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He was a mess. After full time duty in Konoha police headquarters he had to go an ANBU meeting and after that he had to deal clan business too. After all of that, he really didn't deserve this.
Looking at his five year old son who looked at him with his doe like eyes, he had to sigh the depression he was feeling at the moment showed its self more..
It was late, well late for his son, who should be in bed by now instead of asking him to teach him the fire jutsu. Where was that damned women of his?
And didn't he have his brother to teaching him that? The clan prodigy, ANBU captain and one of the best Konoha shinobi, his son Itachi.. He was in charge of training Sasuke.
Even if his younger son knew the basics of the jutsu, he was still far from the real thing.
From all the work in police and his regular ninja missions, he was mostly away from his home and family. And because of that, he had instructed Itachi to take care of his mother and brother while he was gone.
But scanning the area quickly, he couldn't sense Itachi's chakra.. Where could he be?
' Oh, yes.. He's on a mission ' groaning slightly he tsk-ed. He was loosing himself from the stress of all his jobs. It's gonna be a long night.
"Sasuke, why are you not in bed?" sending his son a scornful look, he silently told his son he was displeased.
Sasuke merely looked down in shame and responded curtly.
"Tousan, Kaasan told I am a big boy now. Now I can stay up until nine." The boy said as he tangled his fingers together behind his back, waiting for his father to soften a little bit.
But sadly, he was low on his luck tonight.
"I thought I was the one who decides what's good and what's not for this family. Your mother doesn't keep the clan in line, or work all day for our sake. Go to bed, Sasuke."
Little Sasuke's gaze saddened while he dropped it again away from his fathers. His Tousan could be so mean sometimes towards him.. He thought that he hated him, but his mother always assured him that he loved him more than Itachi.
Turning around from his father's angry look, he let a few tears fall down across his cheek. His parents are sure going to fight tonight and all because of him.
Carefully leaving his sandals in front of their front door, he made his way to his room, hoping he fell asleep before they started arguing.
Fugaku crossed his arms while looking at his son's back. He definitely didn't like his behavior, nor the things his wife had said to him. Itachi always went to bed before eight and look at him now. The pride and glory of the village
At Sasuke's age he had already mastered both Katon and the Sharingan. Sasuke on the other hand couldn't even do the fire jutsu properly, not to mention the other. Mikoto has spoiled him too much, but he would take care of that.
When he entered his home he frowned thinking about how many times him and Mikoto argued lately.
Hundred of times, they where over some small details, like why was the apple on the table instead of being in the bowl. Usually their fight lasted hours, ending with something being destroyed, or Itachi breaking them apart. It was a disgrace, he knew that.
Imagine it, the great Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha, fighting with his wife! If someone else knew, he would be mocked profoundly and that was unacceptable.
But he couldn't help himself, she was just too damn stubborn and annoying that she just pushed him more and more to fight with her.
There was no love between them. Well he wasn't so sure about her part, but he was sure he didn't love her. Their marriage was already decided at their births, so he couldn't actually choose his wife.
Back then he wasn't interested in it. It didn't matter who she was, all that was important was that she provided him an heir, strong and capable heir who would replace him when the time comes.
He didn't need her love, she can save it for herself and the children.
He could admit that she did provide him two heirs, good enough for his standards, and she did help them grow, but that was it.
He was the one responsible for who was Itachi now. He taught him everything he knows today, and everything he is was down to him.
Yes, he had neglected Sasuke a little, but it was all for a better tomorrow.
The boy was just too slow; Yes, he was smart and good listener, but he was just to slow to understand the things he had taught Itachi, and where as it took Itachi mere weeks to learn the jutsu it was taking months for Sasuke. He will, one day, be the same as his brother, only if he tried harder.
If he didn't love his youngest son as much as he did, he would have had the same treatment as Itachi did, but.. ..since the day he first looked Sasuke in his cute, doe eyes, he fell in love with him, he softened his cold heart and this had made him spoil him too much. It was his fault as much as his wife's for his son's behavior and unawareness of the outside world.
In time, he would teach his son everything he taught Itachi, but in different matter..
But now.. His wife was probably telling him how he didn't have to be that way, that he could have friends and play around with them.
