Chapter 8 :
-How an Elder Teaches-
Don't try to save yourself,
The circle is complete. . . .
Hold your colours against the wall,
When they take everything away-Hold Your Colors-Pendulum
Itachi sat in a meditative position in a corner of his room. He sought out the other, sleepy as it seemed to be. It met him with a mental yawn, and Itachi stood poised. He looked at the other, and he wondered if he knew what he was doing. He didn't, but he was going to do it anyways. Itachi took a deep breath, and as he let it out he reached out, and fell into the other.
A blue skinned man sat beside him. Chakra pressed down on him, but that was normal. This was normal. Cicadas were singing, and his lungs were oddly tight. It was a cold. A lingering cold, but his chakra had been running low, and that always made the colds last longer. It was nothing to worry about. He would be fine after they got back to base and rested.
"Ne, Itachi-san, ready to move on?" The blue man asked. He was Kisame. He was an S-class missing-nin, and Itachi's partner. He was vicious, despicable, and he was the closest thing Itachi had to a friend these days. These were very sad and pitiful days. He felt a wry laugh bubble in him, but he didn't let it out. He didn't laugh anymore. Nothing was funny these days.
"I'm ready." He stood, but it was a mass of twisted pains as he straightened. When had his knees gotten so stiff? Why did his head spin like a top? When had the pain in his lungs grown to sharp or deep? He coughed and doubled over, bringing thick mucus into his mouth. He spat it out, and looked at the blood flecking it. Kisame was looking at it too, and Itachi could hear the man wondering how much longer Itachi had. How much longer would he be able to stay ahead-or to even keep up?
"Let's go, Kisame." Itachi coughed softly, if anything that hurt so much could be called soft, and walked. He lead the way. He was ahead of Kisame, and that was where he would stay. For now. For as long as he could. He had to stay ahead for just a little while longer. He had to stay ahead until Sasuke came to put him to rest. Then he could stop the struggle. Then he could lay down and rest his aches and pains and dishonor forever.
"I expect great things from you," The man said. Itachi looked up from what seemed a long way down. He was on his knees on a hard floor, and looking up at red eyes. Those eyes...red eyes, burning, spinning, into him-into his very soul. He knew what those eyes expected of him. He could hear it whispered in his mind and all through him.
He felt drunk and dizzy, sick within his mind. He was going to fall down. He felt giddy. He could see blood all over him, though he'd scrubbed his skin almost raw to get all that blood off. He could still feel it on him though. The eyes were one him. Boring into him. Into his flesh. Into his soul. Trapping him within.
Nothing he would do was great. Everything he did was terrible. It was horrifying. It was great.
The blond was speaking again, asking something about Itachi. What made him so great? Why was he to be feared? Why did everyone give him extra space and even Hidan shut his trap when the black-haired man looked at him? Why was this one treated with such reverence, but watched so sharply?
Because, that one was not here for the same reason they all were. When that one looked at you, you weren't looking into the eyes of a comrade. You were looking at a caged man, driven into a corner by his life and circumstances. He could kill you, and no one would protest. He could go insane at any moment and kill himself. You were supposed to stop him if he tried. He wasn't allowed to kill himself. That would be too easy. That would ruin all the fun.
He smiled at Deidara, whose eyes were wide now, wondering, and watching just as sharply as all the others. Itachi would kill him first as soon as the shackles fell off. If the shackles ever fell off. His flesh was beginning to grow over the shackles, and they were becoming a permanent part of him. He would never get these off unless he left his flesh behind. He would have to die.
But dying wasn't allowed. Dying, the tiny, all encompassing voice in his head whispered sweetly to him, would ruin all the fun.
This wasn't fun. This wasn't enjoyable. Itachi washed the blood off of his hands again and looked over at Kisame. The man had enjoyed it. He was a true missing-nin from the horror stories. He reveled in blood shed and killing all her could manage. He was the monster Itachi had been taught to fear and hate. Itachi wasn't like that.
No, no, he was much worse. He was a terror and a half. He would smile and kill at the same time. He didn't enjoy this bountiful killing, but he did it anyway. He was more a monster than Kisame. He was pushing himself against his nature, and he was suffering for it. Still, he kept pushing. He couldn't stop. He was trapped in this vicious pushing, and he would never stop. He wasn't allowed to stop. If he stopped he'd never do anything again.
