Itachi feigned in the bright light in front of him. Maybe to bright, but he didn't care. Inspiration was found everywhere, he supposes. Though his hands were stilled, a thought did occur to him, but left quicker than it came. Artist was a word that people described him as rarely. He didn't, a thinker if you will. He just had spectrum of ideas and explained them with his brush. His face had a mixture of pink and orange, with his nose nabbed with a golden blue color. His studio was usually in tatters. Paintbrushes everywhere, paint, drawings on the ceiling, paint on the walls. His clothes were a piece of art in its self. His baggy big long sleeved white shirt danced in the light, with the mixture of purple and green. It was a decorum, actually. His black yoga pants were now a color he couldn't describe. Gray maybe. His black thin framed glasses were smudged with a bright yellow, making the bright light flash his eyes in a more condescending fashion. Inspiration was hard to find these days. Inspiration was always hard to find, since he was diagnosed. With aspergers, it would explain his inability to speak like a normal human. His parents would worry, since he'd close himself off. Which they called solitude, he just liked peace and quiet. As if living in a house full of lack of luster was enough, and his 'disease' to boot, his father never approved of most of things he believed in. Like how he had a passion for not one, but all genders. He referred to it as human love. People could call it pansexuality if they felt better about it. He didn't have a preference, but his father took some time to absorb it all. The first time he told his family also marked when he decided he was a vegetarian. He wasn't fond of vegetables though, fruits really. Carrots were his least favorite, even if they'd help his God awful eyesight.
Itachi dipped his brush in the water once. The canvas in front on him was still blank. There really wasn't any inspiration here. Artists usually bring things that they feel onto the white dullness in front of them. There wasn't much to think about. Expect about maybe four years ago he suffered from Castleman disease. He wasn't lucky in that apartment. His brother stayed by his side day and night. Sasuke always was fond of him. Even through his preferences. Sasuke wasn't alike to him at all. For example he was akin to bragging. They were a wealthy family, to put it bluntly. Sasuke relished in the fact and took time to make those he despised around him jealous. Itachi found he was more among the common branch. A simple civilian life in a far off beach with whoever or whomever, painting the scenery would be fine. Even if most things Itachi painted or drew didn't last a day. He changed his mind alot. His paintings ended up in the trash or shredded to use as confetti for a sculpture he'd craft. Which he usually ended up melting days after. Itachi dipped his brush into the lime green and made one slash across the canvas. It looked plain, lifeless. He made more splashes, of purple, pink, red, yellow. He didn't expect for it to end up looking like a cheetah chasing down its pray. It popped out due to the different colors, making it look as if the cheetah was coming after you. His mother loved to brag about his artistic side. Even if he found it inappropriate, it always brought a small smile to grace his face. Though he guessed he'd admit he was talented, for his age. Eighteen and a half. He stood up and cracked his neck. He'd let the painting dry, he might throw it away. Or let it hang for a while.
"Nice tiger." Sasuke snickered at Itachi's studio doorway. Sasuke was only sixteen, but he had a very foul language. And a very foul mind as well. Itachi hoped he didn't read things that suggested that. He'd die of discomfort if he found his brother pleasuring himself to a pornographic film or a suggestive image. He almost shuddered from the thought. He wouldn't think about that. It made it almost worse. Sasuke examined the 'tiger' and almost snorted at how unidentifiable it was. "Or Cheetah." He corrected himself. Itachi cracked his knuckles and fixed his messy bun. He removed the paint brush from his raven locks. Sasuke's hair was more wild than his, and darker. A navy blue dark, just like their mother. Itachi inherented his tear drafts from his father, and the fact that he didn't sleep as opposed to sculpting.
"I had a lack of inspiration." Itachi spoke calmy and wiped his glasses swiftly. They were a nuisance when painting. But he didn't despise them as much as he hated his contacts. They apparently brought out his eyes, coming from his many butlers. Sasuke did snort this time and carefully tapped the cheetah splash color painting.
