Theme: "Three times Sasuke wished he could go home."
Character(s): Uchiha Sasuke; brief mentions of Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Fugaku, Orochimaru
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Written as a reply to a 'Three Times Meme' request.
Dedicated to: Um... whoever made the request I suppose. Sorry it took so long. _;
A mind is not a playground. But Sasuke knows differently, even at his young age. Because what's left of his conscious still sees his parents - still sees his brother - vibrant and animated and loving. Living. They greet him at the door when he comes home late from training. His mother scolds him for staying out after dark. But his father calms her frantic worry and tells him that he's at least proud of the diligence if not slightly disappointed with the results. And Itachi, dear brother Itachi, smiles and promises to teach him a better way to learn. Which is the only thing the young boy ever wanted in the world.
But, as always, the dream is short-lived and a false truth; the only thing that remains of his childhood innocence. Because Sasuke remembers with crystal clarity the tint of red that pooled under Mikoto's body. He remembers how the sharp edge glinted in the moonlight when it pierced his father's chest.
Most of all, he remembers the choking fear he felt when Itachi turned his predatory eyes towards him.
When faced with that nightmare again, five years later, he feels the elder's cold fingers squeezing around his throat and remembers it all. The fear comes soon after. Then came the swirl of black in red, and for what seems like forever, it's about all he can recall.
And in the dead of night - now, especially at having been so close - when those images wake him up to the darkness, Sasuke lays stiffly in his hospital bed and wishes. Knuckles white and brows furrowed with disgust, he longs to be able to just go back home, again. Back to the life he lived and back to a time where they were still alive.
Back to when he didn't think of his brother with malice and vengeance and hopeless rage.