Title: Watching over
Author: Lisea18
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I'm making no money from writing this
Pairing: KisaSasu, KisaIta, implied ItaSasu (if you want it to be that way)

A big thanks to my Beta Strailo who gently agreed to check this strange pairing.
This is a gift to Akira Nishikawa alias IshidaYU, I hope you will like it.

Author's note: English is not my first language, so please forgive my mistakes.

Read before reading: This story is AU ninjaverse, it's taking place right after Sasuke learned the truth about Itachi. He didn't yet agree to join Akatsuki (so it's also before we see him cry in front of the sea). However I made it so that Madara already revealed himself to Kisame (which happens a bit later in the manga).
I don't read the manga anymore, but I read the latest chapters concerning Kisame (507 and 508) so spoiler for that part (I advise you to read those chapters to understand that part of this story).

Watching over
Chapter I: day -1 to day 6

oooooo day minus1 oooooo

They were buried deep inside the ground where no light could reach them. The few candles that lit the place only created worrisome shadows, wavering and flickering. They made the whole place seem even darker. For light always shone brighter in darkness, but the opposite was also true… and those lights seemed to be slowly engulfed by dark. The air felt heavy since it wasn't renewed as much as needed, the candles eating away the oxygen too. It felt cold and humid, the sensation only confirmed by the hypnotizing sound of droplets hitting the ground.

Measured, unhurried steps could be heard echoing on the walls. A distorted shadow ate away the other minute ones, getting bigger and bigger until Kisame, his enormous sword tied to his back as if it weighed nothing, appeared. He was slowly making his way to the Akatsuki's real leader's chamber. The former Mizukage, alias Madara, had requested his presence as soon as possible. The messenger hadn't been able to tell him why, but it was obvious it had to do with Itachi's little brother. Kisame had grinned at that and leisurely made his way to their leader.

He reached the simple wooden door soon enough, knocked, and without waiting for an answer, opened it.

"You called?" he asked, not bothering to bow.

Madara had his back to him and was sorting through papers as Kisame closed the door and waited. His eyes darted around the mostly empty room not stopping on anything, not even the transparent bottle containing Itachi's eyes.

"Keep an eye on Sasuke," ordered Madara, still busy; he was obviously getting ready to leave.

Kisame grinned. So he was to kill him if he tried to escape. He was more than used to these kinds of missions.

"Hey, that's interesting; isn't he supposed to be a good pawn?" wondered Kisame aloud, not masking his excitement in the slightest.

"If he joins us, otherwise he could be a threat," replied the man, rolling a scroll and tying it.

Kisame laughed, a deep rumble, his grin showing all his pointy teeth in a frightening way. Madara eyed him as he left the room to carry out his order, visibly very pleased with his mission. He would be the perfect man for such a task. He had been Itachi's partner. hence the Sharingan had no secret for him. Moreover the man had been sort of fond of Itachi, even if he didn't seem that affected by the latter's death. If Sasuke tried anything, Kisame would be able to stop him, and could even use that as an opportunity to avenge his former team-mate, if he felt the need to.

Madara went back to the things at hand; he had a war to prepare for. He would give Sasuke the responsibility of catching the eight tails for them while Pein would destroy Konoha. In the meantime things needed to be ready for what was to come.

ooooooooooooo

Kisame had been 24 when he first encountered the man that would be his partner for many years to come. He had been in Akatsuki for a while already; his former partner had found death when he had become involved in some personal business. Kisame didn't care at all; the man had been alright but not interesting enough to be worth mourning over. Unlike Kakuzu, he was conciliatory so he didn't end up killing his partners; however, he didn't try to save their ass either.

Kisame watched the lone figure by the sea from afar. Uchiha Itachi. He had to admit he was slightly excited. He had murdered his whole clan. They were alike. Kisame had killed his brethren so many times he didn't count anymore. Meeting someone like him was… interesting.

Maybe he should have felt insulted, having a 13 year old kid as a partner would have angered many. Kisame wasn't one to judge a book by its cover, especially since he knew what was behind it. The guy had been raised during the war, had seen Kyuubi destroy his village, an experience which made people grow up pretty fast. No-one entered Akatsuki if they weren't special.

Kisame unhurriedly made his way closer, enjoying the excitement bubbling in him. The kid looked lost in thought, a leg dangling above the sea, unafraid of the swimming sharks circling its blue. A leg propped up for his arm to rest on it. For a moment a strange image made him shiver, as if Itachi was a breath from toppling over the top, right into the open sea and into the mouths of sharks but… something was keeping him grounded. Kisame shook his head, wondering what gave him that stupid sensation.

Even before he uttered a word, cold eyes locked on him, something resembling mistrust on those stony features. He didn't look his age at all; hadn't he known, he would have given him around 20. But then ninja training and hardship tended to do that to people. Not to mention the stony features made him look adult. He was dressed in simple plain black clothes, and the Akatsuki coat, outlining the paleness of his skin, the fairness of his delicate features; a deadly trap to anyone underestimating him because of it.

Not minding the icy look, Kisame just introduced himself with his usual politeness and respect.

"I've been selected to be your partner. I am Hoshigaki Kisame formerly of the Hidden Mist village and its seven shinobi swordsmen… pleased to make your acquaintance. And you are Uchiha Itachi, formerly of the hidden leaf village."(1)

Itachi didn't react at him already knowing his name; he didn't seem like the talkative type, so Kisame just went on.

"I've heard the rumors of how you killed every last one of your clansmen. I know all about you… that's why I was chosen to be your partner. It's impossible to put into words… the way it feels to slaughter your brethren… eh, Itachi-san?" (2) he asked, his expression one of pure excitement, like a predator remembering a nice juicy prey.

Itachi didn't recoil, he didn't react at all for a moment, then his deep voice carried words he would never ever forget.

"You're rather talkative. You say you know me well… what about yourself? You were lost in the mist, a wandering rogue unable to find a place for himself… am I right?" (3)

Those simple words had been like a slap. Showing him he didn't know Itachi at all but that the latter had already seen through him. He hadn't been able to recognize it at the time, instead he had let Samehada grace Itachi's side, the latter not moving a finger. He had then informed him about sharks eating each other even inside their mother's womb.

"As of today, you and I are fellow members of Akatsuki. So be careful… of me," he had ended. (4)

A warning that even if they were partners, Itachi was nothing more than meat for him… and that if he was ordered to kill him, he would do so without blinking once. He was a shark by looks and mind.

"Same to you," Itachi had said, not even turning toward him. (5)

He had shivered in pleasure as Itachi activated what he would later learn was the Mangekyou Sharingan. He loved strong men, they were always nice to fight or watch fight. He hoped that this Itachi guy would prove interesting, it was already starting well.

"Of course, I'd rather we got along and have a good time. Hopefully we won't end up as each other's final opponent," he had mentioned, Samehada back to his side. (6)

"Those who turn their hands against their comrades are sure to die a terrible death. Be prepared."(7)

Kisame had been surprised by that. For someone having murdered his whole clan he seemed rather… judging. Was he repentant? He was so ethical and straight for a murderer of his own family. He had a sinking feeling they weren't at all alike… but he chose to push it far to the back of his mind.

"Kheheh… the both of us are already both branded as terrible men, are we not?" chuckled Kisame, smiling at the man was now finally facing him. (8)

He had known that all along. Even if he had always pretended he wasn't touched by having killed his own team-mates, pretended to love murder… it was like Itachi said… he had truly only been looking for a place to belong.

"No… We are humans, not fish," had stated Itachi, looking right at him, then passing him by as he continued. "We don't know what kind of people we truly are until the moment before our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realize what you are. That's what death is, don't you think?" (9)

Those words he was sure would follow him till the moment of his death. Because they truly meant Itachi didn't judge him, didn't see him as a monster… Kisame, by his looks and bulk force, had always been considered as nothing but a shark, a monster. He had become one as expected, killing even his friend if ordered to… he saw himself like one. And yet, this man he didn't even know was telling him he wasn't a monster. He wasn't a fish but a human and as that, could always choose and become more than a monster.

oooooo day 0 oooooo

Kisame was one who loved to delay his pleasure; he loved the twisting of anticipation in his stomach. That's why he always took his sweet time to reach destinations that would bring him excitement. Such as his current one. He couldn't wait to see Sasuke again. Last time he had found him, the young man had changed. Colder, more collected, getting closer to Itachi… yet so very different once again, feelings rippling under him, a peaceful sea before the tempest.

