Kisame started packing some stuff to take with them. He was nervous. He didn't know how would they be able to book a hotel. Everyone was aware of Itachi's name and they will surely be reported. He sat on his computer and started looking for a place that didn't care much about documentation. After a couple of minutes, he found a motel in the outskirts that seemed like a reasonable location for now. He got up and pulled out a big sweater from the closet before heading back to Itachi. He stood in front of the raven and handed it to him.

- Put this on and lift the hood when we leave.

Itachi took the sweater. It was like three or four sizes bigger than his. He might have to wear Kisame's baggy clothes for a while.

When they were ready, they left the apartment. Kisame gave it one last look. He didn't know if he would ever see this place again and this made him sad. He did everything to have the life he wanted, but now he was throwing it away for Itachi.

Stepping on the street, Kisame looked at the raven to make sure that his head was covered and no one could recognize him. It was freezing cold outside. Kisame owned just one jacket. He didn't hesitate and hung it on Itachi's shoulders.

- No, you can keep it.

Itachi took it off and gave it back to Kisame.

- I can't have you burn with fever once again. Take it, I'm fine.

Kisame saw a taxi on the other side of the street. They couldn't get to the motel by foot in this awful weather. He told Itachi to follow him and they both got in the car.

Arriving at their destination, Kisame nervously looked around. He had never been in this side of the city. He paid for the ride and they entered the small building. It was nowhere near luxurious. The lobby was dark and the smell of mold was highly intrusive. Overall, they witnessed a very unwelcoming atmosphere.

An old lady was staying behind the big old desk in the middle of the room. She was staring at them without saying anything. Kisame decided to go first.

- Good afternoon, we want a room for two.

The woman turned around and took one of the keys that were hanging on the wall. She handed them to Kisame, again without any speaking. Kisame tried to ignore her odd behaviour and politely thanked. She pointed at a piece of paper that was glued on the desk. It was the price list.

- I almost forgot, sorry.

He pulled out his wallet and paid for just one night. He didn't know how much would they be here. Kisame thanked the woman again and headed to the stairs, getting a hold of Itachi's hand.

- You alright?

The raven nodded. Kisame squeezed his slender fingers in attempt to calm him down and asuring himself of Itachi's silent presence once again. Arriving in front of their room, Kisame unlocked it and gently opened the door. As expected, it wasn't the best place to be in, but it was considered safe... from the cops, at least. He didn't know how this motel survived that long with a practice like this, but he didn't care either.

The room wasn't heating in any way. There was nearly as cold as outside.

"Cough, cough"

Kisame's body flinched under this sound. He didn't know what was he going to do with a sick Itachi in a cold room without an access to any kind of medical help. He croached in front of the raven whose coughing session was fading away. Kisame looked at his weak form with concern. He gently placed his hand on the smaller boy's cheek and his eyes widened. Itachi was hot again.

Kisame sighed. He picked up the raven from the old stained chair in their room and laid his fragile body on the bed.

- Kisame...

Kisame didn't answer. He knew what Itachi was going to say.

- I can walk by my sel-..

- Shut up.

The bigger boy began searching for a blanket in the broken wardrobe next to the bed. For his surprise, he found one and covered Itachi with it, who was already half asleep under the pressure of his high fever. Kisame leaned over him and touched his forehead.

- I have to go and buy you some medicine.

Itachi just nodded. Kisame didn't know if he actually heard him. The last thing he wanted right now was to leave the raven alone in this state, but he had no choice. He couldn't let him get worse.

Leaving the room, he locked it and hurried outside.

Itachi's head was throbbing. He let out a small moan and wrapped himself even tighter with the planket. He felt like a useless piece of shit. He knew perfectly fine what Kisame did for him and it was eating him from the inside. His pride was too big for this.

Giving up under his urge to fall asleep, he heard a knock on the door. It wouldn't have been Kisame since he had a key. Then who was it? Did the police find him? The knocking repeated. Should he open? His hands began to sweat. If he didn't open they surely would have broken that old door and burst inside. He collected all of his courage and got up.

- Who is it?

- Open the door, I'm sure you'll want to hear what I have to tell you.

The voice was a man's, very deep indeed. It was calm, not loud, not with a commanding tone. Itachi was a curious boy. He had a feeling that this man wasn't a thread. Being wrong or not, he opened the door.

At the doorstep stood a young man with ginger hair. He didn't resonate much with his thick voice. His face was covered with piercings and he was dressed in a long black cloack.

- Don't stay like this, let me in.

Itachi stopped analyzing him and moved to the side.

- Uchiha Itachi...

The raven flinched when he heard his name. How did he know it?

- I know where your brother is.

Itachi's eyes widened.

- He is kept in the Orochimaru's, an organization for murderers.

Organization for murderers? Itachi's heart skipped a beat. He secretly hoped that the police found him or he escaped somehow, but he was totally wrong.

- Don't worry, they won't harm him, they need him.

Itachi was puzzled.

- I can help you to get closer to Sasuke, but I want something in return.

- Anything! - Itachi didn't even let him finish.

At this moment, Kisame burst inside as well, having heard the voices coming from their room.

- Itachi!

He stood in front of the raven and took out a pocket knife.

- Who are you and what do you want?

- Kisame, It's okay.

Kisame turned around to face Itachi. He was panting from the running. The raven nodded and the bigger boy lowered the knife, still looking at his best friend.

- Hoshigaki Kisame, I know you too.

- Who the fuck are you?

- Kisame, please let him speak.

Itachi cut him, desperate to know what this stranger had to say. The ginger boy continued.

- I am the leader of an organization like this too.

So he is a murderer too? How pleasant. - Itachi thought.

- I am not asking you to understand why we do this. For us, this is our duty, our fate. We are the Akatsuki.

Where is he going with this? - Itachi didn't like the direction of this conversation.

- The Orochimaru's are our worst enemies. We are in a constant fight.

The ginger stopped for a little, took a deep breath,thinking of how to continue.

- Everyone in our world knows your name, Itachi. You are an Uchiha after all.

Itachi clenched his eyebrows. What was going on?

- I'll explain everything later, my time here is limited. Getting back to the point, the only way for you to be closer to Sasuke, to guard him and eventually save him, is to become a part of us.

Kisame was ready to rise the knife again. Everything sounded so absurd for him.

- I'll lend you a day to decide. Think wisely, Uchiha Itachi.

With this, he left the room. Itachi's mind was bombarded with so many thoughts. His head was throbbing even harder and his vision was getting blurry. Kisame saw what was happening and let Itachi lean on him for support. He was still burning. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep in Kisame's arms again.