Changes

By Dolly

Because it wouldn't stop playing around in my mind.

Disclaimer: If it's a proper noun, I probably don't own it.

This chapter is dedicated to Disney and Pandora Radio – Disney for making such lovely upbeat songs and Pandora for playing them for me. Nonstop. :3

-chapter 2: questions-

Dogs. What man in his right mind wants to own eight. Freaking. Dogs? That's eight slimy, mangy, slobbering, smelly, annoying dogs, all sitting in a group in the living room – staring at me. Seriously. They just sat there, staring right at me. Look, I know it sounds silly, but in reality, it was really freaking creepy, and I was freaked out enough as it was with snake man after me.

"Kakashi…?"

"Sasuke."

I glared. I had not been asking for him to repeat my name, thank you very much. "Just what are they trying to accomplish here?"

Kakashi glanced from me to the dogs, then shrugged. "They're just trying to keep an eye on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Sixteen," I corrected bitterly. "They are keeping sixteen eyes on me. That is seriously overdoing it."

He snorted. I think he thought I was joking. No, I was being perfectly serious, you jackass. Really, these dogs must think I am a goddamn axe murderer come to kill the entire neighborhood with the way they are freaking stalking me.

"Computer's over there," Kakashi said, pointing to it. "Get to work."

I nodded and headed for the computer – only to stop when I heard a growl from one of his dogs. Specifically, his really, really big dog. Look, I didn't really want to argue with Kakashi because… Well, because he could probably kick my ass, but that dog was pretty damn huge, and I didn't want to argue with it, either. So I argued on the dog's behalf – if Kakashi got pissed off, he could take it out on his eight freaking dogs (seriously, what the hell?) "I don't believe your dog agrees with you on this issue."

Kakashi sighed and made a clucking noise with his tongue – the dogs immediately dispersed. At the realization that they dispersed because he clucked his tongue, I reached deep into my Arsenal of Very Scary Expressions and shot him a very fierce glare. He… Was not intimated at all. Right. I forgot we were talking about Mr. Calm and Collected in the Face of Mortal Peril. Bastard. "Why the hell didn't you do that fifteen minutes ago?"

His answer was simple, but it filled me with what could only be described as righteous fury: "I wasn't expecting you to freak out like you did." Then he chuckled.

Okay, for one thing: I was not freaked out. I didn't think they were going to attack me, and I was definitely not wondering how easy it would be for that one really big one to snap my neck like I used to do with my animal crackers (no, I was not a deranged little kid. How dare you accuse me of such a thing?

Look, everybody does it, okay?)

Secondly, if I was freaked out (which I wasn't) it would be nothing to laugh at. Seriously, handle the situation responsibly and disown at least half of your dogs. Preferably the big one. But, geez, you're supposed to be the adult here.

"Work," Kakashi reminded, completely ignoring the expression on my face. "I have to make a phone call." Then he left, though I wasn't entirely sure I believed him. I am not even trying to be mean (for once) when I say that I seriously cannot imagine Kakashi having friends. It was just a reallyreallyreally weird thought.

So, in summary of the time I was left alone, I turned on the computer and immediately suffered a bout of shock at the fact that his background image was absolutely nothing pornographic. Seriously, it was an innocent little waterfall. And, I know that this was probably an invasion of his privacy, but I immediately looked through his web history (he's the one who let me on his computer unsupervised, so it was entirely his fault,) only to find that the Playboy website was not on there. Normally, I would think that my initial impression might have been wrong and that Kakashi simply wasn't as much of a pervert as I had imagined… But this was Kakashi, so I just assumed he had stolen the computer.

"All right, I'm back." I looked up as Kakashi entered the room, snapping his phone shut and smiling at me. My immediate reaction was as follows:

"Did you steal this computer?"

Which was obviously a stupid question. Even if he did steal it, it wasn't like he was going to admit-

"Yes, I did."

Or maybe he was. I stared at him for a moment in an, 'are you serious?' manner. He stared right back at me in a 'no, I am not serious' manner. Right… So he did steal the computer. Good to know.

And then he changed the subject, and I had to force myself not to accuse him of having a guilty conscience. "Get up, we're leaving."

Seriously? Look, I had been there less than half an hour. What in the hell does he think I could have possibly accomplished in that amount of time? Nothing. And not just because I was too busy invading his privacy, either. I mean, I'm not going to complain if I can get away from him as soon as possible (weirdo,) but I think he's expecting a bit too much from me here. And that's pretty damn hard to do, just so you're aware.

So, in short, no, I did not get up. It was a battle of willpower, and I can assure you, I am as stubborn as a donkey. Seriously, I'm the most stubborn person I know. Yeah, he's got no chance of winning here.

"Up, or I'll set the big dog on you."

I was up instantly. Then I glared, because that's cheating. He cannot call in help, and especially not from giant stalker dogs.

"Why am I leaving so early?" I demanded, finally snapping and asking questions. Seriously, I had asked none so far, because that would be in direct contrast of my 'go with the flow' rule. But now my patience was running thin. I like answers, and I don't like questions that have seemingly none.

"Because I just don't like you," he answered in a tone that clearly said that was not at all the answer to my question. My eyes narrowed. This guy is a real pain in the ass.

"Does this have to do with that phone call you made?" I challenged. "You could have made it after you dropped me off instead of bringing me here to make it." He didn't answer (ha, my logic is unbeatable) so I continued. "Or that Pedo Stalker guy?"

Now he just looked confused. "Pedo Stalker…?" And then a look of dawning comprehension. "He's not a pedophile, Sasuke."

Yeah, right. He's Michael Jackson reborn. There's no way in hell he isn't a pedophile, and if you had seen the way that asshole was looking at me, I'm sure you would agree. It was seriously scary.