How would he be now that he knew the truth? Would he be full of hatred? This time pure hatred and not one mixed with undying love as the one for Itachi had been. Would he be calm and resigned finally understanding everything that had happened and choosing peace? Would he be a mix of those? Would he be something totally different? Ah… he couldn't wait to see the teen, really.

Kisame rounded one last corner and stopped in front of the cavity. He could see the 16 year old teen, propped against the wall. He was as white as the bandages around his chest and shoulders, as well as covered in bruises and dirt. The bonds Madara had tied him in were undone, still lying around him and on his bent legs. For a moment Kisame saw that as a metaphor of the youngster being freed from the hatred, from Itachi's cruel guidance, from all the schemes wrapped around him since his birth.

Vacant eyes didn't even shift to him as he entered the room. Sasuke would never be free… he had been broken beyond repair a long time ago and life seemed to enjoy adding to the weight. Kisame sighed. Would those eyes look as empty as Itachi's? Would they fill with hatred again? Would they remain vacant?

"Itachi… you messed him up quite badly," he murmured to the ghost of a man that had lived as a ghost of himself long before becoming one.

ooooooooooooo

Itachi hadn't been himself from the moment they had set foot in Konoha. Anyone would have missed it as he was always so composed, but Kisame knew better. He had even agreed, despite the obvious danger they were in, to tea and dango, a proposition Kisame had made to better enjoy his partner's unusual mood. He had noticed how Itachi was looking at the man waiting against the stall, how it had made Itachi tic when he had pronounced the name Sasuke. He hadn't had time to dwell more on it, a pity really as he could feel feelings shimmering beneath Itachi's ever cold façade.

They had left in a hurry, Itachi even leaving behind his unfinished dango, a hard parting as it was the young man's favorite food. When the two Konoha shinobi had faced them, Itachi was back to his usual self, not for unnecessary killing, but ready to deal with people getting in his way. They had pointed out Itachi had surely a good reason to come to Konoha since he never did something without a purpose. Kisame had had a premonition about this sudden wish to go to Konoha too. He had known it wasn't really for the nine tails, but it was only later he had understood the real reason: a warning for Konoha to leave Itachi's most precious person in peace.

Then Kakashi had arrived, setting off Itachi once again. Kisame had been so surprised to be ordered to leave the man alone… Oh Itachi had explained it very well, but it was all a front. Even his "we came here looking for something" had sent shivers down Kisame's back. And to see his partner use the Sharingan on Kakashi, even though he could have chosen another way to get rid of him… but the man had been Sasuke's teacher, Itachi had enjoyed seeing him, testing him.

He could go on and on about how strange this whole day had been. Really. But the best part was when he had first met Sasuke, he could remember it clearly even all those years later. It had been a very fascinating moment. Sasuke had been such a stark contrast to Itachi; a smaller version of the latter, but so full of fire.

It had been painfully obvious to him how much Sasuke loved his brother and hated him at the same time; it was eating the poor child alive. He couldn't stand Itachi not reacting to him; he was burning up with pent up conflicting emotions. He was trying to catch Itachi's attention so damn much… not knowing he had it all from the moment his chakra had been felt coming near.

Itachi had caught his wrist, breaking it and coldly stated that Sasuke was in the way… he had had to say it, while he could have remained silent. It was no more than a way to convince himself it was the case. It had been fascinating to see Itachi fight him, touch him, forget everything around him but the young boy. He could have gotten rid of him with a mere glance, literally, but he had taken the time to land blows on him, harsh caresses.

"You lack hatred," he had murmured.

Itachi would never admit it, but Kisame had known, how much it had touched him to see that his brother still loved him. Even now, Kisame still wondered if those words hadn't truly meant "I lack you"… disturbing how "lack" sounded so close to another more intimate word. It was simple, Sasuke was the only subject that could bring a bit of life into the corpse Itachi tried to be.

For his goal, Itachi had used the Mangekyou, and held Sasuke through it, not dropping him. Was it to soothe both of their pain? Jiraiya had then used his frog jutsu, intestines slowly wrapping around the walls. Itachi hadn't let go of his beloved little brother until he was softly cushioned by the flesh.

It had taken Kisame quite a bit of self control not to kidnap Sasuke right there and give him to Itachi. It had surely been even harder on his partner to do the same thing, not taking his brother with him to shield him from everything. Especially since he knew perfectly well what Sasuke would end up doing out of despair… Itachi had purposefully sent Sasuke into Orochimaru's arms, not trusting the village to keep its promise now that the Hokage was dead.

oooooo day 1 oooooo

Promises to loved ones, spoken and unspoken, made you do stupid things. Kisame knew that very well. Itachi had promised to take care of his little brother, to his parents, to Sasuke, to himself. Sasuke had promised to track down Itachi, becoming stronger to face him as requested. Kisame had been in an ideal position to see how that had destroyed both men. One would think he knew better.

Carefully masking his chakra, Kisame made the doton hand seals, closing the handmade cave hidden behind a huge waterfall. A large pool welcomed him and he let Samehada merge with him and plunged in. Unsealing a secret entrance he entered the labyrinth of tunnels, having to open and close different channels until there was no water left.

None other than a very good water nin could reach this place, an old hideout Kisame had created that no-one knew about. Releasing his mutation with Samehada, he flung the huge sword on his shoulder where some bags were already stashed. Unhurriedly he made his way inside another maze of corridors, paying attention not to trigger any traps. He might have been a little too paranoid but when dealing with the Uchiha clan, one was never too careful. He didn't want one to enter, or the other to get out for that matter.

After many turns he finally reached his destination: a huge cavern. A nice fire was keeping the place warm and dry. It was almost cozy. The walls had been carved to put lights everywhere, given electricity by a small, but silent, generator, and it was lighting the room just fine. The air was recycled by another machine since Kisame hadn't wanted to take the risk of either lacking air or being poisoned if someone discovered the air channels above the ground.

Shelves with clothes, books and scrolls took up a part of the wall, there was empty places on it, weapons used to be there but they had been safely hidden. It was, once again, carved directly into the stone. A small futon was rolled up there, with a little low table as a nightstand. At the other side was a futon surrounded by cushions and in it rested a pale form. Near was a pack of medical equipment, bandages, disinfectant and the like. Next to the fire was a yet another shelf, where stuff for cooking and random canned food was packed, under which was a small fridge and freezer.

Kisame dropped his things on the ground, his eyes taking in the sleeping form of his… guest. He hadn't moved since Kisame brought him here, maybe he had used a bit too much of the anesthesia? But he had followed strictly the instruction he had tortured out of the damn doctor. Maybe he should regret letting the man live… he had preferred, in case he needed more information. If he had lied, he would go back and finish the job.

Taking the fishes he had caught, he skewered them on wooden sticks, and then stuck them in the stones surrounding the ashes to cook. Taking a basin he poured hot water inside, adding some carefully mashed medical leaves, then dipping a cloth inside. Grabbing Samehada he made his way to the futon.

With one swish of his blade he made sure the man, even if tied to the futon, didn't have any chakra left before kneeling next to him and putting the damp cloth on his burning forehead. He had learnt the hard way one was never too careful while dealing with a sick Uchiha.

ooooooooooooo

Kisame had learned fast that Itachi was a very efficient yet kind man. He would kill someone without letting them so much as utter a cry of pain. His movements were always perfectly calculated and no move was unnecessary. He was a man who forced respect, the fact he was stronger than most, including Kisame, helped too. They were a really good working pair, Kisame being the bulk force and Itachi the brain. But, unlike most intelligent people, Itachi had strength to back him up and didn't consider Kisame stupid… in fact he counted a lot on his capacity to understand his silent orders and guess his plans.

Kisame didn't mind being lead, on the contrary he liked being able to devote himself to someone, even if he would betray them without blinking if he was asked to. Itachi knew that perfectly and it made them even more competent. Kisame's opinion, when he voiced it, was also always taken into account.

Itachi didn't talk much but listened patiently to Kisame's babbling. Sometimes the shark-man swore he could see a tiny little smile grace his partner lips at his chatter… he always seemed lots in the past when it happened though. After their return to Konoha, and discovering about Itachi's little brother, Kisame knew exactly who he was reminding Itachi of at those moments. Even if it was hard to imagine the hatred-driven teen babbling, he guessed he must have been very different before the slaughter… couldn't blame him.