He coughed, breath crackling and spiking through his pain. Itachi gasped as his chest convulsed, and he coughed. his wet hand flew to his mouth, and he coughed again. He coughed and coughed and coughed, and Kisame just sat and watched him. They both knew this might be his only way out of the shackles. They both saw the wasting flesh when he changed clothes. They both saw it. They both knew what it meant. Kisame didn't say a word. Did that make him more of a killer or less of one? Was he being nice to Itachi or mean to him?
Kisame didn't even comment when Itachi pulled his hand back and blood ran down it. They never said anything about it, but their eyes met, and Kisame's said the little brother had better hurry up. Itachi was not going to last. They'd known that all along, that Itachi wasn't going to last, but now he was lasting even less. His days were now numbered, not just his months or years. The end was in sight, and Sasuke wasn't anywhere near where he needed to be.
He would. Itachi just had to give him time. Sasuke would come. He couldn't do anything else. He was a prisoner just as Itachi was. Itachi had made him a prisoner so he could get out one day. Sasuke was prisoner and he held a key in his hands-his key and Itachi's key. They'd be released at the same time.
Still. it was a wicked, wicked thing to take someone prisoner for such a terrible purpose. He was no better than the ones who had shackled him to his fate. He just prayed Sasuke was kinder than his older brother, and wouldn't imprison anyone to set himself free.
You were never free.
"What's that?" Kisame asked. He pointed with a large finger. Itachi glanced back at his partner as he continued to strip. He'd been waiting all week for a bath and he was going to take it now. Kisame had seen his naked times beyond count by now. Modesty didn't come into account anymore.
"Do you have a bruise?" Kisame was teasing. He moved forward and touched Itachi's back, low, just between the two dimples his pelvis made, right on his back bone. Itachi twisted his head and body, but could not see the mark Kisame was talking about. It didn't hurt, though. It must not be a bruise. Maybe dirt, or maybe just Kisame playing a prank again.
"Stop touching me, Kisame," Itachi intoned. His partner's intruding hand removed, and Itachi self consciously ran his hand over the mark as he stepped into the hot water-it was a shame he couldn't have a proper bath. It didn't hurt. There probably wasn't a mark at all. That didn't stop his from scrubbing the spot vigorously. There was no mark. It was just Kisame having a joke on his silly new partner.
The next morning, when Kisame came in to see why the mirror had shattered, Itachi thought he might kill the man. His hand was over the mark on his back, and it burned hot up his spine, right into his mind. There was more burning in his mind, angry and dry as it pounced on him. It sensed Itachi's fury, and in moments he was on the ground, Kisame holding him down and shouting at him to calm down, stop it, useless little brat...
He didn't understand. There was too much, too fast, while the other could see all the connections and know where each memory went, Itachi couldn't see them. He felt lost. He felt dizzy with all the information. He was going to fall, but he was limp against the wall, eyes closed. He didn't think he could see right now even if they were open. What was he seeing? How far down into the other was he?
Not far enough. He didn't understand, but he was still holding back. He saw Sasuke hating him, killing him. He saw his parents dead. He saw himself drowning Shisui, his cousin's dark hair splayed like ink against the dark waters. Itachi choked on a gasp and fell deeper in, letting go and hoping, praying, that he would be able to come out again.
There were red eyes looking at him, boring into his soul. He'd never get out alive, and they'd never let him die.
Breakfast without Itachi wasn't such a strange thing. Still, after the boy's illness they all felt his absence. Sasuke was silent. If Itachi wasn't feeling well, he wouldn't be able teach Sasuke after school. Mikoto looked worried, and she was speaking to Fugaku as little as possible today. Fugaku didn't blame her. Sasuke didn't notice. Maybe he was too absorbed in his own hopes for the afternoon, or maybe this was such a common occurrence he didn't notice it. Fugaku and Mikoto never fought in front of their children, but could the children tell they'd fought anyway?
They all jumped as someone rapped sharply on the door. Fugaku stood, motioned Mikoto to stay. "I'll get it." Mikoto settled back down and watched Fugaku as he padded across the tatami. Sasuke watched his father go too, and wondered who was at the door. They didn't usually get visitors this early. Maybe it was Genzai-sensei coming to tell them what was wrong with Itachi.
