Checks and Balances

[kanda_exorcist]

Who: Kanda Yu & Uchiha Itachi
When: Sunday Evening - Age regression week
Where: Itachi's room 17D
Summary: Kanda can't get the events of last week out of his head, and decides he needs to have a talk with Itachi.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yelling, swearing, boyboy cute, a little violence, blood and a severed arm.

Comments

[kanda_exorcist]

"Itachi! I think sometimes you forget that I am also a soldier. Yes, I was distracted, and it is my shame to bear that I lost to such an opponent. But I think you should focus more on the fact that I was singled out and killed, no matter what the circumstances are!"

Kanda glared intensely at Itachi, he was mad and upset and all he wanted to do was shake the man until he understood. He was made to fight, and his pride would not let him turn away from any challenge.

"If I was calling you an idiot, you'd damn well know! I wasn't! And isn't you calling me foolish the same thing?" He took a step closer to Itachi. "If you can't respect me for doing what I believe, then where does that take us? Would you honestly kill me if I ever had to stand in your way? Could you kill me in cold blood for something as petty as revenge?!"

Kanda was shaking, it was all he could do to keep himself from lashing out physically. It was his normal response to almost everything, but not with Itachi, he could never intentionally hurt him out of anger. Sasuke was brought up and that was far from unnoticed. He matched Itachi's tone, but could not keep his voice completely emotionless.

"When I woke up, I thought you were there for me. I didn't know I was in your way of getting revenge for your brother. Forgive me for delaying you, I thought I was also important to you."

Kanda took a step to the side and began making his way with sure steps towards the door. Moving without limping hurt, but at this point he didn't care. He was angry and hurt and this wasn't getting any better, it was only getting worse and changing focus to other problems.

[purevermillion]

"Have you not paid any heed to my words? Have your eyes shut themselves through your rage?"

Kanda wasn't listening or looking beyond the difference in morals and it was frustrating the Uchiha beyond measure. He had kept his word and by doing so he had respected Kanda's beliefs. The fact the exorcist was attacking him for having different views was a clear show of disrespect. They were different but they were equals. Ideals had to be respected regardless. Itachi was no fool, he could sense that restraint for attacking in the other and it was terrible. Was he not different from the rest? Did Kanda really wish to attack him? He digested every personal complaint the man threw at his face until the subject of Sasuke came up and the exorcist made to walk away.

Itachi had gone too far and Kanda had taken his words incorrectly. He stayed silent for a moment, annoyed beyond comprehension that the exorcist could be so foolish as to think of something like that out of him. Sasuke had been the reason for his parting the last time but he had made it clear that wouldn't be that cause again. Itachi had not left Kanda's side because he cared about him. He wanted to see his exorcist and help him get better, he hadn't abandoned him.

When Kanda began to walk away it was almost Itachi's intention to let him go. He was an idiot, blinded by his own rage and not paying attention to the matter's at hand. If he decided to walk away it would be by his own choosing. Unfortunately, Itachi just couldn't see him leave so angry at him. They had gotten so close the week before all hell broke loose. They just couldn't go back to how they were. Without a word, he turned on his heel and reached to grab at Kanda's neck. At the moment, Itachi held the upper hand, he had all ready assessed his wounds. Without losing any time he pinned his exorcist against the wall beside the door and began to lean in slowly. Instead of being punched or hurt just as the gesture might have implicated, Kanda was kissed. Warm lips brushed against the other's slowly before pressing themselves fully, almost needily begging for affection in turn as the hand around that neck loosened. It was now stroking his cheek.

"Don't let me call you a fool, Yu..."

[kanda_exorcist]

"Have you listened to any of mine?! I came here because I-!!"

Kanda was taken completely by surprise at the sudden attack, or what he first mistook as an attack. He hit the wall hard, but not as hard as he had expected. His eyes widened for a moment before squinting back into a glare, trying to figure out what exactly was the shinobi trying to pull here.

Even though he hadn't hit the wall very hard, he could already feel that his wounds had been strained from the sudden impact. He was confused when no blows came, and even more so when Itachi's lips descended on his own. His glare softened, it was amazing what a simple touch of the lips could do, and he allowed the kiss to happen. Once the hand around his neck was gone, he reciprocated the kiss softly.

"... I came here because I did not want us to become enemies. I know there are some among my Order that do not trust you now because of what happened last week." He sighed softly, his voice so much calmer now. "I don't want to have to fight anyone I care for ever again..."

