This looks like a long one, so bare with me.

—

Itachi woke up before Kisame as usual. He sat up and looked around. It was pitch black. He thought that odd as he remembered that a full moon should still be in the sky this morning. And there was no glow to the east. He activated his Sharingan and his stomach jumped into his throat: he could see nothing, not even the chakra flow of the powerful shinobi sleeping not five meters away. He was blind. He knew it coming, his vision getting worse every day, but he was sure he had more time. His vision had given out completely during the night. He was blind.

Itachi panicked. He grabbed for all his few belongings, having to feel for them in the morning glow, and snuck away as quietly as he could manage. Once far enough away, he summoned his raven.

"I need to get to Konoha," he whispered.

"Are you insane?" the large bird asked, but he spoke as quietly as a raven could.

"I'm blind. I need someone I can trust. There's only one person in the world I trust. Besides you, of course."

"Kakashi-kun."

"Help me find him."

"Too bad you don't have a beast of burden as a summon," the raven cawed. "Can you at least see chakra?"

"No, but nothing's wrong with my hearing and I can sense chakra."

"Keep close."

The raven weaved between trees, leading Itachi between tree trunks. Itachi could hear the whispering of the raven's feathers, but Itachi still tripped on roots, fallen limbs, and logs. Itachi would just get up and insist on continuing; Kisame would be looking for him. But once he just lay there for several minutes. The raven didn't bother him.

They approached the village by early evening. Itachi described a part of the forest he knew Kakashi walked his pack of dogs. Or at least he used to. The raven led him to the place. Itachi sat and waited. The raven sat on a branch for a while, but then took pity on his master and came down to be closer to him. He knew Itachi better than any other being in the world; the boy was scared. And rather helpless. He couldn't see the blood covering his hands and arms and soaking through his lavender Akatsuki pants and couldn't see to bind the wounds.

"You should wipe your hands and arms," the raven suggested. "It wouldn't do for Kakashi-kun to see you covered in blood. He might get the wrong idea."

Itachi took out his canteen and used some of the water to rinse his arms and drank the rest.

"That's better. Are you sure Kakashi-kun will come through here?"

"Not at all. It might be days. If he doesn't show up within an hour, we'll give up. Just help me find a place to sleep and you can go."

"I won't leave you out here by yourself. I won't let harm befall you. If Kakashi-kun attacks you, I will defend you."

Itachi smiled as much at the sentiment as imagining the raven fighting Kakashi and his hounds; he could do it, but it was an amusing thought nevertheless.

They waited. Twilight settled and Itachi was thinking about where he would spend the night when he and the raven sensed chakra approaching. Itachi's heart raced as he felt the caress of Kakashi's chakra. He stood, his eyes closed, and braced himself against a tree with one hand and waited for Kakashi to sense him. It didn't take long.

Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks and approached cautiously with a kuni ready in his hand, his other hand prepared to raise his headband to reveal his Sharingan.

Itachi looked down and waited to be found. He heard Kakashi's sharp intake of breath and had to smile.

"Itachi?"

"I'm not here to fight," Itachi said. "I need your help."

"You'll understand if I don't trust you."

"Please, sempai." Itachi let some of his fear bleed into his voice. "I have no where else to go."

"How 'bout hell?" one of the hounds said.

Kakashi chided him. He started at Itachi's closed eyes. "I'll listen."

Itachi shifted, obviously not wanting to talk in front of Kakashi's pack. "I'm blind, Kakashi."

"What?"

"I woke up this morning completely blind. I ran. If Kisame or anyone in Akatsuki knew, I'm dead. I've been going blind, but it happened so fast. I've been forced to use my Mangekyô several times in the last month; my eyes couldn't take it anymore. You implied that you unlocked the Mangekyô and that you realized the risk. Please believe me, sempai. I just need time to adapt, then I'll leave. Just give me a place to stay and some provisions. I needn't be much of a burden. Please Kakashi, do this one thing for me."

"It's a lot to ask," Pakkun said.

"Have pity on me, Pakkun," Itachi pleaded lightly and with a small smile.

"Like the pity you showed your own family?" another hound demanded.

"That's enough," Kakashi ordered. Itachi's slight smile had gone.

Kakashi raised his headband, and used his Sharingan to look at Itachi. No deception, no strong chakra that pointed to attack, and, most telling, no chakra at all in his eyes.

"I'll help you."

"Kakashi," Pakkun said, "this is treason if anyone finds out."

"I'm aware of it, Pakkun. You'll all stay quiet about this." The hounds all nodded their assent. "Pakkun, Akino, and Bull stay. The rest of you head on home." The pack hesitated, not trusting Itachi, but they obeyed. The rest of the hounds vanished in a puff of smoke. "Bull, let Itachi ride on your back." Bull nodded, but Itachi looked hesitant. "Or would you rather I carried you?" Itachi blushed and did not answer.

"Thank you, Kakashi." Itachi slowly walked over to him. Kakashi approached and grabbed Itachi's hand, leading him to the (very) large bull dog. "I needn't warn you that I kept Akino here in case this is a trap."