It wasn't. It was Hitomi-oba-san, and she looked mad. Fugaku lead her off into the house. Sasuke gobbled up the last of his breakfast and stood up from the table. He hurried back to his room to get his bag for school. His mother had some errands to run, so she was going to walk with him today. They'd be leaving Itachi alone, but he was better now. At least, his parents said he was getting better. Sasuke tried to believe them, but sometimes it was hard, and it was taking a long time for Itachi to get better.
"-third time. He's off duty for a week because of it, and, frankly, I'm not so sure I should let him go back! This is his own team, Fugaku. He shouldn't have to face this with them." Sasuke paused as he heard Hitomi-oba-san's voice. He stopped before passing in front of the door behind which she and Fugaku were talking. He really shouldn't eavesdrop, but he did want to know what had Hitomi-oba-san so upset.
"You cannot keep Yahiko at home because his Gennin teammates are picking on him. Have you talked to his Jounin sensei?" Fugaku asked, and Sasuke would hear the tired edge in his father's voice. It was almost always there.
"I have, but he sees nothing wrong with their despicable behavior. This is all happening because Yahiko is an Uchiha, Fugaku! This is a clan problem. They don't respect him at all! They ridicule him for being part of what should be the villages most respected clan!" Hitomi-oba-san was ranting now. Sasuke gripped his bag and listened on. He really should be moving now, but...
"What do you want me to do, Hitomi? Lodge a complaint because Yahiko is getting picked on? With the position we're in we can not afford to look-"
"This is not teasing, Fugaku. Yahiko has a concussion."
"Teasing can go too far, especially with ninja children. I think you maybe overreacting to all of this."
"I am not. You just refuse to see the gravity of what's happening! Nothing is going to change if you do not make some noise, Fugaku. As clan head it's your job to maintain the good relations of the clan with the village and watch out for the well being of those in the clan. You see where all of this is going. Yahiko is just the first. Soon everyone will be treating the Uchiha like trash all the time."
"The Uchiha are not being treated like trash-" Fugaku was cut off by Hitomi's outraged noise.
"We are not? They've locked us up in here like cattle, and refuse to let us out. Oh, they say we want to live in our ancestral home, but this was not our choice! We're prisoners, Fugaku! Open your eyes to the simple facts!"
"And what would you have me do? I can not go about slinging accusations, Hitomi. You don't understand how precarious our position is? I'll admit something needs to be done, but we need to move carefully to avoid-"
Sasuke heard his mother moving into the kitchen. He scurried past the door, and came flying into the kitchen where his mother was, hoping she's think he'd gotten side tracked and not stopped to eavesdrop. Mikoto smiled and reached down to give Sasuke a hug.
"They you are! Are you all ready for school?" Mikoto straightened Sasuke's bangs and smiled. Sasuke ducked out from under her hand, and wished she would stop babying him. She always did that. She never fussed with Itachi's hair.
"I'm ready." Sasuke slipped his arms through the straps on his bag and watched his mother put the final touches on his bento box. He leaned against the counter and wondered if there would be enough to bribe Naruto with. Naruto never had a very good lunch, and if Sasuke shared his lunch then the other boy would put a beetle on Ino if she started bothering Sasuke. Sasuke wasn't supposed to hit his comrades, so he couldn't do anything to Ino when she started bothering him, and she would not leave him alone when he asked. The beetle would have her chasing Naruto all of their free time.
Sasuke smirked. Even if he didn't have enough, being hungry was better than being bugged by Ino. It was better for Ino to be bugged. Sasuke snickered, and then gave his mother an innocent grin when she looked down at him. She would think he was being mean. Sasuke should remember to tell Itachi. Itachi would appreciate a plan like that, Sasuke was sure. He might even smile.
Fugaku and Hitomi-oba-san went through, and Hitomi look mad. Mikoto watched with a growing frown on her face. They heard Fugaklu wish Hitomi well, though the woman did not reply, and then Fugaku came back into the kitchen. He had creases between his eyes, and he looked tired. Fugaku always looked tired, though. Sasuke didn't know if he always was, or is he just looked like it. He couldn't remember his father not looking tired.
"All ready for school?" Fugaku asked Sasuke. He reached down to ruffled Sasuke's hair as the boy nodded. "Have a good day."