"That's rare. But I did come here for a reason-and it was not to watch you make your handiwork. So don't ask, I remember last time. Anyway, dad and mom were planning to head out. You know their thirty sixth anniversary. So I was going to let Naruto and Kiba come and trash the place. I wanted to ask if it would be okay with you." Sasuke stared while Itachi gathered his mixed paint and dirty, murky water. Itachi shrugged, would have come as a surprise, but Itachi wasn't very vocal since he was diagnosed. He was more closed off really. He rarely smiled or laughed. He ate scarcely, but it wasn't something to worry about too much since he did jog occasionally. He had a build, somewhat. But he wasn't really trying to be social, aspergers or not. "I wanted you to meet them before. So I wanted to ask that too. But you do seem busy." Sasuke muttered. He wanted for Itachi to meet his girlfriend, Sakura. Itachi wasn't judgemental, but he had a wierd ability that scared people off.
"I'll see to it I won't be to busy. They can come over. But..." Itachi began. Sasuke knew this. They had to stay away from the studio. It was literally only Itachi's place. He slept there sometimes. He was hesitant at first to even let his family enter, afraid they'd mess something up. In the end his father did accidently rip the white sheet paper that was taped up and sprawled all over the room. So there was that. Sasuke nodded and playfully saluted off his brother. Itachi perked, a new idea coming to mind. He splashed his light blue paint on the walls and used his hands to manipulate it to make a very realistic view of Sasuke's features. Well, to another person they looked like normal crashing waves on a coast. But to him they accentuated how Sasuke was and how he acted. Itachi smiled proudly at his new wall backround and proceeded with his cleaning up. They were all over each other, Sasuke gaped. His parents were allowed to be mushy for once a year. But they were just being sickly sweet. He almost thanked whatever God that was up there when they left. He was actually glad to see Naruto's dumb face holding up bags of junk food and over filled action packed movies. Kiba looked as stupid as he, with mediocre videogames. And a phonebook, in case on future prank calls they'd make. Shikamaru had his normal lazy attitude creeping out, his hands were all but empty except for the huge bottles of soda and pop rocks. Sakura had the speakers, since her's where the best, for when they'd listen to shit music and pig out. It was great, only half of the stuff they probably wouldn't be able to do, since Itachi was home. Sasuke sighed and stepped out of the house closing the door.
He had to get their minds mentally prepared for meeting his socially awkward older brother. "Okay, here's the thing guys-"
"And girl." Sakura added. Sasuke rolled his eyes affectionately. Even though she was a girl, she liked to hang out with them. Even with their constant guy bickering, and Naruto's shit eating grin. He admired the pink shorts and white tank top she wore. The knee high bright pink boots and the fact that her small cleavage was showing. Her hair was in a long braid, with that white headband of hers. He mentally shook his head, no time to gawk.
"And girl. So, you know I've got an older brother. But there are a few things you should know." Sasuke paused waiting for reactions.
"What, he isn't a mass murdering psycho, is he?" Naruto joked, whereas Sasuke gave him a blank stare, making him chuckle nervously. "He isn't, is he?" Sasuke hit his head with force.
"Of course not! Just, listen." They realized he was being serious and got serious themselves. As serious as they could be at least. "He's sort of..closed off and awkward. So no big comments about things like 'sex life' or any dumb jokes. Naruto. Also don't mention meat, He's sort of a die hard vegetarian." Naruto gasped like he was hurt that the man didn't stuff his face with every possible meat choices in the world. Like giraffe, goat, pork, God there were so many choices. "He..was diagnosed with aspergers a two years back. It was sometime after he barely survived from Castleman disease." The look of sympathy they gave him, he did not need. Nor want. "He's an artist, sculptor, drawer. Anything that has to do with art, really." Sasuke smiled, just thinking about Itachi molding clay to look like his imagination. Which was wild. Right when his friends thought he was finished he remembered one last thing. "Oh, and he sort of..is..pansexual? Yeah." Sasuke finished.
"What, he has a thing for frying pans?" Kiba asked, receiving a slap on the face from Sakura. For which Sasuke inwardly thanked her for. "Ow! What was that for? It was a legitimate question!" Kiba rubbed his cheek and whimpered when Sakura raised her fist again.
Shikamaru sighed. "It means he doesn't care about a person's bioligical sex, sex, gender, or gender identification." Shikamaru explained like Kiba was a challenged child. Kiba rose his brows and scratched his head.
