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A/N: This first chapter is establishing the basics. This story is Kisame X Itachi and YAOI. If yaoi isn't your cup of tea...don't read it. Rated M for future chapters.
I am the same OTMarch of fanfiction.net for further reference. This is also posted on that site.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of Kishimoto's creations. If I did the story would be so fucked up they couldn't air it on television and there would be enough yaoi to make a fan-girl sick.

Submerged - Chapter One

When exactly had he let the Uchiha take charge? When had he started following his orders and coming to his every beck and call? Hoshigaki Kisame sat in one of the beaten up recliners at Akatsuki headquarters pondering the thought. Had he, the Demon of the Mist, killer of countless people, gone soft? Rivaling the raven by eleven years, he should be the one making the calls yet he always found himself complying to the boy's every need and request. Perhaps it was just the more convenient thing to not make decisions. He could do without arguing with some kid. Letting Itachi take charge and make the calls meant he could lie back and relax without thinking too hard or making the big decisions. It was easier that way...yeah, that's why.

Currently the raven haired Sharigan user sat opposite of his shark featured partner at the scuffed and worn out table in the living room of the Akatsuki lair. His brow was furrowed in thought as he sorted out some details for their latest mission and poured over an old map of the countries they would be traveling through. Leader-sama had informed them earlier that morning that they were to leave as soon as prepared and to head out towards the Takigakure and Tsuchi no Kuni border just southwest of their base. The mission was a simple one. Patrol the border between the Earth Country and the Waterfall Country and to check for any disturbances. Rumor had it that Takigakure was collecting intelligence on the Iwagakure from the inside and transferring it back to their village leader. Seeing as they weren't too terribly suspicious, it would be easy for the two of them to look like simple travelers passing through the countries. If anyone did recognize them as Akatsuki, they should know from the rumours to steer clear of them.

Information retrieval or Intel missions weren't really the pair's specialty but in the case of an actual fight breaking out, they were the best for the job. Kisame personally hoped for the latter, seeing as missions didn't interest him much if he didn't get a little bit of playtime in. Plus, if they really did need to question anyone he could simply drain them of their chakra and shave their limbs off when he'd finished. The possibility of them running into any actual threats was low from what Itachi had mentioned. They were to simply travel up the boarder and keep a wary eye out for suspicious travelers and activity. Normally the Stone Nation would have sent their own ninjas for such a job, but by hiring the Akatsuki they were able to keep a low profile and gather information from unsuspecting travelers.

Kisame continued to lounge in the chair, thumbing his fingers against the cushion in agitation. Waiting around was boring. He'd rather get walking and get the mission over with. It's been ages since he'd had a good fight or cut someone limb from limb. It'd be nice to get away from the base... He rose and began to pace the room, hands resting on the back of his neck. A sigh escaped his lip, and he furrowed his brow in frustration. How long was this going to take?

"Kisame, stop that." the raven said, not bothering to look up from the table. Kisame crossed his arms in a pout. Itachi was the only person he'd allow to push him around like that besides perhaps Leader-sama seeing as he had to follow orders from him.

"Does a mission that is so simple really need this much preparation, Itachi-san?"

"A simple mission can turn into much more without warning at times, Kisame." he answered without looking up from an old stained map that was currently in his grasp.

"If you're trying to refer to the incident in Konoha, that situation would have gone just fine if you would have let me cut that stupid green-spandex guy's legs off." he huffed.

"And in Shukuba Town, we hadn't expected to have to battle with one of the Sannin..."

"I suppose you're right...can we just leave soon?"

"Hn."

"Very well, Itachi-san."

One thing was certain, he wasn't the same boy he'd met two years prior. The shark recalled their tense first meeting with a grin. The raven haired boy hadn't been one to be intimidated by Kisame's harsh exterior and attitude. Rather, he brushed it off his intimidating act and countered it with his own smart comments. Pretty cocky for being some pretty boy kid new to the organization. His hair had grown significantly longer since he had joined the Akatsuki and his shoulders broadened slightly giving him an older appearance. The one thing that had stayed the same was the weasels predominate tear troughs that gave him his aged and constantly worn out appearance. When he had first come to meet with Leader-sama and the first members of the Akatsuki he had seemed so frail and almost sickly looking.

He may seem a little thickheaded but at times, but after spending two years with the Uchiha he could read him far more easily than he would have guessed. The subtle nuances in his voice, body language and his gaze told more than his partner ever cared to voice. The slight incline of his head when he was intrigued with some trivial thing. The way his eyes lit up ever so slightly when he found something he enjoyed. The miniscule amount the right side of his mouth upturned when he was amused. He remembered the day they had went to retrieve the Kyuubi host from Konoha he had seen the look in his eyes as he gazed down upon his village. An expression that almost suggested longing and a hint of relief to see his childhood home safe and sound. It had been brief but he hadn't missed it. For killing his entire clan, he sure seemed to still care someone for his village. The inner workings of that kid's head were a damn mystery.

He'd suggested the little tea-shop in Konoha simply because he knew Itachi had a hidden sweet tooth but also for himself to reflect on the home of his partner. You would have never imagined that only years before a massacre had occurred. When the raven had joined the Akatsuki Kisame had been the first member considered to partner with him. Having some punk kid follow him around on missions wasn't exactly appealing to him but overtime the boy had grown on him. After experiencing the younger boy's wide variety of jutsu and techniques he was actually now convinced the sickly looking raven was actually the stronger of the two.

Funny how Kami-sama seemed to stick him with his complete opposite. Itachi was a lithe bodied and attractive young man. His effeminate features and pouty lips were sure to make the girls swoon if his wise older expression and calm collected personality didn't get them first. Kisame didn't doubt for a second that the girls of his village must have fawned over him, constantly vying for his attention. From the little Itachi had told him, he was a prodigy child, graduating academy at age seven and being promoted to Chuunin status only three years later. The Uchiha then proceeded to beat out numerous older and more experienced candidates for a position as ANBU captain at age thirteen. Himself on the other hand was an outcast, shunned and avoided by his village like a leper. Never had a real girlfriend in his life...He had grown up during the gruesome trials of the Bloody Mist, learning to become ruthless at a young age and never forming close bonds or becoming too attached to his comrades...the only real thing the partners had in common was the simple fact that they betrayed the closest people to them, murdering their own comrades and family.

Sudden movement triggered Kisame's eyes to glance upward. Itachi had rose from his seat and was tucking the map into one of the pockets of his cloak. His cold eyes met Kisame's, sending a shiver down the sharks spine. What other things besides the few subtle emotions he could read lay behind that gaze? The older man knew without having to speak that his partner was prepared to set out on their mission. Strapping Samehada to his back, he followed his partner out into the chill night air.

A/N: Please forgive any spelling errors etc, this was another late night writing adventure. This chapter was more so to establish an actual story-line. What, a story-line? What's that... you wanna lemon? Impatient! Well, fuck you'll get it just let me get some build up in here! Tell me what ya think, what ya like, what ya hate, what ya wanna see, but damn it by all means please review! I'll give you cyber cookies?

-OTM