Warnings: A.U; Yaoi;Incest; ItaSasu;Shota; Non-Con
If you don't like it, don't read.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Enjoy!
~oOo~
The cell phone rang for what seemed the thousandth time since his wife passed away. It's amazing how news spread fast, even more when the news is about some sort of disaster or regarding someone's death. To Fugaku the terrible side of all this was that people didn't notice how annoying their curiosity was. Dressing for the funeral, he finished buttoning up his black suit, then proceeded to take the ringing device on the bed. He read the ID and grimaced, but answered anyway.
"Hello."
"Hi. I-..."
"What do you want?" Fugaku interrupted without even caring for what Kurenai had to say.
"I've just found out what happened to Mikoto. You may not believe me... but I'm sorry. And I just... wanted to say if there's anything I can help, please, just ask me." Was truth that Kurenai was not happy that the woman had killed herself, but facing the facts, Mikoto was out of the way and Fugaku was finally free. Now was her great chance of being officially with him, the hope didn't stop growing in her heart.
"Mikoto is dead. There's nothing you can do to change that."
"Well," began Kurenai wondering the reason for that hostile treatment. "I just want you to know that I'm here for anything you need."
"Can't you see my wife is dead because of you?" he snapped.
"What?" she asked startled with the sudden accusation. She was already used to the fact that Fugaku was not the sweetest being on earth, but that was far from the reaction she was expecting.
"If you hadn't talked with her that day, she would be still alive!" One could clearly hear the anger in his tone. Kurenai was not understanding what he meant by that statement. Was he out of nowhere putting the whole fault on her? "You shouldn't have met her! What did you tell her? What did you do to Mikoto commit suicide?"
What Fugaku was saying was totally nonsense. What'd gotten into him? Kurenai thought. Of course she had talked with his wife that day, but because Mikoto herself called trying to meet up with her. And what was supposed to be only a civilized talk at lunch, ended up in an argument and Mikoto giving Kurenai a great slap on the face in the middle of a crowded restaurant.
"I didn't do anything! She was crazy! She was the one who attacked me!"
"Don't lie to me!"
"And you don't be hypocrite, Fugaku! You're just trying to put all the fault in someone else's shoulders."
"You destroyed my marriage!"
"You did it yourself! And there's no point in putting an act here, because you didn't even love her. We both know it!"
"Of course I loved her!"
Kurenai laughed, then sarcastically asked, "How so? Leaving her alone while you fucked another women and used your job as a cover?"
"I loved her, because Mikoto was the kind of woman to spend a life with. She wasn't a slut like you, with whom men have fun , then throw away when become useless," he harshly said.
Kurenai tried to keep acting tough and pretend she wasn't in the least affected by his insults, but she just couldn't. She felt a stinging pain in her chest at hearing those words and against her will the first tears began to well up in her eyes. She thought that she meant something to him. Now she could see how wrong she was.
"You have no rights to talk to me like that!" Fugaku had crossed the line! Kurenai loved him but she wouldn't let him say whatever he wanted about her.
"Is it not the truth? I would not be surprised if you had attempted to seduce your former boss as well. It's the only way that worthless people like you achieve something in life, right?"
Fugaku looked at his wrist watch and decided that all that had lasted enough. He had to be at the funeral in about an hour, he had no time to waste with that woman. "You're fired. I don't want to see your face never again. Don't call me anymore." And with that cold manner he hang up.
At the other end of the line Kurenai listened to the end call sound and gripped the cell phone, she didn't even have time to retort him. Her hands were trembling with anger.
"Asshole," she muttered between gritted teeth.
~oOo~
The knowledge that you'll never see again someone who you used to see everyday since you can remember, is weird - to say the least. When someone is dead is not like they went into some long trip, and is not like they left with the intent to never come back. We all know this, we've learnt it since our childhood and have been taught to see it the way it is: as something natural.
Around the world, thousands of people go missing every day, babies, kids, adults... All ages and kinds. No distinctions. There are many reasons for it and it vary from causes such as running away, kidnappings and human trafficking. Usually, those people are never heard from again. Nonetheless, some of the ones who awaits for them to come back someday, still have the apparently undying hope for their return. Why? Because they know there's the possibility of finding this missing person on a near or in a distant future, even with the chances lessening with the passing time, because the simple fact they are or might be still alive.
