[This is not good. This is not fucking right. He'd heard the door open and close a few minutes ago, and hadn't thought anything of it--Itachi and Valeria could come and go whenever they pleased, and he knows he doesn't have to oversee their every movement--then, but now he wishes he'd been a little bit more curious. He wishes he'd at least peered out to see who was leaving--that he had realized a child was escaping, when it should have been a grown young man just stepping outside, perhaps for a breath of fresh air, or to sit down in the spot on the porch he had claimed as his own. He could have gone out, could have caught him before he made it all the way out to the seashore. Could have.....]
[He doesn't know. Could have done something. Helped him. Made sure he wasn't confused, wasn't worried like this, wasn't scared.... Whatever had happened, he is supposed to protect Itachi. He is supposed to be there for him, and wasn't that what he had resolved anew to do after he had rescued the man from Konoha? He had determined to take care of Itachi when he needed it, because that was what he was supposed to do. That's what he was there for--that was what partners did. And he was Itachi's partner--his senior, at that, even if he had allowed Itachi to slip into the leadership role he had seemed to be such a natural fit for.]
[But now.... Damn it. He needs to get out there as fast as possible, make sure nothing happened. It looks like Akira is the only one who has contacted Itachi so far; he doesn't want anyone from Konoha talking to Itachi before he can be gotten back home and have the situation explained to him. He knows he's never liked the sort of monotony this life breeds, but dammit all, this wasn't what he had wanted to spend his day dealing with. This has to be some newest amusement of the gods, he's sure of it; they're just cruel enough to do something like this.]
[So he should just grab Samehada and.... wait. Clansman. Itachi had said something about a clansman coming to him. That could only be Itachi or Madara, and if he said that Sasuke was okay, that was probably who it was. He hoped so--it would take Madara too long to get here, and even if he still dislikes and distrusts Sasuke, he is fairly sure (hopes) that Sasuke wouldn't harm his older brother while he's in such a vulnerable, innocent position. Itachi would trust him, of course, so there's no need to worry on that front, so he should just go and meet up with them, and they can decide what the hell to do....]
[....But Konoha and Kiri have never been incredibly fond of each other. Allies or enemies, there has almost always been a fundamental lack of trust between the two. Frowning, Kisame purposefully unknots his headband, goes to push it under his pillow for safety's sake. He considers his cloak--Itachi probably wouldn't know anything of those clouds, not at his age--but decides against putting it on in the end, choosing instead a more generic shinobi look, not sporting any obvious affiliations.]
[Kisame pulls Samehada on instead, guessing at where on the shore Itachi might be if he headed straight out of the village, and hits the button to reply; his smile and tone are obviously concerned, but not overly strained--Sasuke is on the way too, after all, if not already there. Things should be fine.] There's no need to worry about being in Water Country, Itachi-san. I'll be joining you two momentarily, alright?
[Confusion, surprise, curiosity.... Kisame isn't surprised, himself. After seeing the state Itachi is in, he rather suspected this might be the case. He offers the boy what he hopes is an encouraging, reassuring smile as he moves through the village, sharp teeth glinting to add to his inhuman appearance. He's never hidden his looks from Itachi before, after all; he doesn't want to start now.]
My name is Hoshigaki Kisame, and I'm your partner. We've known each other since you were thirteen, Itachi-san--how old are you now?
[He speaks familiarly enough, leaving the title out of respect, rather than formality--Itachi is still Itachi, after all, no matter what age he is. He's still a trained, competent shinobi, still capable of killing. Possibly even still capable of using the Sharingan. That's something important to remember; he doesn't doubt that Itachi would probably be displeased at being spoken down to. But still, he has to remember just how much Itachi hasn't experienced yet....]
[It was an odd balance to strike, one he wasn't quite certain how to maintain. Something needed to be done about this, if it was even possible to correct.... But until then, he had the sinking feeling that they would be in for some very odd times ahead. Hopefully they could fix it, or it would wear off soon.]
[That would explain the confusion he feels. It's hard not knowing people he should knowing, feeling this lack of familiarity every time someone speaks to him. But Sasuke being here makes it easier to accept, seeing the proof. It only hopes things will become easier or that he'll get older fast and Sasuke won't have to take care of him anymore.
Maybe Kisame-san can help him with what he doesn't know.]
Aha! Not quite yet, then. Well, six years isn't that far away, I guess....
[Although it must seem like a lifetime away, to someone who's only seven years old right now. He's practically going to be twice his current age before they meet up for the first time.... He can't help but laugh quietly and shake his head, somewhere between amused and exasperated and a little dismayed, all at once. Seven years old, now.... Really. What is he supposed to say to something like that? At least Itachi's next question is easy to answer, given the circumstances.]
I do! We're next-door neighbors in this place, actually. You and I have been living together with a friend of ours, and Sasuke is just one house over, right here in Water Country.
[Six year seems like such a long time, but Sasuke is older than that now and so Itachi must be much older. How many years has it been?]
So Sasuke lives here next to us? I live with you, not him? Are we that close of friends? What are we partners for?