As if!
Fugaku snorted at the thought of his son having friends and playing around like an idiot.
He was an Uchiha, he can't be like that.
He had to explain a couple of things to his wife, Because she sure didn't understand them.
Entering the kitchen, he saw his wife washing the dishes silently. Her head was bowed slightly as she washed some dirty plates, probably from dinner.
She was in her usual attire, black modest dress with small white apron, a small Uchiha crest was printed on the neckline of the dress which meant that she was a proud member of the great Uchiha clan.
Leaning against the white counter in his kitchen he coughed a little, making his wife turn around and become aware of his presence.
He regretted, in a way, that he had married a civilian woman. Well, she was not all the way civilian, she had some chakra inside of her, but barely.
If she was a shinobi like himself, she would have known that he was home when he first spoke with Sasuke. He always hated her surprised face when she saw him appear in the Uchiha Household.
Luckily his sons have inherited all of his powers, although he was starting to question his youngest son.
He snorted at his wife's shocked face. She let out a small gasp, while she dropped a porcelain plate in the dishwasher rather loudly.
Sighing softly at Mikoto's elephant gracefulness, he heard her attempting to start a conversation.
"Fugaku- San, your back. I wasn't expecting you so soon. Are you hungry?" her voice was soft as always, the proper suffix was there behind his name. He will admit that she was always a good hostess, but only that much. She had tried to accomplish his every wish, his every caprice without even once arguing about it.
But frankly he got annoyed by it in time. Didn't she have a mind of her own? Could she for once answer him back.
Yes, he was a bastard for it all, she is supposed to stay silent and let him have the final word, but it wasn't his fault that he wasn't in love with the woman.
"No, I'm not hungry. The meeting was short. Why are you letting Sasuke roam around way past his bedtime?" he was quick. There were no more words needed.
She turned fully towards him, now with her eyes wide open.
"What do you mean? Sasuke is now five and I don't see any good reason to put him to bed early, why not let his sleep pattern change a bit?" curtly answering him, she wiped her wet hands and went to sit in small cushioned chair near the table.
He was surprised. She did have tongue after all, but she choose a wrong conversation to answer back.
"It doesn't matter, I think that he still should be going to bed at 8 and if I think that's appropriate, then it should be that way." he put a special emphasis on ' I' word, making her see that he was seriously pissed off.
"Fugaku-San give him a break, he's still young. Let him have fun until he begins with his shinobi and clan duties."
"Fun? Fun? He is not supposed to have fun. Are you forgetting what his duty is? He is supposed to train and learn while young and when he becomes ANBU like his brother, he's expected to be the strongest among us, to prove his existence." furiously answering her, he started to pace nervously through the kitchen. Mikoto brought her hands together in worry.
"Stop pushing Sasuke like you did Itachi! He doesn't have to be that way!" small tear rolled across her cheek, as she tried to defend her youngest son. Knowing Fugaku, her tears wouldn't change anything, but she couldn't contain herself.
He looked at her with his usual scornful look, settling down a little. Another thing he hated. Seeing her cry. Closing his eyes, he sighed.
"Stop crying. You know that I don't wish for Sasuke to have the same fate as his brother. I just want for him to be strong and independent." turning away from her he tried to burn away the image of her crying from his mind.
"I know. But Fugaku, your also neglecting him. I am aware that you don't have much time to spend with him, but he needs his father and I need my husband." becoming bolder she softly admonished him for also neglecting his duties as her husband.
Narrowing his eyes he turned around again, now angry because of her words.
"I know that I've been neglecting Sasuke, but it's partially for his own good. He needs to learn a couple of things by himself, soon he will be attending the Academy and he'll be away from us most days. If he gets accustomed to it now, he won't be running for his mothers skirt all the time." Totally ignoring the part about her he started walking towards the door, thinking that the conversation was over. Then, he heard her again.
"I understand that and you are right. But I still think that you should pay more attention to him because he's starting to feel jealousy towards Itachi and in the end he will hate him. Do you want that to happen?"
Stopping at the doors, he went silent for a minute and spoke with a deep exhale.
"Do not worry. Their bond is strong, nothing will tear it apart. Even if he is jealous, Itachi's love towards him will make him understand a couple of things."