Sasuke nodded. Mikoto slipped off her apron, and exchanged looks with her husband before following Sasuke to the door. Fugaku came with them. He was going off to work now. Sasuke bit his tongue to keep from asking if anyone needed to stay with Itachi, and followed his parents. Itachi was okay.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke turned and saw his brother standing there, in his yukata, hair still mussed from sleep. Itachi gave Sasuke a small smile, one Sasuke hadn't seen in a long time. Sasuke almost stepped back, because Itachi's eyes look a little too wide, and there was just something off about his older brother's expression. Something about it scared Sasuke. He wanted to go hide behind his parent, but that was silly. It was just Itachi.
Itachi walked up to his little brother, dropped down to his knees, and hugged Sasuke. Sasuke was too shocked to even hug back. Itachi sat back and put his hands on Sasuke's shoulders. He grinned a little more, and Sasuke offered a hesitant one back. Itachi was acting very strangely-not that it was a bad strange, really, but it still wasn't how Sasuke knew Itachi should act.
"Have a good day. I'll help you train when you get back, okay?" Itachi said.
"If you're not too tired, right?" Sasuke amended hesitantly. Itachi usually left himself a way out of any engagement.
Itachi shook his head. "I won't be too tired, I promise." Itachi spoke the words in such a way that Sasuke didn't even think to doubt him. He nodded and beamed.
"Hai," Sasuke couldn't even dampen the grin on his face. So what if Itachi was acting strangely. He'd just promised to train with Sasuke, and Itachi never broke a promise. If Itachi said the word 'promise', he'd keep it.
"Good, now, off to school." Itachi turned Sasuke around and gave him a gentle shove towards their parents Fugaku and Mikoto looked a little startled, but Sasuke didn't care. He was too happy. Though, and they said their good-byes and started down the street, Sasuke couldn't help but think, the only thing familiar about Itachi this morning had been how he looked. It was a little like someone else was wearing Itachi's face...but that couldn't happen.
"Sasuke, hurry up, dear!" Mikoto called. Sasuke realized he had stopped and ran to catch up with his mother. He was being silly. There was no way that had been anyone but Itachi. No way at all.
Enjoy
-How an Elder Teaches-
Don't try to save yourself,
The circle is complete. . . .
Hold your colours against the wall,
When they take everything away-Hold Your Colors-Pendulum
Itachi sat in a meditative position in a corner of his room. He sought out the other, sleepy as it seemed to be. It met him with a mental yawn, and Itachi stood poised. He looked at the other, and he wondered if he knew what he was doing. He didn't, but he was going to do it anyways. Itachi took a deep breath, and as he let it out he reached out, and fell into the other.
A blue skinned man sat beside him. Chakra pressed down on him, but that was normal. This was normal. Cicadas were singing, and his lungs were oddly tight. It was a cold. A lingering cold, but his chakra had been running low, and that always made the colds last longer. It was nothing to worry about. He would be fine after they got back to base and rested.
"Ne, Itachi-san, ready to move on?" The blue man asked. He was Kisame. He was an S-class missing-nin, and Itachi's partner. He was vicious, despicable, and he was the closest thing Itachi had to a friend these days. These were very sad and pitiful days. He felt a wry laugh bubble in him, but he didn't let it out. He didn't laugh anymore. Nothing was funny these days.
"I'm ready." He stood, but it was a mass of twisted pains as he straightened. When had his knees gotten so stiff? Why did his head spin like a top? When had the pain in his lungs grown to sharp or deep? He coughed and doubled over, bringing thick mucus into his mouth. He spat it out, and looked at the blood flecking it. Kisame was looking at it too, and Itachi could hear the man wondering how much longer Itachi had. How much longer would he be able to stay ahead-or to even keep up?
"Let's go, Kisame." Itachi coughed softly, if anything that hurt so much could be called soft, and walked. He lead the way. He was ahead of Kisame, and that was where he would stay. For now. For as long as he could. He had to stay ahead for just a little while longer. He had to stay ahead until Sasuke came to put him to rest. Then he could stop the struggle. Then he could lay down and rest his aches and pains and dishonor forever.
"I expect great things from you," The man said. Itachi looked up from what seemed a long way down. He was on his knees on a hard floor, and looking up at red eyes. Those eyes...red eyes, burning, spinning, into him-into his very soul. He knew what those eyes expected of him. He could hear it whispered in his mind and all through him.