"Like, he'd bang Sakura, or you?" Shikamaru shrugged and nodded at Naruto's question. Sasuke sighed and deemed them ready to meet his brother. He opened the door slowly only to see his brother walking into the living room holding up a bucket of clay. His cheeks were fully smeared with it now, as we're his glasses. His raven hair still had paint in it and a bit of clay. He was still in his big white shirt and yoga pants, that now had a bit of clay. He still had no shoes on though, which was why they had tinged of light blue. In Sakura's eyes, he was attractive. But he was an Uchiha, so what was she to expect? But Naruto, he felt his heart stop for a second. He didn't really matter to see that he was a guy, he just saw that he was stunning. And didn't hurt that he'd date Naruto, regardless. Naruto slapped his face on the inside. The hell was he thinking? He just met the guy. Actually he hadn't even met him, it wasn't formal yet. He was just shocked by his pretty boy face. Yeah, that was it. Itachi blinked at them and moved the tub of clay from his face, so he could see them properly. His eye caught wind of the pink haired girl first. She was colorfully dressed, and her face spoke volumes. The other boy had a spiky ponytail, and gave off a bored attitude. Then the last two seemed almost exactly alike. They had shit eating grins plastered on their faces and looked around as if it was a great house to mess up. Sasuke wasn't lying when he said that then. But the blonde boy. He was maybe too bright for Itachi. His cerulean blue eyes were captivating. And nonsensical when you thought about how idiotic he looked. Itachi discarded the feeling of painting the sun when he saw the boy and set the tub down. Sasuke breathed out.
"Itachi, these are the wierdos I have to call friends." They glared at him at that. "Except her, she's my girlfriend. Her name's Sakura." Sakura planted the shit eating grin on her own face at that and gave Itachi a small wave. "The lazy bastard is Shikamaru. He may not look it, but he's a genuine genius, especially at Halo." Shikamaru opened his eyes and yawned slightly. Smiling at the compliment, nonetheless. "That's Kiba, nothing special there though. Except for his uncanny and wierd love for dogs. And similarity to them.." Sasuke muttered the last part, but Sakura snickered at hearing it. Kiba himself groaned at the entire comment. Naruto grinned realizing he was next. "That's pretty much everyone that's relevant." Naruto frowned.
"Go suck one, prick!" Naruto barked. He composed himself and turned towards Itachi. "The name is Naruto, pretty much the only relevant person among us. Sasuke is just jealous of my sick RPG skills." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I'd shake your hand, but I'd probably be offered millions of dollars for my hand if it had paint that touched an Uchiha." The comment almost made Itachi roll his own eyes. Naruto glared when Sasuke muttered something incoherent. "What'd you say, bastard?" Naruto twitched.
"Nice to meet you all." Itachi spoke calmy, even when the two idiots began throwing insults at each other back and forth. "As you may already know, I'm Itachi." He had a polite ring to his tone. Naruto blinked and watched him pick his tub of clay back up.
"So, you paint and stuff?" Naruto asked even as Sasuke commented on his 'and stuff' part of speech. Itachi nodded and waited for his question. He desperately wanted to escape and continue making his emotions splash on the walls of his studio. And he was preparing for that sculpture. "Can I see?" Sasuke glared at him and hit his head. He knew about how his brother was hesitant towards that. He never showed his art to strangers, especially not people he's just met. Itachi never even let his mother see his macaroni art he made when he was younger. Or the handprint he had to make for his father. He just didn't show his art. He always said he didn't want to take his passion for art into an accord. He kept it to himself. Didn't expose it, nor did he want to. It's not like he was afraid of being judged by anyone. He took criticism fairly well. He just didn't show his art. Itachi explained slowly, "I prefer not reveal my art to others, sorry." Itachi then exited the room to put himself back into his constant solitude and sculpt in peace. Naruto was a bit saddened by that. Because for some reason he really wanted Itachi to like him. He wondered about what type of artist Itachi was. Sasuke definitely wasn't lying when he said Itachi was closed off. But for the dumbest reason he wanted Itachi to let him in.