He had always known someone precious was keeping Itachi going, and only that. Itachi's eyes and his stance spoke volumes; he was used to being in control, to keeping to himself, but something was definitively broken inside. Itachi was so still most of the time, you could have taken him for a statue, his eyes were empty pits of darkness, he betrayed nothing… and by that just showed there was nothing inside when once there had been. Emptiness didn't look the same when one had had nothing to start with. He looked like someone who had closed off after losing everything.

Well, almost everything. There was still someone keeping him grounded, filling him with determination and the strength to go on… even when sickness was at the corner. Kisame had seen it immediately. He was always watching Itachi, as a moth drawn to a flame, so he had seen when illness slowly spread. He had been there when it first started.

He had seen the slight miss in aim, how Itachi would slow his pace from time to time. He had noticed the hand touching his chest as if to appease some pain. He had watched silently as Itachi read less and less, how he learnt to move around without light… and how his other senses became even sharper.

He still remembered the day it got bad enough for Itachi to actually rest. Until now, he had done as if nothing was happening, even when his eyes made him miss oh so slightly. That day, he had coughed and coughed, the sound raw and hurting just from hearing it. It had to scratch Itachi's throat raw. The usually perfectly neat man was covered in sweat, his dark eyes clouded by what was surely fever.

"We will stay at the inn tonight," had announced Itachi, stubbornly walking into the small town without showing any sign of weakness apart from what his body betrayed.

"Sure, Itachi-san," he had replied, finding and booking a nice place as fast as he could.

He had given Itachi some privacy, using that time to go find some medicine. When he came back Itachi had showered, staying in only his pants, and was lying on the bed, asleep but with labored breathing.

"Forgive me…" mumbled the sick man.

Kisame couldn't describe what those words had made him feel. He knew Itachi wasn't speaking to his deceased clan. They had talked enough for Kisame to know Itachi wasn't proud of it, but didn't regret it one bit either… he was apologizing to someone else. It didn't make him look weak. It took a really powerful man not to seem weak when begging for forgiveness.

For once, when Kisame decided to act kind, it wasn't with distant politeness or fake caring so his partner wouldn't be a hassle. He truly wanted to appease the younger man. So he gently neared the bed to press a cup of medicine to Itachi's lips. He hadn't been expecting the harsh deadly grip on his throat the moment he got close, nor the hypnotizing red eyes that burnt into his mind seconds later.

Seventy-two hours, who truly were only seconds, later Kisame emerged back to consciousness. He pressed his hand on his abused throat, he had been half strangled, good thing he was so bulk or he might have had some troubles. Blinking a few times to clear his mind from hundreds of Itachi playing fakir with his body, he looked up at the now sitting Itachi. The latter looked as if it was hard to reign in pain, he was silently watching him, his hand on the cup of medicine he had caught as Kisame fell from the illusion.

"Thank you," he rasped.

"As long as we are partners I will have your back Itachi-san," mumbled Kisame, still rubbing his sore skin.

It was real. He was truly devoted to this man. He would follow his orders as long as he could, protect him if needed and stay by him during those moments where illness consumed him. He knew Itachi would do the same. They trusted each other as much as two missing nins could.

"Want some dango for breakfast, Itachi-san?" he wondered, trapping the room for the night, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Sure," replied Itachi, lying back down, stifling another fit of coughs.

Kisame had looked at him suffering in silence and his eyes burning with his intent to live. They were set on something, surely the person keeping him alive and sane. He knew Itachi would fight the disease till the end, until he reached that goal only he knew, for that person he cared for.

ooooooooooooo

Kisame pressed the hot cloth, soaked with medicine, on Sasuke's face, wiping sweat, careful not to wet the bandages around his eyes, trailing to his shoulders. He rinsed it, before dipping it again in the brew and pressing it closely on the young man's lips, making him drink some of it. Once done, he took another white cloth, this time with cold water and laid it on Sasuke's forehead.

Dusting off his pants, he went back to the fire, pulling out the fishes and eating them slowly, his eyes on the sleeping teen. He was Itachi's precious person, the one who had given him the will to live and fight. He was Itachi's death… one truly knew who they were when dying, as Itachi had told him… Sasuke was that. Itachi had died as the beloved brother he was, protecting and caring for his younger sibling as he drew his last breath. Sasuke was what made Itachi a good man in the end.

"You never were a monster Itachi, were you?" whispered Kisame.

"Hnn Itachi-niisan," moaned Sasuke, his head rolling on the bed, the damp cloth sliding off his forehead.

Kisame stayed frozen. This strong teen, cold and resolute, looked so vulnerable calling out for his brother like that, but not weak. This had to be an Uchiha treat. It was… touching. Slowly Kisame's hand closed around Samehada's handle, his eyes not leaving his stirring guest.

"Niisan?" the dark-haired shinobi called again, puzzled, trying to move and feeling the bonds resisting.

"He's dead," bluntly reminded Kisame.

Not bothering to soften the announcement since well, Sasuke couldn't have forgotten his brother dying at his feet, mostly by his hand, right? That's when it hit him, why the half drugged boy was calling for Itachi. He could feel his brother's chakra close… very close… since Kisame had transplanted the man's eyes to him.

"Who's there?" hissed Sasuke, suddenly struggling for real, danger making his mind clear faster.

And it tilted. Pulling on his bonds, Sasuke tried to reach for his eyes, not managing to lift his arms more than a few inches. Shaking his head violently as if to force the bandages off he began to hyperventilate.

"What have you done?" he shrieked, getting frantic, even more as he couldn't mold chakra.

"Easy," ordered Kisame as Sasuke thrashed about.

He cursed and rushed forward as the bonds were ripped off the futon, Sasuke suddenly sitting, hysterically reaching for his eyes, clawing the bandages out as he screamed, having totally understood whose eyes they truly were. Kisame reached him just before he managed to do some real harm, but his face was bleeding where his nails had dug.

"Calm down!" commanded Kisame, forcing the teen's arms away, pinning him to the bed with some effort.

Who would have thought he would have so much strength remaining? Good thing his legs where still tied. He cussed again as he was viciously bitten, Sasuke still fighting him like a wild animal.

"What have you done!" he was screaming, accusing.

"Fulfilled Itachi's wish," growled Kisame, winding Sasuke with a harsh hit from his knee to his stomach.

Using that opportunity he released one hand to give a clear hit to the teen's nape, but not before being harshly punched in the jaw. He let Sasuke fall back on the bed, knocked out cold. He let go of his bruising hold on the teen's arm, throwing it away from him as he rubbed at his chin.

"Seriously, I should know better," he berated himself.

oooooo day 2 oooooo

Sasuke didn't come back to the world of the living before the next day. Kisame watched him carefully as he awoke. The anesthesia had finally been erased by his organism. It seemed his mind had cleared; he was calm and collected, subtly testing the bonds, his head turned toward him even if he couldn't see.

"You transplanted Itachi's eyes," he remarked, his voice ice-cold.

Kisame perfectly heard the unspoken "why?" but decided he didn't have to grace the brat with an answer. Instead he walked to him, stripped him of his chakra and grabbed his chin, carefully undoing the bandages to check on his work. He wasn't a medic; he only knew the basis to deal with his own injuries. Good thing he had managed to get enough instruction for it to work. The skin was still red and puffed around the eyes but there was no puss. It was clean and gently healing.

He harshly moved Sasuke's head around, inspecting the self-inflected wounds the teen had made when he had tried to gouge his eyes out. A clean cloth soaked in antiseptic in hand, he cleaned them. Grabbing a box he dipped his fingers in the ointment it contained. He had mixed it himself, using aesthetic, antibiotics and some herbs supposed to aid the healing. This time, being careful, he spread it around the eyes, making gentle circles so it was absorbed by the skin. Then he took a clean set of bandages and wrapped them securely around the dark head. He released his hold.

As he wondered why the teen had been so quiet, he hissed as a kunai graced his leg, cutting his pant open and almost drawing blood. That little shit had used his concentration to steal a kunai from his pouch! Note to self: never carry weapon when dealing with the stubborn Uchiha. Evading another hit by jumping away, he noticed Sasuke had freed one arm from its bond, and was now doing a fast job of cutting off the rest. With no chakra, he still managed to be a pain.

