I kind of forgot to type up an author's note. The characters of Naruto do not belong to me. However they belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This my first ever fanfic, reviews would be greatly appreciated. There may be random facts being thrown throughout the story that revolve around human anatomy and chemistry. Please choose to ignore those moments if it causes you deep grief as you recall studying sleepless nights for chemistry. I understand and I apologize in advance.
The sound of the low humming of a car slowly making its way into the driveway echoed in his ears. The wheels pressing onto the gravel, each turn caused him to silently curse .Head pounding and hands clenched. Two hours ago his father's phone had let out a single ring as he received a message from Itachi.
Got an earlier flight, will be there soon. No need to pick me up.
-Itachi
Precise and brief to the point as always. And here Sasuke was, sitting anxiously at the family's dining table; it confused him why they had one. They hadn't eaten as a family on this table since Itachi left. He once mentioned this to his mother which earned him a glare from his father.
"It symbolises the bonds a family shares" his father had spat. In his parents eyes the table represented the bonding time for a family; where a happy father with a briefcase enters the house, giving his beautiful wife a kiss as she stood at the stove cooking. Where the eldest son came every day from work, his name well known for his exceptional skills, and greeted both parents with a warm hug. Where there younger son eagerly awaited dinner time to proudly tell them of his marks as they would cheer encouraging words.
However none of that ever existed. His father would always walk straight to his study as he had "A large amount of work to do". His mother would only cook when Itachi asked for it, and Itachi was only acknowledged by his younger brother. But time had changed. And Sasuke always wondered why the wooden 6 piece dinning set even existed in the first place. Maybe it was a show for the visitors. Yes, that was his conclusion.
Despite his mother's pale skin and black racoon bags underneath her eyes, her hands were trembling as she bit her chapped lips. However she hadn't stopped smiling since Sasuke came from school, probably since she discovered Itachi was coming back. Her excitement radiated off her in waves, almost suffocating. Despite her obvious excitement, she still maintained her straight posture in the dinning chair, in spite of being bed ridden for months. Her fingers nervously tracing the deep grooves in the wooden panels of the table.
All the times Sasuke had cried screams of pain, she had simply ignored. Although his cries constantly echoed throughout the empty Uchiha household, she chose to ignore. Her excuse being she was too sick to do anything or that she had never heard the haunting screams. Yet here she was, out of bed and trembling with joy with the mere mention of the eldest of her two sons finally coming back home.
Sasuke ignored the pain in his chest. For his theory for anything was if you ignored something long enough, it would disappear. However time had proven his theory wrong.
Upon hearing a cars door shut and shuffling of feet against the gravel his mother jumped out of her chair, barely containing her excitement. She ran to the large French door and almost ripped off its hinges. Was a mother's love that strong? Sasuke would never know.
"Oh Itachi, it's been so long" she cried, interrupting Sasuke's train of thought. She wrapped her arms around her eldest son's neck, her cries muffled by his chest. She felt his warm smile against her shoulder as he returned the hug delicately, he had noticed her fragile state. "Indeed it has mother" he replied quietly.
Sasuke wanted to throw up.
His father griped Itachi's hand roughly as he gave him a "gentleman's" handshake. Gentlemen did not let out their anger on their wives and children. "Welcome back son" said Fugaku silently, a small ghostly smile could be barely recognised.
Sasuke awkwardly stood up from the chair, unsure on whether he should have stayed seated and watched the scenario unfold around him. Itachi finally faced the younger of the two, his smile widened. "Sasuke" he greeted eagerly as he walked to the raven haired boy. Sasuke awkwardly lifted his hand to shake Itachi's hand but his action seemed to be ignored as Itachi pulled him in a tight hug. "You've grown so much Ototo"
Sasuke could feel the acid reached his lower oesophagus sphincter.
He awkwardly returned the hug, unsure on where he should place his hands but decided to wrap his hands around Itachi's shoulders. Since seeing him from 3 years ago, Itachi had obviously grown, which made it rather difficult for Sasuke to return the uncomfortable hug. This caused him to embarrassingly realise his hands didn't get to meet behind his older brothers back. He let go immediately.
The next few hours all became a blur. His mother excitedly laughing, his father letting out subtle chuckles every few minutes and Itachi telling his fourth story about university as they sat around the "table of family bonds". Sasuke silently snickered to himself. He awkwardly sat at the end of the dining table in order to avoid unnecessary conversation. For the first time in three years the abandoned table was finally used. Yet it still felt empty.
"Do we feel like a family know father?" the raven boy bitterly thought to himself.
As the laughter finally died down, Itachi turned to face his younger brother who had not said a word since his arrival. This did not go unnoticed but the eldest brother, however Itachi had assumed this, nevertheless chose to ignore it for the time being.