He stopped himself from speaking, he did not want to seem weak in front of his Uchiha. The fact of the matter was, his wounds still throbbed with pain, and his emotions were getting harder to control with all the stress he'd been under. He waited for Itachi's response, resting his head against the wall and swallowing hard.

[purevermillion]

When his kisses were reciprocated, Itachi returned every single gentle touch. He hadn't expected Kanda to attack him, his exorcist knew better than to assume Itachi would ever raise a hand against him. They were too far intertwined. He wasn't like Sasuke, there was no point in making Kanda fear him.

A few moments passed and he allowed his exorcist to speak, fingertips outlining those frowning pink lips as he watched and listened. Words, words, words. They only made trouble brew in the end.

"Rest assured we will never be enemies. We would not be so foolish as to make things impossible enough to land us on opposing sides We are not that different, you and I, despite what shouts are given." He responded lightly.

[kanda_exorcist]

Kanda sighed softly. The finger on his lips and its soft movements were making it hard for the exorcist to concentrate. Who knew such a small touch could make his mind go blank and his lips part.

He nodded at Itachi's words, placing a small kiss to those fingers on his lips. "You're right. ...but, can you blame for wanting to make certain? I'd hate to lose you now, 'Tachi..." Kanda smiled softly and wrapped his arms around his shinobi. But, while clenching the fabric of Itachi's shirt into his left hand, something happened.

There was a strange tearing noise, and Kanda's white shirt at the left shoulder was instantly soaked red as his arm fell from his sleeve and onto the floor. Kanda's teeth clenched as he swore loudly, his other fist tightening with a death grip into the fabric of Itachi's shirt. "Ah-hah!

The severed arm on the floor looked as though it had been torn off at the shoulder. The ends were ragged, but did not look bruised or gangrenous. Kanda's hand went to the shoulder of his now empty sleeve and began sliding down the wall. "D-dammit.."

[purevermillion]

Nothing could have ever prepared the Uchiha for what was about to occur. As far as he was concerned, they had just prevented a rather painful and troublesome confrontation between the two that by their similar personalities and stubbornness could easily stay upset for long periods of time. They were honorable men above all else. When those kisses were planted against his fingertips, he merely leaned forward to plant his own against a rosy cheek.

Words were not needed, he responded with a small nod as he continued to place his affections on the exorcist before feeling that arm wrap around him. There was no warning, no visible clue as to what would happen next. That shredding sound of tearing tissue, the sound Itachi was no stranger to, made him freeze. He didn't see when or how the arm had fallen off, all he saw was red. Red eyes moved from the red-stained clothing on Kanda's shoulder to the eerie puddle of red that was all ready forming from the fallen limb. They widened. Everything that had happened in that particular meeting was gone as his mind went blank for once in his life.

"Y-Yu..."

The Uchiha was frozen in place as if his mind were rebooting. Out of the many things that could ruin such a moment, this was far from what Itachi could have ever conceived. A fallen limb wasn't normal and by the readings of his sharingan, there was no way that should have been possible. He had been right in front of him after all! Kanda's voice slightly broke through the shocked state Itachi seemed to be under, it wasn't until the sound of sliding fabric that the Uchiha reacted. His exorcist was falling and arms came about the exorcist to help him slide to the floor with a bit more ease, he never stopped eying that arm, however.

"Yu, what... are you okay? A medic... do you need one?"

What a stupid question, of course he needs a damned medic!

[kanda_exorcist]

Kanda shook his head, clenching his teeth together and focusing on breathing for a few seconds. He greatly appreciated Itachi's help with getting him to the floor, the last thing he needed was to fall over right now.

"N-No.. It's fine... 'Tachi..."

Kanda looked down at his arm, glaring at its treachery. He couldn't even remember the last time that this had happened, and now Itachi was going on about a medic. He didn't need or want one, he just had to stick it back on like always.

"No just.. unbutton my shirt.. need to stick it back on." His cheeks were red from embarrassment, he felt bad for making the Uchiha worry so much about him and for ruining such a special moment.

"S-sorry, 'Tachi.."

[purevermillion]

Kanda's apology was lost on the Uchiha as he began to unbutton that steadily soaking shirt. The fabric was beginning to stick on the exorcist skin but Itachi made all his effort to remove that shirt, letting it drape along Kanda's waist.