"What about us? Will you at least try to make this work between us after so many years?" she lifted her hand in the air, as if trying to reach him, but he was too far.
"There can never be anything between us, so stop hoping for it. You know very well why I had to marry you, so don't return to something so long forgotten." with that he left the kitchen leaving her alone.
Letting herself fall to her knees she silently cursed herself.
There's no hope after all.
Green eyes scanned quickly over the small, thin layers of the dress she wore. Her smooth thighs were almost naked, as were her shoulders, showing her well toned skin and delicate hands. She could crush many lives with them in one smooth touch, but it still amazed everyone how she managed to look like completely different person.
The dress was rather short, but it didn't bother her, she did have curves to show after all.
Combing her hair in quick strokes, she decided that she would tie her long hair in ponytail, leaving her dark bangs to cover her green eyes.
Her hair was long; She let it grow during the past few years, loving the way wind moved it freely. And not just her.. Men liked it long too, and that was the main reason she grew it in the first place.
Men's attention was never boring for her. She longed, no, needed them to lighten her up, to keep her company whenever she liked, wherever she wished.
Smirking to herself in the mirror, she took one last look at herself and glanced around the room to check if everything was at it's place.
The black four poster bed was tidy, clothes were all perfectly arranged in her wardrobe, table was clean since all her scrolls and books were fixed neatly in large bookcase, everything was clean..
Picking up little picture frame which stood on her commode, she sighed softly while kissing the tattered picture.
It was like a ritual for her, she did the same thing every morning; Waking up, stretching in the bed, taking a shower and kissing the picture of her father.
She wasn't living with him, due to the fact that he lived with another women who wasn't her mother. She could, but she didn't want to. Ten years ago she left his house so that he would be with her, she didn't once step inside her childhood place. She loved him more then anything but yet, she couldn't bear the fact that he abandoned her and her brother for that women. They see each other when they can, but its not enough, so she found it rather soothing the fact that she could still see his picture and kiss it every day, thinking that he would be always there, protecting her.
Putting the picture back in place gently, she headed towards the doors.
She had a very important meeting with her superior, and she needed to prepare herself mentally to be able to withstand her insufferable mentor.
As she stepped from the last stair, she saw her brother looking at her strange.
He hated when she dressed up nicely, when she wore her make up, even when she went with her boyfriends.
He was an overprotective brother, with constant remarks on her looking good or unruley behavior, but she was grateful for having him, he was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Since her mother left her as child and her father living with another woman, she had only him, even if he was criticizing most of the time.
"Leaving this early?" He crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, waiting for her answer. She was mostly amused by his constant questions, but now she was in a hurry and didn't had time for him.
"Yeah, Saiko is calling for me" She glanced at her watch, seeing that she was definitely late, she would most likely have to jump over rooftops to be there in time.
Giving her brother a light peck on the cheek, she moved to pass him, but he blocked her way.
Giving him a wry look, she told him that she wasn't interested in speaking.
"Don't give me that look. Did you see yourself in the mirror?" She raised her eyebrow in confusion. She really didn't have time for this.
"If you just crouched a little I could see your breasts, not to mention your ass. Go change." He was indeed over obsessed about her looks, but when did she ever listen to him?
"Then I suggest that you advert your gaze, dear brother, or else we'll be having a case called incest" whispering the words in his ear, she smiled at his shocked face. He was just to easy to break, every woman could have him in their bed with just a mere sultry look.
But as she was his big sister, she would be damned to let him fall that easy.
"But Naomi-"
"You and I both know that there's no point in arguing, so just deal with it. I'm late,so I really have to hurry. I'll see you later OK?"
He sighed in defeat as he curtly nodded, she was just too damned stubborn.
Winking at him, she waved off and rushed past him and through the door.
He watched dumbly at the door closed, as if he was waiting for her to come back and change her clothes, but as always, she didn't. Shaking his head slightly, he moved himself away from the door, proceeding towards kitchen to make some breakfast.