Kisame sidestepped the first attack, a circular kick supposed to make him loose his balance. A wisp of air told him Sasuke had almost stabbed his femoral artery with the kunai. He blocked a punch, grabbed the kick aiming to his side and threw his head back as his throat was nearly cut open. With a harsh hit of his knee in the teen's stomach he took some distance. Itachi was right; the kid had potential, even blind, his aim had been corrected in a few seconds. At least in close combat.

"You do know you have no way to win," deadpanned Kisame, looking at the crouched Sasuke, ready to pounce.

"Where is Madara?" inquired Sasuke, his stance not relaxing a bit, already conscious they had changed location and no one was around.

"Not here," replied Kisame, shrugging.

"You kidnapped me?" wondered Sasuke, slightly disbelieving before adding softly, "Because of Itachi?"

Ah, he really had nothing to envy his brother; he was a clever one too. Itachi was so sure Sasuke would surpass him, now Kisame understood why. Well, if he wasn't killed before reaching his full potential.

"You can say that," answered Kisame, turning his back to Sasuke so his boiling water wouldn't overflow.

He dodged a kunai. The aim was slightly off; Sasuke had used the sound of Kisame's movements as guide. Now he was walking cautiously to him, ready to strike, senses sharpened. He was used to relying on his eyes and he didn't know the configuration of the room. Amused, Kisame threw a stone and smiled as Sasuke didn't take the bait, having calculated that the sound was too light to be Kisame moving. Clever little bugger.

Kisame moved, the shuffle of his clothes enough to trigger Sasuke into action. He leaped towards him, ready to strike, but yelped as his feet collided with a low table, making him crash to the floor. Kisame chuckled, having purposefully moved right in front of it so he would have the pleasure of seeing one great Uchiha eat dust. But he had to give the kid points, as soon as he touched the floor he rolled away, stopping with his back to the fire in a crouched, defensive position.

"Forget it, you're too weak," assured Kisame, proving his point by going to grab his still boiling water, back to Sasuke to show him he didn't see him as a threat.

The teen bristled. Kisame moved just in time so the kunai aimed at the base of his neck sunk on his shoulder, making him grunt, as he caught the hand holding it and with a swift kick of his feet as he bent down, projecting the smaller body above his shoulder and slamming him down. He twisted the arm he was holding behind the teen's back, one leg crushing his legs under his weight. He was going to immobilize the other arm when hot ashes were thrown at his face. To avoid being seriously hurt he moved back, forced to release his hold.

Sasuke swirled on himself, jumping to his feet and aiming for the throat with a backward kick. Kisame evade it easily but he hadn't expected the teen to make a full circle by kicking the ground when landing, sending his fist right at Kisame's breathing pipe. He coughed, thanking his strong, muscular body for having blocked part of the hit. Grabbing his bicep, he threw Sasuke back, kicking him hard on the back and sending him flying across the room to land on the cushions. Hand to hand combat was dangerous; Sasuke had really good perceptions.

"I wanted to be sure Itachi's last wishes were fulfilled," explained Kisame, walking unhurriedly to the collapsed teen, who was already struggling against his weaken body to stand up and fight again, "but that doesn't mean I will be nice with you and if I have to I will kill you," he warned.

Catching Sasuke by the nape he unceremoniously slammed him back on the futon before grabbing his left hand and sighing at its burnt state because of the ashes. He cleaned the wound, put some of his ointment on it and bandaged it.

"Why?" whispered Sasuke, not resisting anymore.

It seemed the sentence about Itachi had calmed him down… or he was buying his time before attacking again. What a pain.

"That's none of your business, kid," replied Kisame, throwing a cover on the shivering body, fever striking again.

"I'm not a kid," growled Sasuke, trying to sit but being pushed down by Kisame's strong hand.

"I'm past thirty; to me you're nothing but a kid," he answered, amused at Sasuke's aggravation.

"Itachi was younger too and you didn't consider him a kid," argued the teen, certainly glaring under the bandages.

"Ah, but Itachi was Itachi and you're you," chuckled Kisame.

It seemed Sasuke had concluded Kisame wasn't an enemy, or that it was safer for the moment to play along until he was strong enough to outdo him. But Kisame leaned for the former option, Sasuke was genuine right now. Certainly he was feeling a connection because of their shared… love for Itachi.

"You were the one who transplanted my eyes, not Madara," stated Sasuke.

"You already said that," reminded Kisame.

Sasuke growled, tilting his head the other way. And if Kisame didn't know better he would have sworn the teen was sulking. It was... refreshing to have an Uchiha act as something else than a cold, unfeeling statue. But then he already knew Sasuke had a temper his brother didn't have at all. Another Uchiha treat: duality. Itachi was a ruthless killer, yet kind. Sasuke was a cold blooded avenger, yet full of fire and hidden kindness.

"He pretended he wanted your eyes, so you would know that the Mangekyou Sharingan was going to make you blind and you needed his eyes to stop that from happening. He wanted you to have them. So I transplanted them. He also wanted to protect you from Madara's schemes, so I took you away from him, that's all there is to it."

He didn't mention that Itachi wanted Sasuke to come back as Konoha's hero, because he knew that wasn't possible now. Sasuke would want to avenge his brother's cruel destiny. He also knew about some council members that should worry about their asses.

"You loved him?"

"If that's how you want to call it," shrugged Kisame, placing a cold cloth on Sasuke's head before walking away to prepare some beverage to help the teen's recovery, as well as some soups.

oooooo day 3 oooooo

Kisame sealed the entrance. It was his last time going out for a moment. He had brought back all the supplies they might need, especially medicines and food. It was safer not to be spotted from now on. He didn't want to think about how Madara was reacting… To think in the end Itachi mattered more than his leader was rather puzzling for Kisame.

He chuckled as he noticed some of his traps had been triggered. You could count on stubborn Sasuke to try and escape. However it was completely impossible without chakra, he had made sure of that. He hadn't been gone long enough for the teen to rebuild enough chakra to be a threat, even if he planned to strip him of any he might have. The brat was resourceful. He could bet he had rifled through the house for any weapons he might use, not that he would find any.

Kisame cautiously entered the cave, half expecting Sasuke to jump on him all claws out. He didn't. He was doing push-ups, and had been training for a while obviously, sweat covering his body, showing the muscles out. The room looked perfectly untouched but Kisame knew he had inspected every nook and cranny, mapping the place.

"Good morning," he greeted, swinging Samehada once next to Sasuke before starting to put away all his supplies.

"Hn," replied Sasuke, doing a few more push-ups before sitting on the floor, watching Kisame with unseeing eyes.

The latter glanced at the time and started making lunch and a potion the doctor had told him to give Sasuke three times a day when he would wake up. He didn't like silence. With Itachi he would babble and it seemed he would have to do the same with Sasuke, but he might get more reaction.

"Consider yourself home," he started only to have Sasuke snort derisively. "You wouldn't be this well treated if you were a prisoner," pointed out Kisame, "but you're not allowed to leave yet, so one might say you are," said Kisame, voice laughing.

"What happened to my team?" asked Sasuke, completely ignoring Kisame's attempt at discussion and humor.

"I don't know."

Sasuke retreated back into silence. Kisame eyed him carefully... was he worried about his team-mates? Ah… he was one of those, wasn't he? A good guy, the one that won't let you fall behind even if it eventually means he will have to stay behind with you. Itachi was very proud of his brother because of that. Kisame let the water boil and started crushing the leaves into powder. Sasuke simply went back to training to the sound of Kisame making the crusher roll in the bowl. They stayed in silence until lunch was ready.

"I will set up a bath for you after lunch; I have clean clothes for you too," he told Sasuke, kicking a plate towards him.

The teen stopped it with his feet but didn't touch it. Kisame had been warned by the doctor he might not feel like eating for a while but he suspected it was also out of weariness. Couldn't blame him. He ate in silence; he was used to it with Itachi. Even if he talked a lot, there was always long moment of silence, especially since Itachi had been the silent type. Sasuke seemed just like him on that matter.

Done, he washed the dishes. Sasuke wrapped his still full plate in transparent cellophane and put it on the fridge. When one was a ninja you learnt to never let food spoil. Kisame smiled at that. Sasuke had already made a mental map of the place and its contents.

Checking on his now filtering medicine, he noticed it was done. He gave a tentative sniff and hoped it tasted better than it smelled. But that might be a good sign; absolutely revolting medicine was usually the most efficient ones… maybe because you didn't want to have to take it ever again.

"Drink this," ordered Kisame.

He offered the cup to Sasuke, who didn't take it.

"I know it smells awful but it's not poisoned," assured Kisame.