"So he's still a stalker?" I commented, just trying to annoy Kakashi by being overly technical. But then he didn't answer at all and my eyes widened. "He's actually a stalker?"

Holy hell, I have a pedophilic stalker. Look, I know I said so before, but I was only joking then. Sort of. It's one thing to only suspect, it's another thing to have silent confirmation from someone who actually knows the creeper. I have Lord Voldemort's second cousin stalking me. Panic. Panic. Panic.

"Sasuke," Kakashi snapped, rolling his eyes slightly. "Calm down."

So you say, but you don't have Satan's child after you.

"He's not stalking you."

So you say, but… Oh.

"Get in the car, and I'll explain everything to you."

-home-

I cannot believe I got in the goddamned car for that. Kakashi didn't explain anything. That is the last time I trust a man with a mask. All he said was that Oro-what's-it was an associate of his that knew Itachi. Both things I could have figured out for myself, thank you. Either he's intentionally being an ass about the entire thing, or he has seriously underestimated my intelligence. And I really don't even want to know which it is.

"That's the best you can do?" I asked as we sat in my driveway. I was absolutely refusing to get out of the car until Kakashi gave me a proper explanation, and he had no huge dogs to set on me anymore. He couldn't cheat this time.

"Sasuke, I honestly don't know what else to say to-"

"Bullshit." He winced. Or he would have winced if he had any sense, but I think we've already been over how much common sense he possesses, so he just sat there completely unabashed instead. I glared. "Who exactly is Orochimaru?" We could start there. I wanted to know if he had super powers I should watch out for before I tried to shoot him. Like a giant snake.

"I told you, he's an associate."

"You know, that's not very specific. What does he-" But I was cut off by a rap rap of knuckles against the car window and turned my head… To see Itachi standing there, looking perfectly casual. I instantly forgot about my promise not to get out of the car until I got some more answers and got out of the car without more answers.

"I was going to ask if you were going to get out of the car," Itachi muttered, looking at me with that really creepy empty look of his. "I guess this answers my question…" He then looked right past me to Kakashi, moving me out of his way. "Kakashi, may I speak with you?"

Stop. Stopstopstop. Itachi knew Kakashi. Itachi knew Kakashi. Look, I happen to know that Kakashi only got that teaching position my freshman year, and Itachi had long left high school by that point. As a matter of fact, that was only a few months after Itachi joined the police force – after going through police training. He shouldn't even know Kakashi exists. Unless… No way in hell Kakashi was a criminal. That had to be it… Right? No, obviously that was it. He probably stole someone's computer again.

"Itachi, what the hell are you doing here?" No, that was not Kakashi. That was me. Itachi was never here. He dropped off groceries once a month. That was it.

Itachi just looked at me before repeating, "Kakashi, may I speak with you?" That was his way of saying that he would answer when he wanted to. If he answered at all. Kakashi got out of the car and I went inside, scowling the entire time. Looking back, I probably should have listened into their conversation… But I was kind of pissed off, so I didn't really think about it. No, instead I sat around and moped about how no one told me anything. Like that was going to get something done.

Finally (and I do mean finally,) Itachi entered the living room and looked at me, completely silent for a while. Then I repeated my question.

"What are you doing here?"

For a moment, I thought he wasn't going to respond. Then he shrugged. "I wanted to see my brother," he answered casually, in the exact same tone Kakashi would use when he was lying to me. Seriously, what the hell was up with all of the lying? Itachi never lied to me. Partly because I never asked questions (not to him, at least,) but that was entirely beside the point. The point was that I wanted answers, and I wasn't getting them.

"How do you know Kakashi?"

Again, I wasn't expecting much of an answer, but eventually he shrugged and repeated Kakashi's answer to my questions about Orochimaru: "He's an associate." Seriously, did they plan that or something? What the hell? "I'll be staying the night. I'll give you a ride to school, then I'll leave."

"I don't need a ride to-"

"I'll give you a ride to school, then I'll leave." And he said it in a tone that clearly left no room for argument. My eyes narrowed.

"Where are you leaving to?" I didn't know. Even policemen came home after their work for the day was done – but not Itachi. I assumed he had an apartment somewhere, but I had never been to it. Probably because he kept a lot of weapons there and was scared that I would use them on him. And I would if I could figure out how to work a goddamn gun.

"That's none of your business. I have work. Good night." And with that said, he went upstairs, leaving me to do my homework in not-really peace. How in the hell can work when they are surrounded by the makings of a conspiracy theory? Or sleep for that matter. I got neither of those things done that night, and I got the strangest feeling that Itachi didn't, either.

-author's note-

All right, three things: Wow. I was not at all expecting the response I got for this. Seriously, thank you guys sososo much for all of your reviews and favorites and alerts. I tried to respond to every single review, but I probably only got to, like, five because my laptop crashed (ohnoes!) but I read and appreciated every single one. Seriously, thank you so much for all of the feedback. :3

Secondly, this took entirely too long to write, for a number of reasons. The main three being my laptop crashed (ohnoes!) aaand I was helping out victims of the tornadoes that went through the southeast US and have had to undepress myself and the fact that it literally took me five or six tries before I found an approach to this chapter that I actually liked. But I got a brand new laptop and finally found something that I liked, so, if you can get past my absolutely shameless excuses here you go~ And I will have to thank everyone who actually waited this long on me without cursing me into an oblivion at least twice.

Thirdly, I feel like this isn't as good as the one before it, but I tried. Dx It's also shorter than the other one by, like, a thousand words. So I'll try to make the next one longer/faster/funnier… Anyhow, reviews are always loved. :3