Jumping over the rooftops was always so boring and unladylike for her. Glancing at her watch, she cursed softly, she was late again and she would most likely have to make an excuse again for being late. Her superior, or better her mentor Saiko was a rather strict person, which she always hated. He acted like he had a stick up his ass all the time, he always seemed worried about something and always loving to amuse people with his oh-so-sarcastic sentences; The guy needs to loosen up and fast.
Leaping down from the rooftop on the street, she started straightening her dress;From all the jumping, she started to sweat which meant that the conversation between her and Saiko is going to be quick. It was unacceptable for a girl to smell gruesome, even if she was a shinobi.
Entering the small building, which was for shinobi's only, she smiled as the ninjas who were guarding the building whistled at her. Waving her hand at them, she just proceeded along, towards the office of her mentor.
Knocking twice, she waited the same cold ' enter' as an answer from Saiko.
"Enter"
She smirked. The man was just too predictable..
Entering the rather small office, she spotted Saiko leaning against the window just across his table, eyes closed, arms crossed, frown evident on his face..
That only could mean one thing.. She was in deep trouble.
"Where the hell were you?!" the said man practically spat at her, not even waiting for her to enter the room.
Grinning at him, she shut the door while proceeding towards her favorite yellow chair opposite his desk. At least chair would give her some comfort while he yelled at her.
"Why thank you Saiko, I'm fine. How are you?" Smiling at him from her chair, she just waited for him to burst out.
"What do you mean how am I? Where the fuck have you been when I called you two days ago?! And do not think of lying, because I know everything." Finally opening his eyes, he gave her look of pure anger. She continued smiling, never once even flinching under his gaze. In time, she got used to his yelling and scolding, that's why she smiled carelessly at him, not even worrying about the consequences.
"If you know everything, why do you ask? You are wasting mine and your precious time" She was cheeky but she couldn't care less, he asked for it.
Yes, she did ignored his call, but she was tired and really spent because of a party she had visited previous night; After all of that, she really didn't need him scolding her.
And yes, she was kinda drunk, fine- she was wasted, she did something that was forbidden, but she just wanted to have some fun.
He got even more furious at her soft voice and her impudent answer. Sitting in his chair, he visibly tried to collect himself, she was obviously a major pain for him.
"Naomi, I'm serious. I told you not to drink, but you just won't listen to me. Do you know what insufferable lecture I listened because of you? I asked you to do one simple thing, but you can't complete it?"
Oh, yes.. She was a major alcohol addict. She had promised him that she would stop drinking, but that night all of her friends were drinking and having fun ,so she decided to loosen up too.
It was just one night, it won't happen any time soon again..
"I know Saiko, but I just wanted to have fun a little. Why didn't the elders lecture me instead of you? You didn't do anything" she crossed her arms and removed her eyes from his worried ones. He is using the same father tone that he always used when he lectured her, which she hated.
"You don't understand. I am the one responsible for you and your actions, if you mess up I am the one guilty for it." He turned around annoyed by her non caring act. She was twenty and yet she still acted like a complete child.
"You are just my superior, not my father. I can handle myself pretty well, thank you very much. I know very well what should I do, and what not."
"So that's why you decided that it would be nice to completely remove the merchandise store just across the main elders base! Yeah, real smooth Takada, really smooth." Once again, he started with his sarcastic comments and to call her by her last name. Just what she has been waiting for.
"Look Saiko, if you want to depress someone with your stupid comments, find someone else stupid enough to listen to them" She stood up, obviously preparing herself to leave. The conversation was over for her the minute he started reproaching her.
He quickly grabbed her arm before she touched the door handle, as if stopping her from leaving.
"Where do you think your going, I am not done" Sending her a scolding look, he tightened the grip on her hand, afraid that she would escape from his clutch.
"Look Saiko. I can only please one person a day. Today isn't your day!..Tomorrow doesn't look good either. So let go of my arm, before I rip yours off."
She narrowed her eyes to tell him that she was serious. Sighing tiredly he removed his hand from hers, letting it fall to his side.
Turning away from her he took a deep inhale before speaking.
"They decided that you are too troublesome for our village. They are sending you to another one until your behavior becomes more suitable for their taste. I'm sorry." Exhaling, he turned around with tears in his eyes to look at her jaded ones which were now wide open. She was visibly hurt by his words.