Sasuke didn't move an inch, on the contrary his whole body language told he was ready to fight or run for it.

"I have no reason to kill you after going through the trouble of transplanting Itachi's eyes," pointed out Kisame, already knowing he would have to use force to make the damn teen drink his medicine.

Sasuke snorted derisively, clearly conveying he didn't trust him. Kisame smiled ruthlessly, showing all his pointy teeth. He knew Sasuke couldn't see it, but he didn't care, he sort of loved the cat and mouse play, especially since he was sure to win but still got a kick from it. He knew why Sasuke didn't want to take the medicine; it wasn't because of possible poison. It was because it would weaken him. The teen had surely already understood Samehada was stripping him of his chakra, but he also felt lethargic, and numb. It was indeed due to the medicine. Kisame wouldn't take it either if he was in Sasuke's shoes.

Forming hand seals he created a clone and watched as Sasuke slightly turned his head at the sound. Kisame's clone attacked, Sasuke evading easily the first taijutsu attack and jumping above the clone and doing a back flip to lend facing its back. Kisame raised an eyebrow, this was a bad move. His eyes widened as his clone kicked from behind, but stopped in mid movement, reaching for its neck. Clever little brat, he had used the forgotten bonds that had tied him to his bed as a rope to strangle the clone. In a deftly move Sasuke pulled, breaking the clone's neck easily.

Kisame shivered as the ghost sensation of being strangled and having his neck broken registered in his brain. Note to self: retrieve the bonds. Sitting on his futon, the medicine still safely in his hands, he created two clones and watched idly as Sasuke fought them. This was really entertaining. He was as good as ever in hand to hand combat and now that he had mentally mapped the place he could also hold himself at distance combat, even if his aiming was slightly off since he couldn't use sight to locate his enemy.

Half an hour later, Sasuke was panting harshly, one last remaining clone having caught him. It was leaning against some shelves (whose content was on the floor), arms holding Sasuke's against his body, and hands gripping pale wrists. Its legs were securely wrapped around Sasuke's, preventing them from too much movement.

"Nice fight kiddo," congratulated Kisame, coming to crouch in front of the teen.

He put the medicine at his lips but they stayed stubbornly locked even as he pressed against them, hearing the clattering of teeth on the cup. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed the pale chin, forcing Sasuke's head up and pressed harshly on his jaws with two fingers, forcing his mouth open and preventing him from biting down since it would mean chopping his cheeks off.

He considered pouring the medicine in his now opened mouth but he knew the teen wouldn't gulp down and most of it was going to be lost. He sighed at the defiant air Sasuke managed to pull even with his eyes bandaged.

Kisame drank some medicine then, tilting Sasuke's head slightly on the side, kissed him. Sasuke's whole body tensed and he tried to fight him, growling, sputtering and trying to turn his head away from the lips crushing his. Kisame only hardened his hold on his chin, forcing the liquid down his throat. He only pulled back to drink more medicine before kissing Sasuke again, dominating and making sure every last bit of medicine was drunk.

Done he pulled away, licking his lips, a faint metallic taste on them. During the forced kiss his teeth had graced Sasuke's lips, drawing some blood. Finally he let go of his bruising hold on the teen's cheeks and chin, satisfied. The clone trapping him puffed out and Sasuke wiped his lips with the back of his hand, anger radiating from him.

"If you don't want me to do that again, take your medicine," pointed out Kisame.

Sasuke hissed, fisting his hands almost to the point of drawing blood. But already the medicine, pretty effective, was starting to make him feel faint. Kisame watched him lean against the shelf, fighting down the slumber slowly taking him in. Once he was sure the teen was drugged into sleep, he picked him up and put him on the futon.

oooooo day 4 oooooo

Kisame awoke as the light started to shine gently in the cave. He had set his lamps to work as the sun would, at least mostly, so they wouldn't lost track of time. According to it, it was now dawn. Distractedly he glanced at his charge, the teen still being sound asleep, the medicine seriously knocking him out. He might have to lower a bit the soporific…

Cracking his neck and yawning he stood up, scratching the itchy place on his body. Out of habit he swigged Samaheda above Sasuke, better safe than sorry. Then he set to prepare some good nourishing breakfast: hard-boiled egg, cooked salmon, marinated vegetables, rice, miso soup. He hoped this time his reluctant guest would eat it; it would do some good to his body to ingest some food.

Making a few seals Kisame hit the ground with his fists, a huge cavity suddenly craving itself into the ground. Going near the cooking shelf, he took some nice pieces of wood and live embers. Jumping inside the hole, half his body poking out, he placed his burden in it, and then materialized a thin coat of stone, leaving a hole in it that would permit air to be blown in to keep the fire alive.

Jumping out, he went through hand seals, fully intending to expel water from his own body. As he took a breath and readied to throw up the water he stopped. That might be slightly gross to bath in such water he pondered, not that Sasuke would know where it came from… but he had plenty of available water right above their head. Mumbling he grabbed some buckets and went to get clean water.

Kisame poured the water in his newly made bathtub, happy it was already heating up. As an afterthought he added a bench outside it as well as a water drain so one could shower before going in the bath (10). Putting there a bowl and some soap and shampoo, he looked proudly at his handiwork.

During his time with Itachi, he had always made sure they stopped in clean inns or near a river so his partner could wash. He didn't care but he knew the other did, and so made a point to oblige. Hence why he naturally felt Sasuke would gladly welcome a nice bath, especially since he had been feverish.

Now that he thought about it, Kisame liked taking care of someone. The mere thought amused him. A missing nin, serial killer, slaughterer of his own kind, a shark… loving to pamper people? Well not that the Uchiha needed it, but… he couldn't deny the urge he had to make things comfortable, to take care of them. First with Itachi and now with Sasuke it seemed… Maybe it was because they were so broken, yet not crazy, that he wanted desperately to try to put the pieces back together. Maybe he wanted to prove they were salvable… like himself?

A soft groan coming from the futon saved him from more bothering pondering. Sasuke was waking up. He turned his bandaged eyes toward him, keeping a crouched position, obviously still on his guard.

"Beakfast is ready," informed Kisame, watching with amusement as his guest rose and came toward him.

He knew he was counting his steps but it didn't show, he had all the assurance of a man perfectly in control. Do not show weakness in front of the enemy. That is until his legs encountered the small table Kisame kept pushing out of his way. Sasuke gave a startled yelp and crashed loudly, a stream of colorful cursing escaping the pretty lips.

"Language," couldn't help teasing Kisame, so used to Itachi never uttering any swear words.

Itachi didn't do anything unnecessary; swear words were useless, so he didn't use them. Seemed like Sasuke, once again, proved more human. Kisame suddenly felt the urge to protect that, this fragile humanity Sasuke still possessed… and that Madara would have stole from him.

"Fuck you," replied Sasuke to his former comment, settling in front of him and patting the ground around to find his plate.

Kisame was seriously hoping he was going to eat, but once again Sasuke stood and wrapped it in cellophane to put it in the fridge. He wasn't hungry or didn't trust him, either way wouldn't do and Kisame was already planning to force the food down his throat if he didn't eat tomorrow. He was livid and that didn't go well with Kisame.

Being done with his meal he started to wash the dishes and swept down with a sigh when he was attacked. Couldn't the kid give it a rest? Seriously. He was slightly puzzled however when he understood he was being assaulted with his sword. With Samaheda. Giving a backward sweeping kick he forced Sasuke to jump up. As expected he used the sword as leverage, after all he was a shrimp compared to Kisame, and the water-nin harshly gripped his wrist. Sasuke tried to kick him in the face, the shark man dodging easily, especially since the aim had been slightly off. Then he simply threw Sasuke across the room, again, and heard the breath being knocked out of the teen's lungs has he landed on the cushion covered futon.

"Are you trying to learn to fly?" inquired Kisame, grabbing Samaheda and putting it back at its place.

It wouldn't do to have Sasuke stumble on it, even if it has highly amusing to have him trip over things. Speaking of which Kisame had to find a good location for that table.

Sasuke snorted, Kisame taking that as a personal achievement.

"Merely using your carelessness against you," he replied, still lying on the bed.

"You're not supposed to be able to use Samaheda," explained Kisame, giving a nasty look at his sword.