"I'm aware of it."

"If you, Kakashi-kun, or your hounds, do anything to harm Itachi-kun, I will attack, understand?" the raven said.

"Don't worry, I never go back on my word. I know of an abandoned house between Konoha and the next village. You should be safe there."

They arrived quickly. The house had not been in use for a least a decade. Itachi could not see it, but he could smell the decay.

"I've stopped here during a rain storm before. I don't think anyone else except maybe the Inuzuka or Aburame know of this place. You should be safe here for a while."

Pakkun smelled around. "I smell no one else. I wouldn't expect anyone to come here any time soon."

"Bull, Akino, stay with Itachi. Howl if Kisame or anyone else arrives. I'll come back with provisions."

"Thank you, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi took a long look at Itachi sitting dejectedly on the broken floor before he left with Pakkun.

Once out of earshot, "You still have feelings for him," Pakkun observed.

"I was in love with him, of course I still feel for him."

"This could easily end in disaster and not just for you or him."

"I'm aware of it."

Pakkun disappeared before Kakashi made it to the gates of Konoha. He entered as if nothing had happened and made his way to the store to buy the promised provisions. He also picked up a new bed roll, a black cloak, and bandages. He went home, packaged everything along with a cooking pot, and snuck over the village wall and back to Itachi.

Itachi hadn't moved. Kakashi took out a pair of steaks and threw them to Bull and Akino. Then he knelt near Itachi. "Hungry?"

"Ah," Itachi tried not to sound desperate. He'd not eaten all day and he'd been running almost nonstop; he was famished.

Kakashi built a fire and poured broth into the pot followed by some stew meat. He cut up and tossed in some vegetables.

While the soup simmered, Kakashi took out the bandages and ointment. He reached for Itachi's arm, but Itachi pulled away at being touched. Being defenseless made him jumpy.

"Forgive me," Itachi said and offered his arm.

"I understand." Kakashi washed the wounds and bound them. He pulled up Itachi's pants' legs and cleaned the wounds there as well. He wanted to scold Itachi, but what choice did he have but to rush to get away from the larger shinobi?

Kakashi served Itachi the soup with a chunk of bread. Itachi started off daintily.

"There's no need for manners; you must be hungry."

Itachi eagerly ate the soup, dunking the bread, and slurping up the broth.

"I brought you a bedroll and another cloak."

"Kakashi, I . . . thank you."

Kakashi startled him again by grabbing his hand and placing a stick of dangos in his hand. "At least it used to be your favorite."

Itachi looked so much like the twelve year old Kakashi had taken under his wing so long ago. He was near tears. Kakashi also realized Itachi was scared. He wanted to stay with him, but he knew he couldn't. Itachi carefully tasted the dango.

"You and your raven can survive here for a while, right?"

"Ah." Kakashi stood up. "Kakashi, I'm sorry."

"For what, exactly?"

"Everything. There was no way I could tell you what I was planning. As for Tsukuyomi, it was the only way to defeat you without physically harming you. Forgive me. I didn't want to kill you."

"Why did you do it, Itachi?" Itachi said nothing. "I don't believe it was to test your power. I could perhaps see you doing it because of the pressure they were putting you under, but you wouldn't have needed to kill everyone. And Sasuke—"

"I did it. There's nothing else to say about that night. Thank you for everything."

Kakashi sighed, but he sat back down.

"Kakashi?"

"I wasn't asking for information in exchange for my help. I wish you could have said something to me before you left."

"What could I have said? I said what I really needed to say the last time I was with you."

"That made it all worse."

"I suppose so."

"Did you mean it?"

"Ah. Doesn't really matter anymore I guess. We'll be enemies again as soon as I leave."

"Where will you go?"

"I'll find Sasuke and give him the peace he desires."

"You mean kill you."

"Ah. It's his right."

"You don't have to die."

"What should I do then? I'm blind. And Sasuke will never rest until I'm dead."

"You could stay with me."

"What happened to you not trusting me?"

"If you were telling the truth back then . . . I was too."

"It's too dangerous, Kakashi. Like Pakkun said: it's treason."

"I've loved you all this time. I'll risk it."

"I should stay out of Konoha. But I . . ." Itachi stopped himself, his expression pained. "Don't risk anything for me. I can't stay. Sasuke deserves answers and peace."

Kakashi slowly came forward, giving Itachi enough warning, and kissed him. Kakashi pulled back before the kiss could become more heated. "I can't stay tonight. If I don't have a mission, I'll come tomorrow. I'll leave Bull with you; Akino will stay with me. If anything happens, Akino will be able to hear Bull's howl and I'll come for you."

Itachi nodded. "Will you put out the fire? I don't need the light and I can't see to put it out."

Kakashi put out the fire. "Try to sleep." And he was gone.

Itachi couldn't sleep. Every sound of the wind or the smallest animal or bird made him jump. He finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion a little before dawn.

Kakashi also had a hard time sleeping. He couldn't believe how Itachi had come back into his life. Now if he could just find a way to keep him here.