He felt drunk and dizzy, sick within his mind. He was going to fall down. He felt giddy. He could see blood all over him, though he'd scrubbed his skin almost raw to get all that blood off. He could still feel it on him though. The eyes were one him. Boring into him. Into his flesh. Into his soul. Trapping him within.
Nothing he would do was great. Everything he did was terrible. It was horrifying. It was great.
The blond was speaking again, asking something about Itachi. What made him so great? Why was he to be feared? Why did everyone give him extra space and even Hidan shut his trap when the black-haired man looked at him? Why was this one treated with such reverence, but watched so sharply?
Because, that one was not here for the same reason they all were. When that one looked at you, you weren't looking into the eyes of a comrade. You were looking at a caged man, driven into a corner by his life and circumstances. He could kill you, and no one would protest. He could go insane at any moment and kill himself. You were supposed to stop him if he tried. He wasn't allowed to kill himself. That would be too easy. That would ruin all the fun.
He smiled at Deidara, whose eyes were wide now, wondering, and watching just as sharply as all the others. Itachi would kill him first as soon as the shackles fell off. If the shackles ever fell off. His flesh was beginning to grow over the shackles, and they were becoming a permanent part of him. He would never get these off unless he left his flesh behind. He would have to die.
But dying wasn't allowed. Dying, the tiny, all encompassing voice in his head whispered sweetly to him, would ruin all the fun.
This wasn't fun. This wasn't enjoyable. Itachi washed the blood off of his hands again and looked over at Kisame. The man had enjoyed it. He was a true missing-nin from the horror stories. He reveled in blood shed and killing all her could manage. He was the monster Itachi had been taught to fear and hate. Itachi wasn't like that.
No, no, he was much worse. He was a terror and a half. He would smile and kill at the same time. He didn't enjoy this bountiful killing, but he did it anyway. He was more a monster than Kisame. He was pushing himself against his nature, and he was suffering for it. Still, he kept pushing. He couldn't stop. He was trapped in this vicious pushing, and he would never stop. He wasn't allowed to stop. If he stopped he'd never do anything again.
He coughed, breath crackling and spiking through his pain. Itachi gasped as his chest convulsed, and he coughed. his wet hand flew to his mouth, and he coughed again. He coughed and coughed and coughed, and Kisame just sat and watched him. They both knew this might be his only way out of the shackles. They both saw the wasting flesh when he changed clothes. They both saw it. They both knew what it meant. Kisame didn't say a word. Did that make him more of a killer or less of one? Was he being nice to Itachi or mean to him?
Kisame didn't even comment when Itachi pulled his hand back and blood ran down it. They never said anything about it, but their eyes met, and Kisame's said the little brother had better hurry up. Itachi was not going to last. They'd known that all along, that Itachi wasn't going to last, but now he was lasting even less. His days were now numbered, not just his months or years. The end was in sight, and Sasuke wasn't anywhere near where he needed to be.
He would. Itachi just had to give him time. Sasuke would come. He couldn't do anything else. He was a prisoner just as Itachi was. Itachi had made him a prisoner so he could get out one day. Sasuke was prisoner and he held a key in his hands-his key and Itachi's key. They'd be released at the same time.
Still. it was a wicked, wicked thing to take someone prisoner for such a terrible purpose. He was no better than the ones who had shackled him to his fate. He just prayed Sasuke was kinder than his older brother, and wouldn't imprison anyone to set himself free.
You were never free.
"What's that?" Kisame asked. He pointed with a large finger. Itachi glanced back at his partner as he continued to strip. He'd been waiting all week for a bath and he was going to take it now. Kisame had seen his naked times beyond count by now. Modesty didn't come into account anymore.
"Do you have a bruise?" Kisame was teasing. He moved forward and touched Itachi's back, low, just between the two dimples his pelvis made, right on his back bone. Itachi twisted his head and body, but could not see the mark Kisame was talking about. It didn't hurt, though. It must not be a bruise. Maybe dirt, or maybe just Kisame playing a prank again.
