Kisame was in his apartment. He lived alone too, moving in this town just to study in the school he wanted, leaving his family in the old one. He loved his new home, despite it being a bit small and old- fashioned. The big boy was casually sitting on his couch, drinking tea and watching an animal documentary. He looked at the window. The storm outside was really bad. Strong wind was blowing, making the thousands of snowflakes follow its direction in a fast pace. Kisame slowly drank some of the tea, still looking at the window, leaving the TV behind.

- Hope you alright, 'Tachi...

^^^

Itachi's small body was shaking. He just managed to wake up, still in so much pain in his badly injured head. Moving his limbs slowly, he got up. He didn't know how much time he was out. The fact that he woke up before freezing to death was unbelievable. The raven was barefoot, wearing only the usual t- shirt and sweatpants he slept with. Every part of him was shivering.

- Kisame...- He thought.

He had to go to his house right now. He had nowhere else to go.

^^^

Someone rang on Kisame's door. He clenched his eyebrows, curious of who decided to come to him in the middle of the night. He got up and placed his hand on the door handle, keeping a little bit of distrust within himself. When he opened the door, his heart skipped a beat.

Before his eyes stood Itachi, shivering, pale, bloody... Why did he have so much blood on his clothes? Was it his? What happened? He didn't have time to ask. Kisame quickly pulled him in, closing the door behind him.

A huge wave of concern flew through Kisame's body. This was the last thing he expected to see this night. Itachi's lips have turned blue from the cold, his legs were slowly giving up on him. Kisame picked him up carefully, still not knowing the source of the blood all over his friend. Itachi felt the warmth coming from the big boy. He rested his head on Kisame's chest, too exhausted to keep it up. Kisame didn't know what to do first. He had a frozen, probably injured boy in his hands, he was freaking out. His eyes landed on the one and only heater he had in his apartment. He rushed to it and let Itachi down to sit in front of it, supporting his fragile body.

- Can you stay here for a bit? I'll be right back. – Kisame asked, looking at Itachi with worried eyes.

The raven just nodded. Kisame went in his bedroom. He grabbed a pair of clothes and a blanket and got back.

- Let's change these wet clothes.

Itachi nodded again, lifting his t-shirt. Kisame was scared. He was scared that Itachi would reveal a severe wound or something, but there was nothing, his skin was completely intact.

-So the blood wasn't his? – Kisame thought, feeling a huge relief.

He helped him change and wrapped him in the blanket. Kisame noticed the little stripe of blood under the raven's nose. This one was definitely his.

- Are you hurt?

Itachi was silent. He didn't know if he wanted to tell Kisame about the hit.

- 'Tachi, please tell me, I'm here to help you.

The raven knew that Kisame wanted to do only good, but he was still hesitant. That was just how he was, he never wanted to share his problems, but now, maybe he needed to.

- Yes...

- Where? Show me where it hurts.

He got his hand out and placed it on the back of his head.

Kisame thought that this sight was incredibly sad. He could see in how much of a distress Itachi was right now. He got closer and gently touched Itachi's head, lowering it down to see what was the problem.

- I think I have to get you to the hospital.

Hearing this, Itachi's eyes widened. Despite him hating it, right now it wasn't the best idea to go out in public places.

- No, please don't, Kisame, I'm okay.

- Itachi...

- Please.

Kisame sighed. He got up again and cleaned the blood on his face, after giving the raven a glass of water and a pill.

- At least drink this.

Itachi obeyed this time. Even though he was now in front of a heater, dry and wrapped up in a blanket, he was still shivering a lot. He stayed out in the snow too much. Kisame sighed again. He placed himself behind the raven and hugged him tight. Itachi relaxed a bit. His shaking eventually decreased. His head slowly fell on Kisame's shoulder. The pain, the cold, the exhaustion, all of this had drained him up completely.

- Will you tell me what happened?

Kisame's words snapped the raven away from his short trance. He took a deep breath, not knowing how to explain the situation or did he have enough power to do so.

- Please don't ask me this now.

His voice was quiet, raspy, sleepy. Kisame understood. This was not the right moment. Soon, Itachi's breathing changed its pace. He fell asleep in Kisame's arms.