Itachi walked into his studio and set the tub down. That was peculiar, he never had a spark like that before. He set out his sculpture platform and thought it over. For some reason the only colors coming to his mind was yellow, and cerulean blue. The last colors he'd seen then. Alright, the sun it was. Itachi sprawled the clay over the platform and set a fan in front of it. He'd wait for it dry, and then use it as a starting point. He turned towards his previous blue wave painting. He picked up his brush and dipped it in the yellow. He didn't know what he was doing until he was done. He outlined the crashing waves with red and orange, so the painting was more. It wasn't Sasuke's features anymore. It was more of Naruto's now, even if he didn't know much about the boy. He put the brush back into the water and made a tuneful face. There was something missing from the wall. Something he just didn't capture. A certain spark of a color. He couldn't put his finger on it. Naruto was a name that sounded full of colors. But, there was a certain dainty color there as well. Itachi picked up the gray paint roller and patted it down all over the waves, making them a bit less visable. It made it look like the crashing waves were lost. That's what Naruto seemed like he was. Lost. Itachi walked out to make his way to his paint room. Where he kept extra paint.
"That was totally rigged, I used my boost!" Kiba pouted when he lost once more to Sasuke at Mario Kart 8. As usual he got first place. Which Kiba thought he rightfully deserved. Sakura also popped up out of nowhere and snagged second place. Making Kiba end up in third. Shikamaru didn't care either way and lost woefully, retaining ninth place. Naruto couldn't play that match since it was only four player split screen. It didn't help Kiba that Sasuke played as Mario and Sakura played as Peach. And now they were bragging about their 'couple beatdown' they gave Kiba.
"Whatever, I wanted to get started watching movies. The Terminator or Matrix?" Naruto asked in the backround as he put away his giant bag of hot cheetos. Sakura snorted.
"Neither. I want to watch Kill Bill." Sakura said pointing at Naruto with her big toe, since she removed her shoes long ago. Shikamaru almost threw up at the fact of watching that movie. Sasuke didn't want to watch it either, but Sakura's word was law.
"It depends on which one here. Volume 1, or 2?" Sasuke wasn't having it when she pointed up two fingers and chugged her diet coke. Volume one he could at least tolerate. It didn't hurt that back then looking at Uma Thurman's legs was just too sexy for any straight man to discard. Or pansexual. Since he swore he saw Itachi look at her legs at least once, when she was fighting. Shikamaru shook his head.
"None of those movies are good at all. We'll watch RoboCop." They all looked at him in confusion and shrugged. They agreed on it and pulled out the movie disc. It wasn't a secret that Shikamaru had great taste in movies, and when he spoke an idea it usually stopped a fight, so they complied.
Naruto scooted up and sat on the bean bag that was right in front of Sasuke's sixty inch plasma flat screen television. Kiba preferred to lay on the ground surrounded by snacks, and Sasuke's ridiculous amount of blankets. Shikamaru sat back on many pillows with a Hershey in his hands as they watched the beginning credits. Sasuke and Sakura cuddled up on his bed and giggled over whatever that couple talked about. Naruto was sickened by it. It took him a while to get over the fact that they were together, since he used to like Sakura. And Sasuke was his best friend, who hadn't known that. It cracked his heart up a bit, and it pained him to hang out with his normal group of friends when he had too see Sasuke be all mushy and lovey dovey. Like before, it made him sick. He's over it now, but he does wish he could find someone to be with himself. Naruto felt himself start to breath heavier and break out a cold sweat thinking about it. His hands got clammy and he had to close his eyes tightly and ball his fists. He should stop thinking about this. Shikamaru gave him a confused look. Naruto stood quickly and excused himself. This happened alot, he'd think badly and get quesy. He held his stomach and ran to the restroom. He spewed the chips he had previously consumed into the toilet and let the corner of his eyes water. He breathed heavily and up chucked more. People assumed his life was easy and he was always a happy go lucky kid. Well it wasn't and he was not.
His mother passed away the moment she gave birth to him. His older brother Kyuubi always blamed him for it. He got drunk when he was underage and crashed into the side of their house. Into the kitchen. It impacted with his father. He barely avoided it, but he got crippled for life. So he lived with his dad, Minato and God Father, Jiraiya. But his God Father was ill, and was likely to pass away. He already lost a brother and mother, he couldn't even fathom losing more family. He spit out some small drops of blood and washed his face. He sat on the ground of the restroom and held his stomach. His breathing slowed and he reopened his eyes. He stood up slowly and staggered to the doorway. The wall barely lifted him up. His vision got blurry, and he didn't know where he was walking. He entered a room, a white room. But with paint and colors everywhere. The bright light almost blinded him. He turned abruptly when the door creaked, showing Sasuke's brother. "I'm sorry, I got a bit lost. I didn't mean to snoop." Itachi set down the new cans of paint he gathered and shifted. What was he supposed to say? That it was okay and he didn't mind. That's what any other person would say. His thoughts were never this much conflicted, unless he was with people that were other than family.