"Stop touching me, Kisame," Itachi intoned. His partner's intruding hand removed, and Itachi self consciously ran his hand over the mark as he stepped into the hot water-it was a shame he couldn't have a proper bath. It didn't hurt. There probably wasn't a mark at all. That didn't stop his from scrubbing the spot vigorously. There was no mark. It was just Kisame having a joke on his silly new partner.
The next morning, when Kisame came in to see why the mirror had shattered, Itachi thought he might kill the man. His hand was over the mark on his back, and it burned hot up his spine, right into his mind. There was more burning in his mind, angry and dry as it pounced on him. It sensed Itachi's fury, and in moments he was on the ground, Kisame holding him down and shouting at him to calm down, stop it, useless little brat...
He didn't understand. There was too much, too fast, while the other could see all the connections and know where each memory went, Itachi couldn't see them. He felt lost. He felt dizzy with all the information. He was going to fall, but he was limp against the wall, eyes closed. He didn't think he could see right now even if they were open. What was he seeing? How far down into the other was he?
Not far enough. He didn't understand, but he was still holding back. He saw Sasuke hating him, killing him. He saw his parents dead. He saw himself drowning Shisui, his cousin's dark hair splayed like ink against the dark waters. Itachi choked on a gasp and fell deeper in, letting go and hoping, praying, that he would be able to come out again.
There were red eyes looking at him, boring into his soul. He'd never get out alive, and they'd never let him die.
Breakfast without Itachi wasn't such a strange thing. Still, after the boy's illness they all felt his absence. Sasuke was silent. If Itachi wasn't feeling well, he wouldn't be able teach Sasuke after school. Mikoto looked worried, and she was speaking to Fugaku as little as possible today. Fugaku didn't blame her. Sasuke didn't notice. Maybe he was too absorbed in his own hopes for the afternoon, or maybe this was such a common occurrence he didn't notice it. Fugaku and Mikoto never fought in front of their children, but could the children tell they'd fought anyway?
They all jumped as someone rapped sharply on the door. Fugaku stood, motioned Mikoto to stay. "I'll get it." Mikoto settled back down and watched Fugaku as he padded across the tatami. Sasuke watched his father go too, and wondered who was at the door. They didn't usually get visitors this early. Maybe it was Genzai-sensei coming to tell them what was wrong with Itachi.
It wasn't. It was Hitomi-oba-san, and she looked mad. Fugaku lead her off into the house. Sasuke gobbled up the last of his breakfast and stood up from the table. He hurried back to his room to get his bag for school. His mother had some errands to run, so she was going to walk with him today. They'd be leaving Itachi alone, but he was better now. At least, his parents said he was getting better. Sasuke tried to believe them, but sometimes it was hard, and it was taking a long time for Itachi to get better.
"-third time. He's off duty for a week because of it, and, frankly, I'm not so sure I should let him go back! This is his own team, Fugaku. He shouldn't have to face this with them." Sasuke paused as he heard Hitomi-oba-san's voice. He stopped before passing in front of the door behind which she and Fugaku were talking. He really shouldn't eavesdrop, but he did want to know what had Hitomi-oba-san so upset.
"You cannot keep Yahiko at home because his Gennin teammates are picking on him. Have you talked to his Jounin sensei?" Fugaku asked, and Sasuke would hear the tired edge in his father's voice. It was almost always there.
"I have, but he sees nothing wrong with their despicable behavior. This is all happening because Yahiko is an Uchiha, Fugaku! This is a clan problem. They don't respect him at all! They ridicule him for being part of what should be the villages most respected clan!" Hitomi-oba-san was ranting now. Sasuke gripped his bag and listened on. He really should be moving now, but...
"What do you want me to do, Hitomi? Lodge a complaint because Yahiko is getting picked on? With the position we're in we can not afford to look-"
"This is not teasing, Fugaku. Yahiko has a concussion."
"Teasing can go too far, especially with ninja children. I think you maybe overreacting to all of this."
"I am not. You just refuse to see the gravity of what's happening! Nothing is going to change if you do not make some noise, Fugaku. As clan head it's your job to maintain the good relations of the clan with the village and watch out for the well being of those in the clan. You see where all of this is going. Yahiko is just the first. Soon everyone will be treating the Uchiha like trash all the time."
"The Uchiha are not being treated like trash-" Fugaku was cut off by Hitomi's outraged noise.