Itachi too had been able to take Samaheda without it injuring him. But that didn't explain why Sasuke could. But he would ponder that latter, Sasuke was back at his throat. With a sigh he distractedly parried all the teen's moves. He was getting better, a faster learner. As a kick flew to his face he noticed a flaw and without thinking let his huge hand grab Sasuke's hip and corrected his angle. Sasuke froze completely.

Despise the bandages Kisame could see he was frowning, visibly appealed by the new balance this slight change gave him… or by the fact Kisame had helped? The water-nin didn't consider the teen his enemy so he thought nothing of teaching him a few things… especially since he might need them to stay alive when he met Madara again, and he would meet him for sure.

Knowing Sasuke wouldn't attack again, even if he was back to a guarded position, Kisame turned to the waiting craved-bathtub.

"I promised a bath," reminded Kisame, "it should be warm enough now. 20 steps," he informed.

Sasuke didn't hesitate, and Kisame smiled at that, and went straight for the bath, his legs meeting the bench after exactly twenty steps. On the side rested a towel Kisame had placed there earlier, as well as some carefully fold clothe.

"Don't worry I won't watch, I will…" the words died on Kisame's lips.

Sasuke had unceremoniously shrugged off his white yukata top and undo the purple belt and pants in one go. He was now taking off his boxers without minding Kisame's presence at all. And Kisame could see everything from his broad shoulders, his tapering legs, to his firm ass. He gave a cough and turned away, summoning some weaponry to sharpen and clean and going in the corridor to do so, knowing Sasuke could pinpoint exactly where he was from the sounds.

He inwardly groaned when he noticed he was closely listening to Sasuke taking his shower then bath. Sure it would be a pain to have the teen drown after he had went to all that trouble to save his ass… but seriously, what chance was it that a ninja that was able to fucking fight while blind for only a few minutes would drown? In a bath that shouldn't even reach his shoulders?

"I'm a real mother hen," he berated himself, arguing that Sasuke could perfectly faint because of the heat, especially since he was recovering from a surgery and was still drugged and… who was he kidding?

As he heard Sasuke pulling himself out of the water, he cleaned his stuff and decided to go back. He had to give Sasuke his medicine too, what would prove to be a pain since he had the feeling the bath wouldn't have relax the brat enough to let him allow him to well drug him.

"I'm coming back," he warned even if Sasuke didn't seem to give a damn according to his nice strip-tease a few moments ago.

And indeed he didn't give a dam, since he was still stark naked, water tickling down his body as he felt and hummed the cloth Kisame had readied for him. Ah. Softly Kisame grabbed the forgotten towel on the bench and draped it over Sasuke's shoulders, covering him completely since what was a medium size towel for Kisame was a huge one for Sasuke. The shark-nin couldn't help but smile at that, he was even smaller than Itachi. A familiar rush of protectiveness washed over him mixed with a teasing tenderness he hadn't experience yet… but he stopped his hand before he ruffled the teen's hair.

Kisame watched silently as Sasuke let his fingers trail on the cotton, slowly, almost with reverence. He was stroking it, lost in thoughts, in scents, in memories. Even if Kisame knew Sasuke had found out the provenance of those clothe, he couldn't help but confirm it.

"They are Itachi's," he informed.

Sasuke didn't reply his fingers still caressing the tissue, the towel loose around his shoulders.

"Mine wouldn't have fitted you," he added, clearing his throat.

He watched as Sasuke's hair, down because of the water, framed his delicate features, dripping. The bandages around his eyes was wet, he couldn't have taken it off, Kisame having sealed it to be on the safe side… and droplets seemed to fall from it, making it as if Sasuke was crying. But he wasn't. Refusing to look lower, Kisame uttered a loud sigh and grabbed the towel intending to rub Sasuke dry but a hand slapped his away.

"You're going to catch a cold," he pointed out.

Sasuke snorted but that seemed to snap him out of his contemplation and he started toweling dry. Once again he had no shame whatsoever and Kisame grumbled as he turned around, his back to him.

"Itachi was far more self-conscious," started Kisame, his hold habit of chatting acting up, "he loved his privacy a lot. I thought it might have been an Uchiha thing but it seems I was mistaken."

Kisame smiled as he heard the sounds of Sasuke dressing. For a moment he had wondered if the teen wouldn't put on his brother's clothes. In a way it might be strange to wear a dead's old garments. They didn't have a choice, Sasuke would totally swim in Kisame's ones. Making some seals he drained the bath and closed the ground, leaving the bathroom intact but under a coat of stone.

"Ah it might be Orochimaru's influence," pondered Kisame, watching closely for Sasuke's reaction.

There was none, he couldn't even see his face since Sasuke was putting on the shirt. Strangely enough he felt disappointed. He wasn't a curious man but he truly wondered what had happened between the snake and the teen.

"I remember Itachi being worried about that man's… tendencies," added Kisame.

He went to mix some ingredient for Sasuke's medicine. It was, in a way, a manner of warning the brat. He also wanted to show he was lessening the soporific so Sasuke would feel less threatened. As he grinded the plants he continued to talk, like he used to with Itachi.

"It was really fun to see how restless he was when he first learnt about you deserting Konoha."

Kisame grinned at the memory. Everything in the room was quiet but for the movement of the grinder and the deep sound of his voice as he retold the past.

"He was torn about being happy you weren't in danger of them killing you anymore and being horrified of you lending head first into Orochimaru's hands… or bed," Kisame snorted. "He wanted to go meet the snake and threaten him, but he couldn't. I sent a few spying pets at that time."

Kisame shifted position, the muscles on his arms rolling under the stress of crushing the ingredients.

"Anyway I doubt Orochimaru would have taken the risk of losing your body because of his sexual desire, especially since at the end he was supposed to have you whole. Furthermore he feared Itachi and I have a feeling he knew he cared enough about you not to risk it until he had your body."

Kisame grabbed some of the other ingredients and started infusing them. Then he gathered what he had turned into powder into small little white paper packages, doses, he would give Sasuke later.

"I bet Madara told you Itachi showed himself at Konoha to remind the old geezers of his existence and his threat to destroy Konoha if they tried a move against you. I'm not sure he had anticipated meeting you there…"

Kisame trailed on for a moment as he poured some water to clean his equipment.

"I remember how he lovingly beat the crap out of you," chuckled Kisame, wondering if Sasuke knew now just how much Itachi had hold back, that each hit had been a caress, "I bet he thought showing off his strength would make you work harder… and drive you away from the village. All his bullshit of lacking hatred was all a means to get you out of Konoha… at least I think so, your brother was pretty secretive you know, especially about you."

Kisame glanced toward the teen, he didn't care if his words had impact on him whatsoever, he was just chatting. Sasuke was busy adjusting as much as he could the bigger clothes. Dark pants, dark shirt with a bit of fishnet at the collar, and a white belt. It was clear Sasuke was shorter than Itachi but… it was clear he was more built. Kisame closed his eyes for a moment. He had never noticed it as much as now…

"Itachi had really lost quite some weight," he whispered, remembering knowing it, but never really seeing it this clearly.

It was quite a shock to say the truth, he had seen Itachi thin like snow melt under the sun, but here it was disease that ate his partner away. It had happened slowly so he hadn't seen just how far it went… just like you didn't notice your close family aging when you lived everyday with them but if you went away for some time; when you came back it suddenly hit you in the face.

"We have to change your bandages," mentioned Kisame, fingers twitching, ready to grab Sasuke and sit on him if needed.

There was no way he would let Itachi's precious person wither away like he had. He would make sure he let him go all healthy, and then it wouldn't be his problem what Sasuke became. He only did that for Itachi's memory. It was already far too sentimental for his taste. To his mild surprise Sasuke simply nodded and sat, letting Kisame undo the drenched bandages.

The shark man was mulling over the memories of Itachi slowly growing weaker, of how he had distanced himself from Kisame at that time. He was rubbing ointment on the slightly puffed eyes, a scowl on his face, silent. Damn, his good mood was gone, replaced by the anger, the helpless feeling he had felt as he watched the man he loved slowly die in front of him.

He carefully traced the seals on Sasuke's bandages; to be sure the brat wasn't going to take them off or try to gouge his eyes out. Maybe that's why he was so adamant about that last unsaid wish… he felt as if he could help here, be of some use to Itachi's most precious person, to what had kept the man alive from his 13 years old to his last breath. Was he a jealous man, he should totally hate the guts out of Sasuke. But he wasn't.

Once done he gave Sasuke his medicine, eyes locked on him as he drank it all, making sure he was really drinking it. He had to say he was a tad bit worried about the teen's sudden obedience, but well he would enjoy it while it lasted.