"It's alright." He did look a bit lost. Itachi moved uncomfortably again. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale." Itachi pointed out. Naruto faked a smile.
"Its cool, just think I ate too many cheetos!" He grinned. But Itachi could see the lie behind it. He didn't pry though, it wasn't his place to do so. "So, is this your art room?" Naruto asked, trying to change the subject. Itachi noted how he kept holding his stomach. Itachi nodded and walked towards the dry clay and turned the fan off. Naruto watched as he added another coat and began to mold it in his vision. Itachi would be wierd about doing his art in front of anyone, even family, but something about Naruto's presence was soothing. And serene. Itachi made the clay end up looking like a modified version of water. It did look kind of like sun rays. They started from the bottom and moved everywhere. The bright light made it look like the sun. Itachi decided he'd paint it.
"You're talented." Naruto spoke up, the sick feeling from his stomach gone. Itachi almost forgot he was there and paused in his musings. Naruto frowned. "Again, sorry for the barge in. Sorry to make you uncomfortable." Naruto left the room, leaving Itachi with his thoughts. Naruto stayed outside the door listening to Itachi play classical music and begin to let his sculpture dry. He left after a while to rejoin his friends. Once he entered they all shot him a concerned look. They knew of his tendency to think bad thoughts and have to respite by crying, or throwing up. Shikamaru noticed how he looked a bit more uplifted. Sakura stood and paused the movie. She went to Naruto and pressed her hand on his forehead. It was cold, so he was fine. He gazed at her emerald eyes. Old Naruto would have tried to kiss her. But he didn't, he was somewhat a new Naruto.
"Did you throw up?" Sakura whispered as the others began to gather around them.
"Yeah.." His breath smelled like hot cheetos and tap water. Sakura frowned, as did the others, but Naruto replied with his dumb grin, "Made that toilet sick too, points for that!" They laughed bitterly. Sasuke then got serious and eyed Naruto.
"You sure you're okay?" Sasuke asked. Naruto turned and they locked in a staring match. He knew the real meaning behind those words. Sasuke was asking if he wanted to call his dad. They had a pretty strong bond to know each other that well. Whenever Naruto threw up and shook violently from remembering bad things, he'd call his dad to vent his sorrows. The last time he cried for hours about how he killed his mother and his brother. And how he made his father end up crippled for life.
"Aw, you do care!" Naruto cooed as Sasuke rolled his eyes. Kiba recognized the exchange between the two, and perked.
"Well, we stopped at the part where RoboCop is about to track down Boddicker to that cocaine factory." They smiled and returned to their respective areas to watch the rest of the old timey movie.
Itachi stared at the toilet and realized why Naruto held his stomach so much. He flushed the remnants of the poor boy's stomach and covered his nose from the smell. He was never fond of cheetos. Just because he didn't like spicy things. He more liked sweets, fruit candies and such. He washed his hands and freed the clay from his hair. Right when he was about to close up shop he added two more colors to the canvas on the wall. Red and white. The red signified Naruto's up chuck, it was wierd he knew. It also showed his self hatred for his backround. Itachi didn't know what it was he hated himself for personally, but he saw it in his eyes. The white was due to the paleness of Naruto's body when he was afraid, even though the walls were already white, the white was one color that popped out in the canvas that was his wall. He pat down the new colors with more gray, since Naruto still seemed lost. Itachi didn't know why he was so intrigued with the boy two years younger of age than him, but something about him brought about his inspiration. Itachi decided to call it a day in the studio and left to let the canvas dry. It was surprising to wake up the next morning to say the least. He awoke feeling sweaty and wet. His entire body had sweat on it, he didn't sleep with any blankets so he didn't understand it. He brushed it off, it must be nothing. It scoured for his glasses for a while, until finding them on his head. The time was exact to check on his sculpture. He shifted but quickly fell to the floor upon standing up. For some reason he felt weaker and a bit lighter. It must be nothing, he told himself again. He's probably just hungry. He wouldn't know, since he tended to neglect himself from his needs. He stood from clutching his nightstand and shook towards the door.