"We are not? They've locked us up in here like cattle, and refuse to let us out. Oh, they say we want to live in our ancestral home, but this was not our choice! We're prisoners, Fugaku! Open your eyes to the simple facts!"
"And what would you have me do? I can not go about slinging accusations, Hitomi. You don't understand how precarious our position is? I'll admit something needs to be done, but we need to move carefully to avoid-"
Sasuke heard his mother moving into the kitchen. He scurried past the door, and came flying into the kitchen where his mother was, hoping she's think he'd gotten side tracked and not stopped to eavesdrop. Mikoto smiled and reached down to give Sasuke a hug.
"They you are! Are you all ready for school?" Mikoto straightened Sasuke's bangs and smiled. Sasuke ducked out from under her hand, and wished she would stop babying him. She always did that. She never fussed with Itachi's hair.
"I'm ready." Sasuke slipped his arms through the straps on his bag and watched his mother put the final touches on his bento box. He leaned against the counter and wondered if there would be enough to bribe Naruto with. Naruto never had a very good lunch, and if Sasuke shared his lunch then the other boy would put a beetle on Ino if she started bothering Sasuke. Sasuke wasn't supposed to hit his comrades, so he couldn't do anything to Ino when she started bothering him, and she would not leave him alone when he asked. The beetle would have her chasing Naruto all of their free time.
Sasuke smirked. Even if he didn't have enough, being hungry was better than being bugged by Ino. It was better for Ino to be bugged. Sasuke snickered, and then gave his mother an innocent grin when she looked down at him. She would think he was being mean. Sasuke should remember to tell Itachi. Itachi would appreciate a plan like that, Sasuke was sure. He might even smile.
Fugaku and Hitomi-oba-san went through, and Hitomi look mad. Mikoto watched with a growing frown on her face. They heard Fugaklu wish Hitomi well, though the woman did not reply, and then Fugaku came back into the kitchen. He had creases between his eyes, and he looked tired. Fugaku always looked tired, though. Sasuke didn't know if he always was, or is he just looked like it. He couldn't remember his father not looking tired.
"All ready for school?" Fugaku asked Sasuke. He reached down to ruffled Sasuke's hair as the boy nodded. "Have a good day."
Sasuke nodded. Mikoto slipped off her apron, and exchanged looks with her husband before following Sasuke to the door. Fugaku came with them. He was going off to work now. Sasuke bit his tongue to keep from asking if anyone needed to stay with Itachi, and followed his parents. Itachi was okay.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke turned and saw his brother standing there, in his yukata, hair still mussed from sleep. Itachi gave Sasuke a small smile, one Sasuke hadn't seen in a long time. Sasuke almost stepped back, because Itachi's eyes look a little too wide, and there was just something off about his older brother's expression. Something about it scared Sasuke. He wanted to go hide behind his parent, but that was silly. It was just Itachi.
Itachi walked up to his little brother, dropped down to his knees, and hugged Sasuke. Sasuke was too shocked to even hug back. Itachi sat back and put his hands on Sasuke's shoulders. He grinned a little more, and Sasuke offered a hesitant one back. Itachi was acting very strangely-not that it was a bad strange, really, but it still wasn't how Sasuke knew Itachi should act.
"Have a good day. I'll help you train when you get back, okay?" Itachi said.
"If you're not too tired, right?" Sasuke amended hesitantly. Itachi usually left himself a way out of any engagement.
Itachi shook his head. "I won't be too tired, I promise." Itachi spoke the words in such a way that Sasuke didn't even think to doubt him. He nodded and beamed.
"Hai," Sasuke couldn't even dampen the grin on his face. So what if Itachi was acting strangely. He'd just promised to train with Sasuke, and Itachi never broke a promise. If Itachi said the word 'promise', he'd keep it.
"Good, now, off to school." Itachi turned Sasuke around and gave him a gentle shove towards their parents Fugaku and Mikoto looked a little startled, but Sasuke didn't care. He was too happy. Though, and they said their good-byes and started down the street, Sasuke couldn't help but think, the only thing familiar about Itachi this morning had been how he looked. It was a little like someone else was wearing Itachi's face...but that couldn't happen.
"Sasuke, hurry up, dear!" Mikoto called. Sasuke realized he had stopped and ran to catch up with his mother. He was being silly. There was no way that had been anyone but Itachi. No way at all.
Enjoy