The wound was severe. With only a slight tilt of his head, Itachi could see that opening in that arm. Both flesh and bone were visible and a trail of fresh blood was making its way down the mans side. He reached for the arm and stared at it blankly.

"...stick it back on?"

He couldn't fathom how this was even possible. He eyed the severed arm in his arm making sure to keep it's torn and blood-dripping end from staining his own coat. This wasn't a puzzle, he couldn't just stick that arm on and expect it to stay. He had much faith in Kanda's ability to heal but even this, the Uchiha refused to believe he would heal out of the blue. After a few more seconds, he turned the arm to what he assumed was the correct position, and brought it to the shoulder holding it there for a moment.

[kanda_exorcist]

Kanda nodded, grabbing the shoulder of the arm and pulling it back to the correct place on his shoulder. This had happened a few times before, especially when he was small, so the pain was not as severe as one would think. It only took a few seconds for Kanda to pop the socket back in to place.

The exorcist looked down at his bloodied shoulder, a little to embarrassed to look up at the Uchiha at that moment. "It'll heal.. It's fine." Kanda's tattoo pulsed as the shreds began to mend themselves together. It was far slower than he was used to, but at least it still worked. The most immediate thing Itachi would probably notice was the blood running down his side was quickly lessening and the color in his now-attached arm was returning.

[purevermillion]

Itachi could only sit and watch as Kanda readjusted his arm. Nothing made sense anymore, even if his exorcist said it was all right, it was only in the Uchiha's known nature that it truly wasn't. Kakazu was the one who tended to have fallen limbs here and there. It wouldn't pain the shinobi nor would the wounds bleed. Many of times it had been Itachi's doing. Shinobi get bored sometimes and no one really likes each other in the Akatsuki, it's a long story.

He could see the tattoo pulsing and he slowly brought his fingertips to brush against the skin it covered. He didn't like this. At all. Without a second to spare, he was up on his feet making his way to his desk. Because Sasuke had a tendency to get injured, he always had extra equipment stored in his bedroom. In a few seconds, he was bringing shredded pieces of sheet to help bind his exorcist that he had prepared a long time ago. He made sure to clean around the wound in order to prevent too much mess.

"Let me bind you. I will be cautious."

[kanda_exorcist]

Those fingertips on his skin made the exorcist finally look back up at his shinobi. He shot Itachi a questioning look as the man suddenly retreated to his desk and started going through the drawers. Kanda didn't call out, he merely watched what he was doing as he held his arm in place.

When he saw the bandages, he couldn't help but smirk slightly. Itachi was always prepared for anything it seemed. Again, Kanda nodded.

"I need to hold my arm, unless you can bind it to me."

[purevermillion]

"I will do my best."

Moving him from the wall would result in more pain for the exorcist so Itachi began to work where he was. On his knees and with a look of concentration plastered on his face, Itachi was slowly making his work clear. He was going to add some pressure upon that torn arm and shoulder in order to keep it in place. He was planning to create a sort of sling for him as well.

"I cannot promise you any comfort from these bindings but they will keep your arm in place." He muttered as he began to tie at the edges, frowning when soem of the bandages began to show signs of red specs.

[kanda_exorcist]

Kanda was a bit reluctant to release his hold on his arm, but after a few passes with the bandages, he felt secure enough to release it. His trust in Itachi was great, he trusted him to take care of him when he needed it. As Itachi worked, he slowly started wiggling the fingers of his left hand. Good, at least his nerves were almost all back. The flesh and tissue would take a while longer.

He wiped his bloody right hand on the remains of his shirt before reaching out to touch the Uchiha's face. "Don't frown... I get.. brittle if I have to regenerate too much in a short amount of time." That faint blush was still on his cheeks. "I'm sorry for scaring you.."

[purevermillion]

"Silence yourself. I am not scared."

He gave Kanda a nod, bringing a hand temporarily to rest on the boys chest. If he moved too much he would loosen the bandages or get the too tight in awkward positions. Itachi really wasn't looking after Kanda's comfort, he knew he wouldn't be able to do it. Perhaps after several hours, he would readjust the bandages. Once the arm attached.

He remind silent as he worked, heaving a small sigh as the tension returned. His shoulders ached, his neck was killing him, and that headache was back. He'll keep his mouth shut on the affair. As long as Kanda was safe. That's all he could ask for, his exorcist belonged at his side.