[Itachi doesn't have friends. He speaks to Shisui at times and he is nice to him and smiles and seems to like him, but Itachi isn't sure if Shisui treats him kindly because Shisui is just a nice person, or if he actually likes Itachi. Or maybe he just wants to be nice to Itachi to get on his Father's good side.
But hearing someone call himself Itachi's "partner"...Itachi is unsure what it means, but there is a light, warm feeling in his chest.]
Right. It's a little odd, I know--but we were here first. Sasuke came to see you not long ago because you were sick for a while, and he decided to stay and live close to you. [He'd just leave the almost-fight and general ruffled tempers between himself and Sasuke at that point out of this conversation; it wasn't important anymore, anyway, now that they had both cooled their heels for a while.]
[Instead of commenting on that, he grins outright, warm and surprisingly proud; after all these years, he thinks he's earned the right to be. Uchiha Itachi is a formidable man to have as an ally, and in his opinion, a priceless one to have as a friend.]
We're partners as in teammates, a two-man cell. We've been partners for almost ten years, and you're the best friend I've got--have been for most of my adult life, now.
[He's not quite sure when he started being an adult, really--at some point in Kirigakure, he's sure. Possibly when he became a chuunin, though even that seems a little early, if only because he wasn't even as old as Itachi when they had first met. But between his genin-and-beyond team, and his comrades of the Seven Swordsmen, and Itachi.... well, there's really no contest. He left those contacts behind when he left Kirigakure, and they're certainly nobody he's felt closer to than Itachi.]
[He doesn't recall seeing him around, and Kisame's features keep telling Itachi that he shouldn't be from Konoha. He looks...like a shark almost. Gills and fangs and eyes that are smaller, but not beady.
He looks like he belongs in the water.
But Kisame's last words make Itachi's eyes widen, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.]
We spend most of our time together, since we travel so much for missions; you turned twenty-two a little while ago.
[He smiles in return, though the expression turns a little sheepish; Kisame shakes his head. He'd hoped to not have to comment on it, considering the general bad blood between the villages in those days, but.... well, there was no help for it, now.]
But actually, I was born in Kirigakure; that's why we're here now. I haven't been with them since a little while before I met you, though.
[Itachi listens, and can't say he's surprised, but he's also worried, because his partner is from Kirigakure and Sasuke says he won't go back to Konoha and Itachi has to wonder what has happened to make things so different.]
Do we usually live in Kirigakure, or somewhere else?
Uh.... Well, if you mean in this world, we've been living in Kirigakure, yeah. If you mean where we're supposed to be, then no.
I guess you could say our home is pretty much just with each other, if it doesn't sound too ridiculous? [Kisame laughs a little at how cheesy he sounds, but waves dismissively as he continues.] But really, like I said, we travel a lot for missions. We don't live anywhere for very long.
[He wants to ask: What about Sasuke?, but doesn't because his brother is standing right here and Itachi can't say that to someone who right now is a stranger to him, when his little brother is obviously reluctant and doesn't want people to know.]
All right then. You should arrive soon, right? We can speak more then.
I want to know more about who I am when I grow up.
[This is not good. This is not fucking right. He'd heard the door open and close a few minutes ago, and hadn't thought anything of it--Itachi and Valeria could come and go whenever they pleased, and he knows he doesn't have to oversee their every movement--then, but now he wishes he'd been a little bit more curious. He wishes he'd at least peered out to see who was leaving--that he had realized a child was escaping, when it should have been a grown young man just stepping outside, perhaps for a breath of fresh air, or to sit down in the spot on the porch he had claimed as his own. He could have gone out, could have caught him before he made it all the way out to the seashore. Could have.....]
[He doesn't know. Could have done something. Helped him. Made sure he wasn't confused, wasn't worried like this, wasn't scared.... Whatever had happened, he is supposed to protect Itachi. He is supposed to be there for him, and wasn't that what he had resolved anew to do after he had rescued the man from Konoha? He had determined to take care of Itachi when he needed it, because that was what he was supposed to do. That's what he was there for--that was what partners did. And he was Itachi's partner--his senior, at that, even if he had allowed Itachi to slip into the leadership role he had seemed to be such a natural fit for.]
[But now.... Damn it. He needs to get out there as fast as possible, make sure nothing happened. It looks like Akira is the only one who has contacted Itachi so far; he doesn't want anyone from Konoha talking to Itachi before he can be gotten back home and have the situation explained to him. He knows he's never liked the sort of monotony this life breeds, but dammit all, this wasn't what he had wanted to spend his day dealing with. This has to be some newest amusement of the gods, he's sure of it; they're just cruel enough to do something like this.]
[So he should just grab Samehada and.... wait. Clansman. Itachi had said something about a clansman coming to him. That could only be Itachi or Madara, and if he said that Sasuke was okay, that was probably who it was. He hoped so--it would take Madara too long to get here, and even if he still dislikes and distrusts Sasuke, he is fairly sure (hopes) that Sasuke wouldn't harm his older brother while he's in such a vulnerable, innocent position. Itachi would trust him, of course, so there's no need to worry on that front, so he should just go and meet up with them, and they can decide what the hell to do....]