"What?" She was speechless, she couldn't find another word to tell say because she was clearly shocked.
He embraced her with his hands and yelled in her ears, his composure now ruined from the pain he felt in his heart.
"Dammit Naomi, they want you to leave the village forever! You are just a burden to them, a nuisance" He hugged her harder as he sensed her flinch under his arms.
She was still wide eyed and seemed to be lost somewhere far, far away in her thoughts.
' Nuisance.. I-.. I'm a nuisance..?' her vision was blurred all of the sudden by the tears which found a way to appear inher beautiful eyes. A million thoughts ran through her head as she remembered the last time she was called that.
The last time, her mother had been so merciless and cruel when she was leaving, leaving Naomi and her younger brother to rot on the street alone and scared, not even once looking back.
"I don't want to see any of you again in my life. You are a nuisance to me, nothing else..."
Naomi fisted her hands at her sides, remembering that horrible day, the day she swore on her life that she would never let anyone hurt her and Arashi again, that she would never cry. But now as she listened to Saiko's words, she unconsciously let her tears fall across her cheek as she thought of everything she would be leaving behind if she left.
Her friends, her house she had built with her own hands, all the memories she had in this village, good and bad, even Saiko..
And what about-..
"Arashi? What about Arashi?" She pushed the said man away from her just to look at his teary eyes to find the truth. She understood why he was crying. He loved her, sincerely, truly, the minute he took her as apprentice he fell in love with her, but she never looked at him with the same eyes, she never even thanked him for all he did for her. Such a bitch she was, but why doesn't she feel like asking for forgiveness?
"I don't know, but I think that he is permitted to leave too. Naomi, I'm sorry, I tried to convince them to act -" Not letting him finish, she put a hand on his mouth to silence him.
"It is alright. If they want me gone, then I'll leave. I shall not be no ones burden." Whispering, she turned around to leave, but he stopped her again.
"Are you listening to me, don't you understand that you'll have to leave everything behind and to start new life all over again away from everyone that you know and care about?" She looked at him from over her shoulder and sent him a cold look.
"I understand. I just don't care." And then she turned around and left his office, leaving him to stare dumbly at her retreating form.
Laying down in his bed, he sighed from the comfort that his king size bed was providing for him. He desperately needed a good night of sleep at his home, peaceful and calm, not having to worry about the enemies attacking, or about the ache in his back from uncomfortable ground on which he usually spent the night when he was on a mission. Just him, alone in his quiet room, on his soft bed.
Sasuke was asleep, he visited his room minutes ago to make sure that he listened to his father; Itachi was on a ANBU mission, he should be back in a day or so; Mikoto was still downstairs, doing whatever she does..
He was.. satisfied.
Turning to his wife's side of bed, he patted on it gently, trying to remember the last time he had last cuddled with her, or even made love to her. He couldn't remember not even one image of their 'intimate' time together. Not that he cared much about it; Every time he had her was quick, smooth and emotionless as possible. He couldn't even pretend that he was satisfied, not even for her. Almost all Uchiha women who aren't shinobi dedicated their life to family, being a hostess and a mother. .It was her job to reproduce an Uchiha worthy heir for him and she knew it very well.
So why does she insist on them working there relationship out now? After all of these years?
Huffing angrily, he turned around closing his eyes, desperate for some sleep. He was off duty tomorrow, but he will visit Konoha Police Headquarters to check on his officers and then he will wait for Itachi to come back so they could arrange everything about his clan missions.
There was an issue called Sasuke that needs to be taken care of, or to say Sasuke will probably pest Itachi for some training and since Itachi won't have time, he will most probably have to teach Sasuke himself.
Feeling the sleep finally starting to consume him, he thought about how he was still proud of his clan's improvement even if his life consisted only of constant work and worries about it. He will make sure they reach the top in Konoha as the most powerful clan and raise above the others. To present even greater fear in everyone's hearts, greater then ever..
They will be law and his hard work and sacrifice will finally pay off sooner or later..
Drifting into deep slumber from his exhaustion, he failed to sense his wife laying in bed next him, as she cuddled near him with a small, happy smile on her face.
I hope you liked it. I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Jus-Chan, for being such a great beta.
Please R&R :)