Normally the brew shouldn't put Sasuke to sleep immediately but Kisame didn't plan to busy him, he was old enough to do that alone. Opening a kind of book with all the missions available for missing nin, he started looking through them to see what he would take once the brat was off his hands. He glanced to the side to see Sasuke sitting on the floor, unmoving. When he glanced again ten minutes later, he hadn't moved an inch. But he wasn't sleeping, the water nin shrugged and went back to his business.

"Orochimaru didn't touch me but he used to watch me bathe." (11)

Kisame blinked, his eyebrows skyrocketing to his airline in surprise at the sudden information. He slowly turned his head toward the teen, which hadn't moved, and wondered if maybe he had messed up his medicine.

"Well. Itachi would have been glad to hear that," he replied carefully.

As the words left his lips understanding drew in. He stifled a laugh, but saw at Sasuke's slight twitch he had been heard… well he was radiating amusement but seriously… It was so cute to have the proud little bugger sought him out to learn more about his beloved big brother.

Discarding his mission book, he obliged, always happy to chat. It also seemed it helped open Sasuke to him, which was a good thing. And that would make a good beginning for his story…

"Itachi always talked about you. Ever since he started opening up to me, because of course at first we were rather wary. I didn't know you were alive at the time, so I thought he was just reminiscing the past, talking about the brother he had murdered. He would tell me about his favorite memories of your childhood…"

And Kisame began to tell him how Itachi had known his life would be dedicated to him when he first met his big dark baby eyes and Sasuke had reached for him. Sasuke was listening, unmoving, his face carefully hidden behind a curtain of dark hair.

oooooo day 5 oooooo

When puberty had struk Itachi, Kisame had been more taken aback than the teen. He looked so adult and acted so much like such, Kisame had almost forgotten how young his partner truly was. His voice deepened slightly, but it was almost unnoticeable, and so he had only noticed when the teen had had a wet dream, which Kisame had believed to be a nightmare. He had rudely waked him up, only to be faced with Itachi having a raging hard on and a dust of red on his cheeks.

Itachi had been 16 at the time, a late bloomer. And Kisame, in all his twenty seven glory, had been the one embarrassed and speechless. For the first time in their partnership, he had regretted having to deal with someone so young.

Collected and calm as ever, Itachi had gone to the bathroom for a shower… and certainly more. Kisame had then promptly started pacing. He could already picture Itachi dealing with the problem as if it was a necessity and nothing more. It certainly was, but pleasure was important too, something Itachi didn't take into account very much, but for his dango-craving. Kisame didn't want to poke the subject but he had the feeling this was Itachi's own way to punish himself for murdering his whole family. Which would also explain why he was a late bloomer, his body had been refused till the last moment.

Itachi came out, still composed, dressed, and ready to simply go back to bed as if nothing had happened. Kisame had watched him settle in bed, turn his back to him and bid him goodnight. He had bored holes with his eyes in the teen's back until a barely unnerved voice prompted him to talk.

"What is it Kisame?"

"Did you get the sex-talk at the Konoha academy?" bluntly wondered Kisame, grabbing his supply bag, eyes riveted to the dark-haired man's back.

"Yes," replied Itachi, his voice hiding a hint of amusement.

He still wasn't facing him, as if to show that conversation was useless and already over before it even started. Kisame sighed, and threw Itachi some stuff from his bag. A nibble hand caught them easily: brand-new lube, a pack of preservatives, and a porno book. Deliberately slowly Itachi turned toward him, dark eyes locking with Kisame's ones. Oh irony, Kisame was the one fucking fidgeting.

"I can take you to brothel too if you wish so, Itachi-san, but with your looks, you could catch anyone," mumbled Kisame, scratching his knee, "but you have to be careful, make sure your partner is clean, don't forget a blow job can transmit diseases too," babbled Kisame, racking his mind to see what else he could tell that would come handy.

"I am aware, Kisame," stated Itachi, putting his "gifts" in his bag, before facing toward the wall once again.

"And you can send me shopping, scouting, whatever, whenever you want," added Kisame in an afterthought as he buried back under the covers and switched off the light.

A few minutes passed, seeming more, and suddenly Kisame was ruffling in his bag again pulling out another book and tiptoeing to Itachi's bed to drop it in his bag. Back under the covers, knowing Itachi wasn't sleeping, he whispered:

"And it's ok to be gay too"

At that he heard a soft snort. Ninja didn't bother with sex preferences and were educated for all type of sexuality and practices. It could be useful during some kind of missions… even if you were young. Kisame had a feeling Konoha's education wasn't what had been his, and he had been lucky… He frowned, shaking off memories he didn't want to deal with.

"Thank you."

Kisame grinned at the whisper, content.

After that uncomfortable night nothing had changed between them, it was as if it had never happened. But it had. And Kisame had realized the young man he lived with was just that, a man. Even if he had never considered Itachi has a child, a part of him had never seen him as a sexual being either. Until now.

He had fully realized that when they went to an onsen together. For the first time. When one was a ninja, one was used to being in the company of smelling men after days of mission or after hours of training. Showers were frequently shared and that made privacy a very much appreciated luxury. Itachi never complained but he was a very private man, so Kisame had always made things easy for him. Even if he doubted Itachi's body would shame him, he respected his modesty and kept watch when he took his bath, never taking a peak to see him naked. Being a partner meant you had to trust the other, and trust was gained by small things like that.

Kisame wasn't self-conscious, especially since he was rather proud of his bulk body. Hard intensive training had toned him so much you could swear he came straight from stone. All defined muscles, sharp angles, broad back, V form of his torso, six packs… he didn't look like those body-builder people but he wasn't lithe either. He was brute strength. As for his manhood, many would be jealous.

And so Kisame didn't mind walking around naked in front of other men, he didn't mind the slapping of a towel against his ass as was customary between men. He would laugh, shove, be cocky, and play the "man". Yet he would also enjoy discreetly roaming his eyes on those sharps body, so different from the smooth curves of women. He truly didn't have any preferences whatsoever, men or women had both their qualities and their flaws. It was however easier for him to get men, and he knew he could be less mindful of them.

But today was different. They had no choice but to wash in a public bath. Kisame was already stark naked and ready to go in the water.

"Are you ready?" he asked, back still turned to his partner, giving him some last minutes of privacy.

Itachi certainly nodded behind him, Kisame wouldn't know since he wasn't looking, but something in the air around them told him he had agreed. For the first time Kisame noticed he didn't want to see Itachi naked, because he felt as if he would intrude… He respected Itachi more than he had respected anyone else in a long long time.

When he saw people turn toward them, because of course Kisame wasn't one you couldn't notice, he knew they were also taking Itachi in. There was no way such beauty could go unnoticed. He found himself stepping in front of his partner before he had even processed it. Itachi's strong yet delicate hand touched his elbow.

"It's alright, Kisame."

He turned to his smaller partner, his gaze finally taking him in, his perfectly muscled yet tapering body and as he made a point to look in the dark eyes to prevent his own to roam free on this splendor, he felt the urge to grab a towel and wrap Itachi in it to hide him to the world. And that told him he had a problem, something some people might name love.

"Are you sure, Itachi-san?" he asked, wondering if his attraction was obvious.

Itachi had nodded, went ahead and settled in it, in a somewhat secluded area. Kisame had passed his time between trying not to devour Itachi with his eyes, and being a human screen to protect him from other's gaze.

Two days later, they were lovers. Kisame had let his hand rest longer than necessary on Itachi's shoulder, Itachi had caught it and turned to him, parting his lips… that had been invitation enough for Kisame to wrap his arms around his waist and kiss him.

oooooo day 6 oooooo

Kisame awoke with a start and a raging hard on. Breathing heavily for a moment, he passed a hand in his raspy hair and growled. Who dreamed of fucking the big brother when one had the little brother in the same room? Seriously? Kisame growled again before kicking the covers away, willing his physical reaction back to normal. What time was it anyway? Dawn?

As he finally concentrated on something else than is dream and arousal, he noticed strange sounds in the room… moans, shuffle of sheets, pants… flabbergasted Kisame slowly turned toward Sasuke's bed, remembering Itachi's first wet dream, the fact Sasuke was sixteen…

"Oh please not again," he mumbled to himself.