Sasuke's mother was dead, and he would never see her again. Simple as that. But compared with when he found Mikoto's dead body, he was doing a great job at fighting back his tears. Sasuke didn't want to receive pityful looks from all those strange people.
Well, among that unknown faces there were still some that he could distinguish, like Jiraya Namikaze(1) and Kakashi Hatake, two man who worked with his father; Tsunade Namikaze, Jiraya's wife, and their grandson Naruto, who was one of Sasuke's classmates. Aside them, some members of the Hyuuga family.
No, they weren't all strange to him, though the rest were only faces Sasuke had never seen before. All of them gathered there to say their goodbyes to Mikoto.
The little boy lowered his head using his dark bangs to hide his face as he dried with the sleeve of his suit the tears making its way down his cheek. Sasuke would miss his mother very much. Had always been her who with her gentle way tried to make the incessant heavy atmosphere in their house bearable. He thanked her for that and for reassuring him everytime his father wanted to turn him into some copy of Itachi.
He feared how everything would be from now on without her, since Fugaku not even cared about him. His older brother was the only one he had, and he wouldn't know what to do if for some reason Itachi left him as well. Sasuke shook his head to shun the sudden unwanted thought away. He didn't want to be left all alone in the world.
Was barely noticiable, but Itachi had stayed since the beginning of the ceremony paying more attention to his little brother than to the funeral itself to make sure the boy was dealing well with the situation. No matter how many times Sasuke wanted to hide his feelings, Itachi would always attempt to know what was going on with him. This time, he saw that the younger was getting distressed over something, so he put a hand on his shoulder to say with that gesture he didn't need to worry. And if that had been because of Mikoto, then soon he would make sure his little brother forgot everything he had ever felt for her. If it depended on him, Sasuke would not cry for their mother. That woman wanted to separate them, and that was motive enough for Itachi dislike her.
The funeral was almost ended, the lid of the casket was lifted and the body was exposed. Fugaku being the husband, was the first to walk over to put a flower there, then was his sons' turn, and then slowly the visitors during the final viewing before the casket was sealed. He looked at Itachi and Sasuke by his side, but soon he averted his gaze just when in the middle of that sea of people he saw someone he didn't expect to see there.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed in the moment he saw the woman he'd insulted through the phone a couple of hours before approaching them. How Kurenai dared appearing there? He made clear for her not to cross his way again. If there was one thing Fugaku hated, was disobedience.
"What do you think you are doing here?" he asked in a hushed and irritated tone as soon she neared him.
Sasuke heard and began to pay attention at his father. Why was he talking like that to that woman?
Kurenai walked past him and placed a flower over Mikoto's shroud, then went back to him again. She was wearing a sober, yet very elegant black dress, although soberness and elegance were the last thing she had in mind. During the year they'd worked together, she quickly learned that Fugaku cared too much for things such as appearances. And all what she wanted now was destroy that undeserved reputation of perfect husband he had gained through the years.
"What a touching sight. The hurt widower mourning his deceased and beloved wife," she said and gave him a smile as some pairs of curious eyes turned towards them.
"What are you intending to do?" asked, cautious to what would be her answer. There were too many ears hearing them.
Sasuke looked up at Itachi as if the elder had all the answers for what was happening. Itachi only muttered an 'It's ok' and again stared at the woman talking to his father, feeling the sensation that the circumstances were only helping him.
"I came to say my goodbyes, as everyone else here."
Fugaku began to hear light murmurs echoing inside the temple. He was sure Kurenai heard as well because she gave another smile and began to talk again, louder this time, "You killed her, Fugaku. Indirectly, but you are the one who did it. And you know it."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Leave now," Fugaku said.
"Don't worry. I've already done what I wanted," she explained and walked away.
Was brief, but that was a weird conversation, Sasuke thought as he watched Kurenai leaving. He was shocked and curious about what she had just said. Later he would have to ask Itachi about it.