The house was quiet, but he could hear his mother awake and making breakfast. She was still overly happy from her and Fugaku's anniversary. After all the years he finally agreed to renew their vows. Itachi entered the kitchen to see her making an egg sandwitch for his father and herself, since Sasuke awoke super early to go out with friends for breakfast. Itachi was a picky eater even if he wouldn't admit it. A five year old was willing to try more foods than he was. He saw a small fruit salad already prepared for him. He felt his stomach shake and he felt himself sweat again. He suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore. He sat down in front of the food and even though it didn't have a distinct smell, it made him want to just go back to sleep, he felt weak all of a sudden. But he'd eat some, he didn't want his mother to worry.
"Good Morning Itachi. How was your night?" She asked sweetly as usual. Itachi smiled bitterly back. It was awful. Is what he wanted to say. He had tossed and turned and sweat unbelievably. His body quaked and he probably only got in two hours of rest at most. Itachi set his fork down and refrained from putting anything else in his mouth.
"Fine. But I apologize dearly, I'm not feeling very hungry at the moment." Itachi explained slowly as he felt himself grow tired and wobble slightly. His mother frowned deeply. She walked towards him and felt his forehead. Which along with his arms and legs began to ache badly. His mother gasped.
"Honey, you're burning up!" She exclaimed and helped him stand. He brushed it off, but felt his entire body shake violently. He wanted to protest to her helping him but his throat began to feel very sore and dry. Under his eyes began to itch as well. He felt the heat press to his cheeks and stomach, he droned off, he felt like he couldn't breathe and was drowning, he gasped and fainted. The last thing he remembered hearing was his mother's sob of terror. He really wish he hadn't worried her, she was previously in an extra happy mood.
Sasuke was out at the cafe with Naruto and Kiba when his mother called him, hyperventilating and seemingly crying. Naruto and Kiba gave confused looks. Sasuke's phone was always on speaker phone, he always thought that any conversation he had was never that important. The last important call he had was when when he found out Itachi had aspergers and before that when he learned of Itachi's Castleman disease. It was just Castleman and not MCD. Multicentric Castleman disease. Though he remembered the doctor said it was a fifty percent chance that Itachi could get it since most patients went from CD, to MCD. Sasuke hoped, knew Itachi wasn't that fifty percent chance. But his mother's voice right now was shaking and she was definitely crying, uncontrollably too.
"Mom, calm down. What happened, what are you trying to say?" Sasuke tried to get it out of her as effectively as he could. But he swore he heard brother and fainted in between her rapid sobs. And when it came to Itachi, he did not think that rationally, because no one hurt his family. Not even a disease he was incapable of punching, but that didn't matter. He had to know Itachi was okay. If his mother just said he was okay, he'd be okay. But her crying, wailing even, wasn't helping his case. And for a wierd reason Naruto and Kiba looked concerned too, even though they barely knew Itachi. They knew Sasuke, which was enough. But Naruto was listening closely just as Sasuke. Because he swore he heard sweating and fell in her rapid sobs as well.
His mother tried hushing herself. "Your brother, he was just breathing heavily and then, then he-he started to sweat and he was burning up, and-" Mikoto's voice hitched and was cut off.
"What do you mean he was?" Sasuke asked, almost demanded. Mikoto sniffed and began to rack and cry more when she desperately looked for her eldest son's heartbeat.
"He fainted Sasuke." Sasuke immediately hung up and dragged the two idiots to his car to get home quick. Because he knew his brother was fine. Itachi was probably joking, right? A sick joke at that for making their mother cry. But Itachi was okay. And not only Sasuke, but Naruto kept saying that to himself. It was rare to feel close camaraderie with someone so quickly. And Naruto lost enough people, even when his friends lost people. It was hard.
The woe of being an only child.
In dedication of my close friend with MCD...Continue to read and review please. Feedback would please us both...
~SpaceIsTheLimit~