But as soon as he saw Sasuke, he knew something was wrong. The hands were out of the covers, which relieved him greatly, he had to admit, raised above the dark head, as if he had been trying to wipe his forehead or refresh it… he obviously needed to, he was soaking wet, his dark bangs stuck to his livid face, only the cheeks flushed red. His lips were chapped, dry, even as the rest of him oozed water. And he kept moving, kicking the covers, turning lightly… feverish.

In seconds Kisame was next to the teen, his big hand covering his forehead to leave immediately as he was almost burnt. His charge was seriously ill. Cussing and cursing, he hurried to the fridge where he had stored his concoctions. What a blessing he had kept the first one just in case, the antiseptic one that he had been told to refresh Sasuke with and even make him drink. It was full of medicine against infections; it was also full of soothing plants and good thing only doctors truly understood.

Kneeling next to the sick man he considered tying him to the bed. After all one was never too careful with a weakened Uchiha. But it might make Sasuke even more suspicious and it wouldn't be good for him to struggle, and he would, Kisame didn't doubt it one second. Fever could make you terribly weak, but panic gave you colossal strength. But it wasn't as if he had to fear a sixteen year old feverish brat, right? As long as he couldn't use his eyes, he was safe.

Speaking of those, Kisame looked at the bandages, frowning as they seemed dirty to him. Unlocking the seal, he unwrapped them. Sasuke was a shivering mess in his hold as he passed his arm under the teen's shoulder to gain access to the back of his head. As the formerly white bands fell Kisame cursed his own stupidity. He should never have let Sasuke bath his eyes with the bandages on, and then wrap them again. They were now infected and that was giving him the fever. Yellow puss was oozing out of the corner and they were puffed and red.

Carefully he sat the then against him, wrapping his arm around what seemed to him a thin waist. Gently he tabbed some beverage on the cracked lips and poured some in his throat, making sure the teen didn't choke on it. He winced as an elbow connected to his ribcage and he caught the hand going to hit a sensitive point in his neck.

"Easy, easy. kiddo, you're feverish and delusional, I mean you no harm," he whispered, loosening his hold to prove his point.

"I'm not a kid," croaked Sasuke, attempting to open his eyes but wincing at how heavy and stuck they felt.

Well, if he could be moody it was a good sign, thought the water nin. He reached for the ointment he had used during the first days and started to spread it on Sasuke's eyes. He hoped it would help settle things and prevent them from going bad. He wouldn't know how to deal with the situation otherwise. And he didn't look forward to going out.

Kisame felt Sasuke shiver against him. He had to refresh him, even if he was surely feeling really cold he was in fact burning up and needed cold. A fast jutsu later he had plenty of clear cold water in a bowl. He dipped a cloth in it and began to mop Sasuke's face and neck.

"Can I take off your shirt?" he asked, since it prevented him from accessing Sasuke's chest.

He felt Sasuke nod and was surprised to feel him relax slightly in his hold. He would have expected the contrary. As he helped the teen take of the shirt he remembered he had no shame… and surely Orochimaru had never asked him before stripping him. Life had really done a number on that kid.

As he washed Sasuke, cooling down his body, Kisame started talking. Itachi used to say he had a deep voice that was very calming and lulling. And he knew just what would make his sick charge happy:

"Itachi told me of the times you were ill as a child. Your mother would take care of you until your father was back and then Itachi would take over. He hated seeing you sick and he was so proud to see you try and smile at him so he wouldn't worry. He would sleep next to your bed, his hands holding your smaller one."

Kisame began making slow circles with his damp cloth, lifting his other hand he plunged it in cold water before applying it on Sasuke's forehead.

"Do you know he tried to be back as soon as possible, long before your father, so he could take over sooner? He would hurry through his missions or whatever kept him busy to come back to your side"

Kisame smiled as he felt Sasuke's head roll to the side, his breathing even. He had fallen asleep. Itachi's technique of slow circles and hand on the forehead seemed to work even now… He remembered how Itachi's features softened as he talked about those times with his little brother... it seemed Sasuke hadn't forgotten either, never had, despise certainly trying his best to.

"Don't worry, Itachi-san, I've got him now," he assured, continuing to refresh that shivering body.

The day was going by fast and slow at the same time, regulated by Sasuke's coming in and out of consciousness. Sometimes he was perfectly lucid, sometimes so out of it Kisame wondered if he was really awake. Anyway, as soon as he saw his eyes fluttering he would start telling him stories about Itachi. It seemed to soothe him, even if Kisame could bet he would have to torture Sasuke to make him admit it.

It was past noon and Kisame had just refreshed Sasuke, cleaned his eyes and put more ointment. Now he would have to feed the teen, his body was weakened from the chirurgery and from not eating since 6 days. Good thing Kisame put sugar in his medicine. Now however he was going to make him eat, they had to fight the fever… and Kisame wanted to avoid going out to fetch the doctor. He didn't know what Madara thought of him running away with Sasuke. He had a feeling he hadn't appreciated. At all.

Pushing those unpleasant thoughts to the back of his head, he cautiously lay down Sasuke and went to the kitchen part of his cave. He pulled out Sasuke's last refused plate and ate it as he started to stew some vegetables for a nice soup. It would be liquid, and god knew Sasuke needed lots right now, full of vitamins, perfect. He made sure to put lots of tomatoes in it, knowing it was the teen's favorite food.

As it was cooking he went back to the young man, still shivering, moving restlessly. Sighing Kisame cupped him against him once again, using the damp cloth to refresh his burning skin once again. Then he took the tomatoes he had taken with him and mashed them into a glass. After all vitamins were better preserved in fresh fruits and Sasuke loved the taste. It might help him and lift his spirit a bit.

Sasuke tried to drink; it hurt to see him part his dry lips, the skin almost breaking under that simple action. He was shaking too much, spilling most of the tomato juice. After a few attempts, Kisame decided to use a more effective technique. He tilted the brat's head toward him, the latter parting his lips. Kisame drank a gulp and then kissed him, feeling the small struggle Sasuke put up, he repeat the action a few times until the whole glass was empty.

Sasuke turned his head to him, his eyes so puffed up and hazy Kisame wondered if they could see. But they sure could glare if he believed what was directed at him right now. Kisame merely gave him a toothy grin before hoisting him up a little higher on his lap, his left arm securely wrapped around the slim waist.

"You don't have to feel uneasy, I did that for Itachi too you know," assured Kisame, putting the drink to Sasuke's lips, "I don't see you as weak," he added, knowing the youngster was pretty sensitive on his pride.

Sasuke gave a grunt but let his weight rest on Kisame's chest.

"A straw would have been fine," he dryly commented, his voice barely louder than a whisper as shivers shook him.

"Indeed, but I agree with your brother, you're just too much fun to tease," chuckled Kisame, lowering Sasuke on the cushions to go get the soup.

He received no reply and spooned fed Sasuke, slowly and carefully, all the tremors running through the teen's body not helping at all. Once done he gave him his medicine, put some ointment on his eyes and settled behind him again, refreshing him with cold water. He had laced the beverage with sleeping herbs and Sasuke was soon dozing off in his arms.

"Thank you," he mumbled, face carefully hidden behind sticky locks of dark hair.

"Don't mention it," replied Kisame.

He loved dotting on the Uchihas. They were so proud it was fun, they never took advantage of it. And he understood Itachi so well now that he had that strong stubborn yet sensible teen in his care. If you knew how to read him, and Itachi had given him all the clues, he was truly a charming person. Hiding behind a cold exterior was a fiery temperament and a nice heart. Even if seriously scared.

"Nii-san…"

Kisame smiled fondly, continuing his slow circles on Sasuke's chest, shoulders and neck with the damp cloth. He tousled the dark hair with the hand resting on the teen's head. And for a moment he wondered if Itachi had planned that too, that Kisame would take Sasuke under his wing… and that's why he had told him so much about his little brother. He wouldn't put it past his cunning manipulative partner.

oooooo To be continued oooooo

Reviews are more than welcome as usual. It is a way to show the author you loved his work and it motivates them to write.
I want to thank lalalah/sweetypumkin for her cheerleading and guinea pig role. Thanks a lot for putting up with me and my insecurities *hugs*

(1) to (9): direct quote from the Naruto manga chapter 508, from manga fox. (.)

(10) in Japan, you sit on a bench outside the bathtub and clean yourself, only after do you go into the hot bath which isn't meant to get clean.

(11) Remember one of the openings? Sasuke is entering water and Orochimaru is watching him.