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Kisame knew his partner was one of the strongest people probably alive at the moment. The gifts of the Sharingan aside, Itachi had taken himself to new levels but he was complex and Kisame didn't pretend to understand everything about him or what went on in his head.
It was one of the things he liked about the other man.
Most people in the Akatsuki spent their time bickering and fighting. He himself was guilty of this but his first encounter with the boy had been interesting and he had since come to respect him.
That had surprised him because there weren't many people in the world worth respecting.
Itachi was young but he had been impressed by his intelligence right away. The boy had a way of thinking about things, thinking them through and planning them out in a way he himself didn't always have an interest in doing.
It was nice to be partnered with someone like that for a change.
They complimented each other in a way but he also knew that Itachi had secrets and that he was playing some kind of game. Maybe it was with himself but Kisame doubted that.
Whatever Itachi was playing however, he didn't think too hard on it. He had plenty of missions to think about and that was more fun anyway.
Sometimes he amused himself by thinking about what he would do if the secrets became problems. It was funny because he wasn't even sure what he would do. He liked Itachi and the other shibobi was a good partner. The best probably that he had had in a long while. . . if ever.
No. . . secrets could be kept.
They all had things close to their hearts.
He was a little more open then Itachi was but then that was his way. Itachi's was different and the boy was never anything other than polite to him. He had no reason to pry or worry.
Itachi had murdered his clan.
He'd once made the mistake of thinking they'd be bonded over the slaughter of comrades but that hadn't been the case.
He'd liked the boy ever since but he'd never gotten a whole lot out of him.
Sometimes when they were in the field and a mission had dragged on he could see wear starting to show on the kid.
Itachi was powerful but he sometimes couldn't maintain the chakara needed to stay in the game.
Despite this they always pulled through and if it was a health issue Kisame hadn't asked yet.
He kept a watch out though.
Another small thing he noticed when he was with the boy was that he was still very young. He hadn't even been around to fight in the Third Great Ninja War. He would have been a small child during it.
Maybe that was for the best but for Kisame it was a reminder that Itachi was little more than a child.
He didn't think less of him for it but he never forgot it, even as the first few years of their partnership had passed.
The Shinobi life started young, it had to by their creed. You had to learn fast and you had to start early. Clearly Itachi had started very young. That was probably part of why he was so good but for Kismae it seemed almost sad.
His own childhood seemed far off and distant and Itachi already was growing into a young man. He probably was past any chance of experiencing childhood.
Again, maybe that was for the best.
Children were vulnerable and maybe the best thing was for them to grow up.
He wondered if Itachi had ever been vulnerable. It seemed almost silly to picture someone as powerful as him in real danger but perhaps there had been a time once when things were different. Everyone had been a baby at one point or another.
Still sometimes, when the fighting had been bloody and long he knew Itachi was wracked by evil dreams.
All Shinobi had them to an extent. Kisame had had them hismelf, battles that wouldn't end and the feel of a knife or blade in your hand. . . in your flesh. . . he knew them as well as anyone who had ever worn a headband or thrown a kunai. No one could escape them and Itachi was no different.
Kisame was a light sleeper and if he had not been he might not have noticed Itachi move in his sleep but the first time it had happened they'd been partnered already a year.
He felt a shifting in the grass around him and woke, already on high alert.
He sat still for a moment, pretending to be asleep and realized that they were alone in the clearing they had settled into earlier that night.
No one was near and he didn't hear any animals close by.
So what had awoken him?
He looked around and saw Itachi curled inside his coat, face half hidden but troubled.
What was this? He wondered, looking at him curiously.
He watched for a moment and saw the boy open his mouth and move just a fraction of an inch. Itachi looked pained.
Kisame saw and thought he understood.
They'd had a bloody mission.
Itachi had been ruthless but he already knew the boy took no joy in ruthlessness.
Now watching him he thought he saw the remnants of the kill upon him and he gave him a moment longer before nudging Itachi's foot with his own.
The boy jerked awake, chest rising and falling dramatically.
His dark eyes scanned the clearing and then stopped on Kisame's foot.
Kisame showed his teeth and smiled, the moon over head. "You were having a bad dream, Itachi-san." He said.
Itachi seemed to collect himself and then nodded. "I was." He whispered. "Thank you for waking me."
"You're welcome."
Kiasame settled back but he kept an eye on his partner, wondering what it was that kept someone like him up at night. . . what had come to him in his sleep. Maybe his old clan. Kisame knew that couldn't have been the easiest thing in the world to live with. No matter how ruthless you were. . . you had to feel something.
Itachi put a hand to his face gently and then shrugged down deeper into his coat, dark eyes large in the gloom.
Kisame knew that with his Sharingan he would have been able to see as plain as day. . . probably better.
"You gonna be okay, Itachi-san?" Kisame asked.
Itachi nodded. "I'll be okay." He whispered.
Kisame chuckled. "Good. I knew you would be." He said.
He saw the boy was still tense but they each settled down and the night was not cold. They were able to find comfort again as if it had never been taken.
Somewhere in the distance a bird called and Kisame cast a last look at Itachi who had his eyes closed but was obviously still awake.
He'd done his part for the night and no one would ever say Kisame Hoshigaki was a bad partner.
Itachi stayed awake a while longer thinking but he knew where he was and he knew there was nothing to fear except that which had already passed. He'd dreamed of the massacre and he'd dreamed of Sasuke and just for a second it had gotten the better of him.
Just for a second he had caved in to his pain and wished he were home.
He looked at the sleeping man across from him and felt relieved to have him for a partner. Kisame was rough around the edges but he wasn't bad. There were a lot worse people to be partnered with and Kisame had done a kind thing for him that night.
He wouldn't treat that lightly, no matter what happened.