[....But Konoha and Kiri have never been incredibly fond of each other. Allies or enemies, there has almost always been a fundamental lack of trust between the two. Frowning, Kisame purposefully unknots his headband, goes to push it under his pillow for safety's sake. He considers his cloak--Itachi probably wouldn't know anything of those clouds, not at his age--but decides against putting it on in the end, choosing instead a more generic shinobi look, not sporting any obvious affiliations.]
[Kisame pulls Samehada on instead, guessing at where on the shore Itachi might be if he headed straight out of the village, and hits the button to reply; his smile and tone are obviously concerned, but not overly strained--Sasuke is on the way too, after all, if not already there. Things should be fine.] There's no need to worry about being in Water Country, Itachi-san. I'll be joining you two momentarily, alright?
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[Itachi is confused. This strange blue man--are those gills?--is speaking to him. Calling his name.
Itachi doesn't know him.
...But he's supposed to be older, like Sasuke.
Maybe when he's older he does know him?]
Who are you? Should I know you when I grow up?
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My name is Hoshigaki Kisame, and I'm your partner. We've known each other since you were thirteen, Itachi-san--how old are you now?
[He speaks familiarly enough, leaving the title out of respect, rather than formality--Itachi is still Itachi, after all, no matter what age he is. He's still a trained, competent shinobi, still capable of killing. Possibly even still capable of using the Sharingan. That's something important to remember; he doesn't doubt that Itachi would probably be displeased at being spoken down to. But still, he has to remember just how much Itachi hasn't experienced yet....]
[It was an odd balance to strike, one he wasn't quite certain how to maintain. Something needed to be done about this, if it was even possible to correct.... But until then, he had the sinking feeling that they would be in for some very odd times ahead. Hopefully they could fix it, or it would wear off soon.]
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[That would explain the confusion he feels. It's hard not knowing people he should knowing, feeling this lack of familiarity every time someone speaks to him. But Sasuke being here makes it easier to accept, seeing the proof. It only hopes things will become easier or that he'll get older fast and Sasuke won't have to take care of him anymore.
Maybe Kisame-san can help him with what he doesn't know.]
Do you know Sasuke, too?
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[Although it must seem like a lifetime away, to someone who's only seven years old right now. He's practically going to be twice his current age before they meet up for the first time.... He can't help but laugh quietly and shake his head, somewhere between amused and exasperated and a little dismayed, all at once. Seven years old, now.... Really. What is he supposed to say to something like that? At least Itachi's next question is easy to answer, given the circumstances.]
I do! We're next-door neighbors in this place, actually. You and I have been living together with a friend of ours, and Sasuke is just one house over, right here in Water Country.
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So Sasuke lives here next to us? I live with you, not him? Are we that close of friends? What are we partners for?
[Itachi doesn't have friends. He speaks to Shisui at times and he is nice to him and smiles and seems to like him, but Itachi isn't sure if Shisui treats him kindly because Shisui is just a nice person, or if he actually likes Itachi. Or maybe he just wants to be nice to Itachi to get on his Father's good side.
But hearing someone call himself Itachi's "partner"...Itachi is unsure what it means, but there is a light, warm feeling in his chest.]
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[Instead of commenting on that, he grins outright, warm and surprisingly proud; after all these years, he thinks he's earned the right to be. Uchiha Itachi is a formidable man to have as an ally, and in his opinion, a priceless one to have as a friend.]
We're partners as in teammates, a two-man cell. We've been partners for almost ten years, and you're the best friend I've got--have been for most of my adult life, now.
[He's not quite sure when he started being an adult, really--at some point in Kirigakure, he's sure. Possibly when he became a chuunin, though even that seems a little early, if only because he wasn't even as old as Itachi when they had first met. But between his genin-and-beyond team, and his comrades of the Seven Swordsmen, and Itachi.... well, there's really no contest. He left those contacts behind when he left Kirigakure, and they're certainly nobody he's felt closer to than Itachi.]
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[He doesn't recall seeing him around, and Kisame's features keep telling Itachi that he shouldn't be from Konoha. He looks...like a shark almost. Gills and fangs and eyes that are smaller, but not beady.
He looks like he belongs in the water.
But Kisame's last words make Itachi's eyes widen, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.]
We must spend a lot of time together then.
How old am I supposed to be now?
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[He smiles in return, though the expression turns a little sheepish; Kisame shakes his head. He'd hoped to not have to comment on it, considering the general bad blood between the villages in those days, but.... well, there was no help for it, now.]
But actually, I was born in Kirigakure; that's why we're here now. I haven't been with them since a little while before I met you, though.
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Do we usually live in Kirigakure, or somewhere else?
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I guess you could say our home is pretty much just with each other, if it doesn't sound too ridiculous? [Kisame laughs a little at how cheesy he sounds, but waves dismissively as he continues.] But really, like I said, we travel a lot for missions. We don't live anywhere for very long.
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All right then. You should arrive soon, right? We can speak more then.
I want to know more about who I am when I grow up.
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