The rest of ceremony went smootly, which meant no inconvenient people. that fact alone made Fugaku relax again.
When the last flower had been placed in the casket, it was finally sealed. However, when Fugaku went with his sons to his car to follow the hearse to the crematorium, he had a surprise. All over his black sedan there was a message spray-painted written in bold red letters saying: 'Fugaku Uchiha killed his wife.' Of course that everyone else had seen and probably knew who had done that, but even being a lie and knowing that people wouldn't really believe it, Fugaku was sure he would have a headache for quite some time.
'That bitch.'
After the body was cremated, the urn containing Mikoto's remains was taken straight to the cemetery - not a normal custom tough, as the urns generally stayed at the family's house for 35 days before being buried. Anyway, that was what had been previously decided by Fugaku and that was how it went. He didn't need the remainder of her death. He preferred to believe she had ran away abandoning everything.
On their way home, they had to get a taxi, Fugaku would not use his car again until it had been re-painted. The Uchiha men stayed silent, lost on their own thoughts, they were in no mood to start a conversation. Sasuke had many questions to make, but that was not the right time, he'd have to wait until later. He sighed as he watched the trees run through the window of the car. Fugaku was only able to think how everything that happened was going to affect him. One thing was a gossip, other thing was the confirmation of the said gossip.
Itachi was the only member of the Uchiha family really relaxed right now, afterall, his problems were solved for the time being. And no more clingy Mikoto trying to steal his baby brother.
~oOo~
Pale fingers ran through raven spiky hair feeling its delicious softness. Sasuke sighed with the caress like a purring kitten being petted by its owner, his eyelids getting heavier and heavier with every stroke. He had asked to sleep with Itachi that night, and the older boy, loving the idea agreed imediately.
Even after what had happened in that tiring day, and knowing that he needed a good night of rest to regain his energies, Sasuke was wide awake. The reason why now the older boy stroked Sasuke's hair. It was Itachi's not so secret weapon when his brother was not feeling sleepy, it always worked; aside being another reason to see the boy leaning on his touch.
"Nii-san," Sasuke suddenly spoke. He realized that then was the perfect time to ask about the earlier events. "who's that woman who accused father today?" He had the sensation that had already seen her somewhere else before, just didn't know where nor when.
"Her name is Kurenai Yuuhi. You probably don't remember because you've seen her only once when you were younger. She was father's secretary." Given the circumstances and knowing Fugaku, she was undoubtedly fired by now.
Sasuke yawned. "And... is it true what she told? Our mother's death is otou-san's fault?"
"There's many reasons, Sasuke. But, yes, father is one of them," replied Itachi not lying. If their father hadn't been fool enough to involve himself in that kind of relationship, Mikoto would probably live a little longer. The unexpected divorce made Itachi resort to desperate measures, but that was not really a problem, now he had his prize on the bed with him. "Yet, it's obvious that Kurenai-san was angry with father, that's why she said those things."
The long-haired boy looked at Sasuke's saddened face before enlacing his waist, bringing the smaller body closer. "I know you'll miss mother, but you know I will always be here."
"You say that now, but the truth is that you barely spend time with me." Sasuke pouted, but it was ruined by another yawn. He closed his eyelids and snuggled up more against Itachi.
"But I'm here with you now," the elder said. "and you know you are special to me."
"Yes." Sasuke said half-conscious and unaware of the real meaning behind Itachi's words. The warmth emanating from his brother's body was so good and comforting that he just wanted to give in and finally let the sleep take over him. It didn't take long to his breathing become steady as he drifted into a peaceful slumber.
~oOo~
(1) Yes, Tsunade and Jiraya are Minato's parents here.
(2) The visitors put flowers in the coffin at some funerals, but it really depends of the customs of the area. I just mentioned it here because I find it interesting.
AN: I didn't know anything about japanese funeral customs before writing this, and I still don't understand. Actually, what I've written here is based on what I've read on a few sites, so there's high chances of being said something stupid. And once there's too many details concerning a buddhist funeral, I just made a brief scene.
Oh, I almost forgot, I do need a beta reader.
So... any volunteer?
PM me.
