Butterfly-free

Epilogue (One year later)

The snow fell softly and freely. Pillows of pure white covering some of the windows. It was just them, Itachi thought.

Just Shisui and I. Even nature wants us to be alone.

Shisui had bought a cabin out in the woods earlier in the year. To escape from the bustle of the city. To escape from the honking of horns, the impatience the city provided to its greedy residents. Shisui decided he wanted to spend Christmas with Itachi this year – with only Itachi.

The cabin was cozy, its dark yet warm wood promised safety and love. Itachi knew that the walls of the small cabin knew that he loved Shisui with all his heart and that he was safe with the tall curly-haired man.

He heard the coffee machine churning out coffee and knew Shisui was in the kitchen – he was always an early bird. It was Christmas day and Itachi couldn't have been happier. He didn't care about gifts, what he cared about was far more precious; the memories with Shisui.

Itachi's phone pinged then, and he took it up and checked it.

Kisame: Merry Christmas! Have fun at the cabin. See you New Years :)

Itachi smiled and answered. He had remained friends with the blue-haired man. He suddenly heard a happy sigh from downstairs; Shisui's first sip of his beloved coffee.

A mischievous smile spread on Itachi's lips. He quietly got out of bed, wearing only one of Shisui's much too large sweaters – covering his hands and thighs. He tip toed so quietly into the kitchen. Shisui's back was to him as Itachi sneaked closer.

I'm finally gonna do it! I'm finally going to sneak up on him! Itachi thought with glee. He had tried several times, although never succeeded.

He got an inch closer but Shisui spun around, picking Itachi up by the waist easily, "Gotcha!" he burst out laughing, as did Itachi. The laughter rang through the secluded, warm cabin. The walls were right. Shisui's laugh was deep and boisterous, Itachi's was less loud but still just as sincere.

Shisui spun them around and Itachi wrapped his legs around Shisui's waist. The action was so familiar – so natural. Shisui stopped spinning them and stared up at Itachi just smiling his lopsided smile. Itachi tucked some of his hair behind his ear to get a closer look at his boyfriend.

Itachi's heart always grew tenfold when he saw Shisui happy. And the expression on his boyfriend's face: the crinkles on the sides of his eyes, the lopsided goofy smile painted on his lips and the twinkle in those chocolate eyes all invaded Itachi.

As they always did.

Itachi didn't know what to do with all the love he was feeling so he pushedhis lips against Shisui's. The kiss was gentle. It was a kiss of emotional intensity and they didn't need the fiery passion to communicate their love – any small touch always communicated it in the best, most blissful way.

They broke the kiss, Shisui still smiling and Itachi pouted.

"How did you know I was sneaking up on you?" Itachi asked, playfully teasing.

Shisui's eyes softened, "Itachi, I will always know when you're near."

It was true, Itachi realised. Shisui always seemed able to find him – no matter the place. And Itachi was always able to find Shisui. Like two magnets in their hearts always wanting to connect, to slam the metal bell of love.

"Ready to open presents?" Shisui asked excitedly.

Itachi had actually forgotten the presents, he was perfectly happy just being held by Shisui. But he saw the excitement in the older male and decided he would keep that childish giddiness alive.

"Sure", Itachi smiled.

Shisui carefully put him down and grabbed Itachi's hand as they walked over into the living room. Shisui had actually cut down a pine tree before the snow storm and mounted it in the living room close to the fire place. The fluffy snow clouds blocked out most light so the living room was illuminated only by the warm orange glow from the fireplace.

They stopped by the tree and Shisui was lightening quick to pick out a medium sized box and shoved it into Itachi's hands.

"Open this one first!"

Itachi was sceptical, he didn't want anything expensive but reigning Shisui in was always a difficult task. Shisui moved to behind Itachi as he placed his lips on Itachi's exposed neck.

The electric hum started again from the gentle touch.

Itachi carefully unwrapped the present, met with a black box. He opened it and it was a chess set – the pieces clearly made from some sort of crystal. Itachi wanted to scold Shisui but he genuinely loved the present. He looked at the pieces and felt Shisui smile against his neck.

"Oh no! There are two pieces missing", Itachi said.

Shisui pulled back, "Are you sure? Check again."

And so Itachi did, he counted the pieces. "Yes, the two kings are missing from the set."

"No they're not", Shisui said, sounding slightly nervous.

Itachi turned around and covered his mouth in surprise – pure shock as the realisation still tried to reach the front of his mind.

Shisui was on one knee, smiling nervously. In each hand he held the two crystal king chess pieces. But resting in his hand were also two golden rings, one with a beautiful diamond and one regular gold band on the other one.

"Itachi... I'm not very good at speeches. And there is so much to say. So here goes: when I met you I saw you as breathtakingly beautiful – something heaven had misplaced on earth. Then when I shared you I was convinced that you're not of this world. Your smile blooms the flowers of my heart, your voice caresses my soul and your body sets my mind on fire. Every touch, every embrace, every kiss just wakes me up all over again. The year without you I thought things were okay – thought I was okay without you. But, you didn't leave because my mind refused to let you. You lived in my mind – in my memory. So it felt like I didn't ever lose you. But I realised I did – and I couldn't bare it. You've seen it all, every piece of me and you loved me nonetheless. We've been co-workers. We've been friends. We've been lovers. We've been boyfriends... Now, maybe... we can be husbands. I'll be your king if you'll be mine." Shisui spoke, his voice faltering here and there. Itachi saw the vulnerability on Shisui's face play out. Itachi felt the sincerity in the air, like a gust of floral scents.

"Shisui, I..." the tears started forming in Itachi's eyes, "Shisui, yes! Yes!" Itachi sobbed and jumped onto Shisui, falling back onto the fur rug."You big idiot, yes!" he cried into Shisui's chest.

Itachi felt the sigh of relief escape Shisui's lungs. The older man wrapped his arms lovingly around his other half – his fiancé.

"I... I don't have a present that big for you", Itachi whispered.

Shisui chuckled, "Itachi, that 'yes' was the best and biggest present I have ever received."

Two hearts in a wooden cabin, with blanket snow blocking out the sun shined so bright that they didn't need the sun anymore. They were bright enough for each other and warm enough to never get cold on a wintery Christmas.

A Christmas that would always belong to them.

THE END.