kakashi’s expectation. Now Itachi was happy and comfortable.

They adjourned to the living room to talk. They were then startled by pounding on the door. Inoichi hurried to the door. He may be a butler, but he was also a member of the family’s security; he was cautious as he peeked outside. Seeing the person outside, he glanced at Fugaku who stopped at the door between the hall and living room. Before Inoichi could speak, the man outside used his own key to force the door open, pushing Inoichi away.

“Uncle! Where’s Itachi?”

Itachi was already poised to stand and did so now, taking a few steps toward the hall and that voice.

“Shisui?” Itachi asked.

Shisui moved past his uncle and grabbed Itachi in a tight embrace. “I just found out. I’m so sorry, Itachi. God, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”

“Where have you been?” Fugaku asked him.

Without letting go of his cousin, Shisui answered, “I’ve been working for the government overseas and they decided not to tell me because they knew I’d come straight home. They only told me because my job was done. I’ve been on planes since to get here as soon as possible.”

He pulled away to touch the dark sunglasses Itachi wore and slowly pulled them up. He looked like he was about to cry, collapse, or scream. He pulled Itachi to him again. Kakashi was certain Shisui was crying into Itachi’s long hair.

Fugaku motioned to the rest of them to leave the two cousins alone. Kakashi followed the family to the lounge.

“That bastard,” Sasuke grumbled.

“I think he’s telling the truth,” Fugaku said. “I tried to get word to him, but his superiors said he was unreachable.”

“It’s not just the fact he wasn’t around,” Sasuke said.

“You never liked him,” Mikoto said.

Fugaku turned to Kakashi. “Shisui is my older brother’s son. My brother and his wife died when Shisui was about nine. I took him in, but he was pretty independent, resentful I think that his family was dead and didn’t want us to replace them, but he and Itachi were close.

“He’s a naturally skilled negotiator and interrogator. He uses both skills as an independent contractor for the government and large corporations. So be careful when talking to him; he’s probably analyzing you.”

“I’ll keep it in mind. He won’t be the first interrogator I’ve been around; quite a few wondering around Afghanistan.”

“He’s a manipulative bastard,” Sasuke grumbled.

“Sasuke!” Mikoto scolded.

“He’s bad for Itachi,” Sasuke said.

That seemed to spur something in Fugaku. He went back and they all followed. Sasuke had been right.

Shisui was crying and mumbling.

“God, how can you stand it?” Shisui sobbed. “So terrible. How could someone do this to you? How could they do it? Poor thing. How can you stand it?”

The rest of them knew that that kind of talk was only going to damage Itachi; they all worked so hard for him to move past what happened and here was someone trying to pull him back down.

“Shisui,” Fugaku said. “Itachi’s expected at a lunch,” he lied. “Let him get ready.”

Shisui reluctantly let his cousin go. That’s when Kakashi finally got a good look at him. He definitely looked like an Uchiha, but not as beautiful as Itachi or Sasuke, something Kakashi now was certain was something they inherited from their mother. His hair was wilder and curlier, his eyes also naturally wider than Itachi’s almond shape.

Fugaku gestured for Inoichi to bring him his wallet and stopped Kakashi as he escorted Itachi toward the stairs, pressing a few bills into his hand. “Just bring his spirits up.”

“Understood.”

Once Kakashi got Itachi to his room, he looked at Itachi’s uncovered eyes. He looked fine. “Are you okay? We were worried Shisui would depress you with that talk.”

“Plunge me into self-pity? If it wasn’t for the ring on my finger, he might have succeeded. I’m fine, let’s get out of here.”

Itachi hurried Kakashi down to the door. Once they were in the car and heading down the driveway, Itachi apologized.

“I’m sorry. My cousin and I were really close. I expected that, but didn’t think he’d show up any time soon. One thing, be careful when you talk to him, he’s a professional interrogator. He’s naturally manipulative. Used to work for the CIA. So, don’t get in a conversation with him.”

“Your father already warned me.”

“That talent of his is one of the reasons we’re not close anymore.”

“I can understand that.”

“I’ll stop him if he tries anything with you. I wish he hadn’t showed up.”

“Sasuke doesn’t like him. I feel better knowing there are at least two people he hates more than me.”

Itachi snuggled back comfortably and leaned toward Kakashi, smiling. “He doesn’t hate you. He and I have always loved each other dearly, but we also love to snipe at each other. He’ll ease up a little, but he won’t change that much. He’s finally taking an attitude with me again. I’m glad. But then Shisui shows up. Sasuke really loathes him.”

“Why?”

“One reason is I think Sasuke resents the time I spent with Shisui when we were younger. That and Shisui and Sasuke just don’t get along.”

There was a lot unspoken, but Itachi had shown he’d tell Kakashi things when he was ready.

“I heard my father,” Itachi said. “Just drive for a while. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all.”

“I feel like I’ve monopolized your time recently.” That was better than before when he felt he was being a burden.

“Honestly, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.” He grabbed Itachi’s hand.

Like a baby, Itachi fell asleep as Kakashi drove. He hadn’t slept well with that nightmare and woke up early because of it.

They stayed out for nearly two hours, grabbing lunch after Itachi woke up. Shisui had ridden a taxi to the house, so they couldn’t be sure if he was still in the house. They entered the house quietly, but Sasuke was waiting for them in the living room.

“Father’s talking with Shisui,” Sasuke told Itachi. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m not so fragile anymore.”

“’Tachi.” Shisui found him after all. “You’re all right?”

“I keep telling people, I’m fine. I wasn’t at first, but I’m adapting.”

“And you’re his new boyfriend.” Shisui turned his attention to Kakashi.

“Don’t even,” Itachi warned. “You try any psychological crap with him and I will never forgive you. Father and even stick-up-his-ass Sasuke approve of him.”

Sasuke pouted and narrowed his eyes at being talked about like that while he was standing right there.

“In fairness, Itachi, they approved of Naruto. And look what he did. I never approved of him.”

“You wouldn’t approve of anyone. If what happened to me was the result of a fault in my judgment in men, then I would defer to your abilities, but it wasn’t. I don’t want him subjected to your mind games. Got it?” They were all surprised at Itachi’s sudden venom.

Shisui recoiled. “Understood.” Shisui actually looked deflated. Kakashi believed it was because Itachi didn’t trust him. Shisui stood straighter and faced Kakashi. “We weren’t properly introduced before.” He held out his hand. “Shisui Uchiha.”

Kakashi took his hand. “Kakashi Hatake.” He didn’t try to exert too much force in the handshake, but he was firm. Shisui didn’t try to dominate him either.

“Shouldn’t you be leaving?” Sasuke was clearly trying to get his cousin to leave.

“Indeed. Some private soiree I’m not invited to. I still have my townhouse. Please call me, Itachi, for anything.” He put a hand to Itachi’s cheek, making Itachi flinch. “My dear cousin.”

He was about to leave when he glanced down Itachi’s body and saw the ring on his finger. His eyes darted to Kakashi and then to Kakashi’s hand. He swallowed seeing that they had matching rings. He left without mentioning it. Kakashi thought that was odd; Shisui had seemed almost resigned, like a man who realized the person he loved was committed to another. Kakashi was beginning to have his suspicions about why Sasuke hated Shisui.