"So Ototo, how's high school going for you. You're in the last year aren't you?"
Sasuke glared at his brother. How dare he act like he didn't know, how dare he act like he cared. In the corner of his eyes, he could see his father's frown. He inhaled deeply. Act. "Yes" he replied, it came out rather colder than he imagined. He forced a small smile to make his answer sound more believable. However Itachi was no fool. He noticed the his younger brothers glare that had barely lasted a second before being replaced with a fake smile
Itachi had expected this. He didn't blame the young boy. He had left without saying goodbye and for the years he was away he constantly tried contacting Sasuke. Each time he was ignored. He understood it was hard. Itachi was his older brother, he protected him, watched him grow. Sasuke looked up to him as an idol, wanting to become like him one day. However his idol decided to disappear, leaving a small orange note saying he was attending university many oceans away. However he expected more; he expected a reaction. He expected to see his younger brothers face flushed with anger as he hurled painful words at him. Reminding him on how he had left him, how he had hurt him. But all he got was awkward silences and fake smiles.
His mother clapped her hands eagerly, breaking the tension between her two boys. "You must be drained from such a long flight. You should go ahead and rest, we have plenty of time to catch up" she cheerfully added. Sasuke sighed in relief. He was beginning to wonder when he could retire in his warm welcoming bed.
Fugaku nodded in agreement as he pushed himself away from the table, the chair screeching in protest against the floorboards. Sasuke was surprised he had managed to last this long without consuming alcohol. He had half expected him to bring out a bottle and drink in celebration of his eldest son- no, his only son for finally returning home. Oh but his father was clever. He knew once the liquid began to pour, his inner monster would come out. Something he had to keep under lock down since Itachi was here.
Upon seeing his father leave the dining area and walk towards where the bedrooms were located, Sasuke immediately stood up. Giving enough time for his father to enter his bedroom, in order to avoid bumping into him. His swift action caused the chair to barely screech. With a quick bow, he muttered a silent "goodnight" and left to go to his room. The only safe haven he found comfort in this treacherous house.
As he reached his bedroom door he found himself staring at the bedroom that his father had entered. His father was going to sleep in his mother's bedroom. In the bed she laid there helpless for months. In the same room of the woman he once proclaimed to love. His father sure was taking Itachi's arrival seriously, he was going to make this his wonderland and Itachi the hopeless gullible Alice.
Oh how deceiving.
Just as Sasuke was about to twist his doorknob to enter his cold dark room, he felt a strong grip on his left wrist. In a matter of seconds Sasuke had turned around and pushed the intruder away. Years of abuse had taught Sasuke to always be aware.
"What do you think you're doing?" growled Sasuke as he glared at his older brother, his eyes almost becoming into slits. He hoped the commotion wouldn't cause his father to emerge from the bedroom. Itachi awkwardly smiled off the unexpected reaction. He had to be calm and collected; his Ototo would obviously be angry.
"I just thought you would like to privately talk and catch up" he said warmly. "You know, like old times" he added quickly. Oh how wrong he was, in fact he couldn't be more wrong. How dare he bring up the past to guilt Sasuke into talking?
Sasuke's blood boiled.
"There's nothing to talk about brother". Sasuke snarled, purposely stressing on the word brother. "Besides" as he turned around to face his bedroom door. "I have school tomorrow" he replied coldly, his back facing the elder of the two. And before Itachi could reply, the door was shut in front of him with a loud thud.
Itachi looked to his right, down the hall stood his mother. Her fragile figure and bad posture clearly obvious. Despite her health and what she had just witnessed she had a small encouraging smile on her lips. Itachi sighed. She knew her youngest son needed help. She knew he had too much pride to ask for help, even if it was offered he would reject it. She knew it would take time and patience on Itachi's behalf in order to get close to his younger brother again. After all, it is the reason she called Itachi and asked him to finally return.
He was hesitant at first, not wanting to return to be greeted with the pressure from his father and the elders of the family. Itachi held too much weight on his shoulders, too much weight for a young man. Mikoto had eased into the conversation slowly, mentioning that Sasuke was slipping in school and his academic marks were proof and that he needed help. However Itachi had offered the phone number of a well-known tutor he knew of who owed him a number of favours. There was a short moment of silence on the phone before she mentioned that Sasuke needed help. Help, help as she repeatedly stressed on the word.
And without any need for details Itachi was on the next flight home. After all, he understood what his mother was trying to communicate.
But Sasuke was a lone raven, a raven that had left its flock and chose to soar the mighty winds all on its own. A raven that croaked to anyone that passed by and immediately took off into the cold night sky if anyone got too close. Its feathers would ruffle in the winds, almost blending in with darkness. The moon capturing the slight glint in its small black beaded eyes.
"But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only that one word, as if his soul in that word he did outpour" –Edgar Allen Poe
