Life Goes On
Chapter 2
DAC

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did everything you're about to read would probably be true.

Authors Note: This is the direct sequel to Angst of a Ninja. Sweet time taken, chapter 2 up. Hope ya'll like it.

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Sasuke sat quietly in Michiyo's house waiting Shino and Gaara to come home. Sasuke hadn't gone home since the incident. Itachi was very angry with Sasuke and told him that if he was going to be reckless and do stupid shit like fighting for a bitch without a cause then he wasn't welcome in his house. Itachi did after all own the house since their parents passed away. Sakura gladly opened her arms to Sasuke and took him into her home the day after the incident but Sasuke quickly put an end to that and said he needed to be away from anything involving what had happened and moved in with Michiyo, Gaara, and Shino.

"Sorry, about all this…" Sasuke spoke for the first time that day. Nobody was around to hear it though. Michiyo was in the kitchen and only vaguely responded.

"What? Did you say something Sasuke?" She peeked her head around the corner and looked. Sasuke didn't say anything and continued to just stare at the floor. "Oh come on. Cheer up! The three of us have decided you can't be this broken quiet mess anymore." Michiyo walked over to him and knelt down beside him. "Come on I know I heard you. None of the TV's are on so you had to have said something."

"… I'm… sorry…" Sasuke whispered it so softly it almost didn't seem audible.

"Huh… what? Why are you sorry Sasuke…" Michiyo was confused.

"I… I'm just a burden on you. I mean I've been hanging around so much. You haven't had any time for Kazuma… and… well… the whole situation. Its' bad…" Sasuke seemed tired as he spoke. He lowered his head and sniffed.

"Huh? A burden? What the hell are you talking about. You're my best friend! And what's so bad about the situation? You're not with Sakura, and you just over reacted cause of how you saw Naruto beating the shit out of her. You're not in any trouble now, and hell I bet Naruto and everybody else will forgive you if you just give them a chance." Michiyo lifted his head with her hand she was worried. He had been so depressed since all the legal matters had been resolved and it seemed like he was slipping away.

"…. But… I'm still keeping you at home…. You haven't been out with Kazuma in weeks…..and…the others… they live here too and they seem to stick around a lot because of me…. it's fine if Naruto and them forgive me…. But what about… Itachi…he kicked me out… I'm just so alone" Sasuke pulled away from her and stood up walking towards the bathroom.

"Oh come on! Okay listen. Kazuma and me haven't been seeing each other since the incident because he decided it'd be a good idea to jump into some snuggle warmness with some slutty snow bunny he met on his vacation. The others are just as worried about you as I am! And Itachi… Sasuke I know he's your brother but come on…. He's a jerk…he didn't listen to anybody who was actually there and trying to explain the situation."

"Well yeah but still… wait… What??" Sasuke was taken back his face contorted with confusion as he looked at her. "You… broke up…. With Kazuma?"

"…well… yeah… I mean… he cheated on me…" Michiyo blushed. She leaned back and away letting her brown hair cover her eyes. "He… said he loved me…. And then went and cheated on me…. I'm just glad his little brother Kazua told me before I got any more involved with him…"

"I'm…. so sorry…. why didn't you tell me…" Sasuke looked down then proceeded to blow his nose with the tissue he had come in there for.

"Well! You were so upset about the whole incident that you just… never… seemed like…. I… couldn't really….. ugh well it never came up!" Michiyo was slightly flustered. They had gotten way of subject and she wasn't about to turn this into anything about her.

"…." Sasuke was silent. "…"

"What… quit staring at me like that…" Michiyo twitched a little. Sasuke had a confused and sad look on his face.

"…we're…. still just friends right…" Sasuke seemed sad as he said it. But his voice didn't plead for her to disagree. It pleaded for her to agree. He liked Michiyo but he couldn't take this again. Not so soon.

"Well yeah…. I mean… I'm single… but… it's not like you asked me out or anything… I mean yeah you live here and all but.. Grah It's just cause you needed a place to stay! Nothing more! No alternative motives!!" Michiyo waved her hands infront of her face and gave him a sheepish smile.

"…" Sauske was dumb-struck for a second before he began to laugh uncontrollably

"What!" Michiyo looked at him angrily "It's your fault I'm flustered! STOP LAUGHING!" Michiyo was raged now as she was about to swing at Sasukes head when the doorbell rang.

"uh… That's probably our friends. I'll go get it." Sasuke darted around her and moved to the front door opening it just to have himself stunned by what he saw.

"Guess who we found walking up to the front door as we were!" Shino and Gaara smiled widely as they stood on either side of the familiar figure.

"Hello, brother. How have you been…" Itachi's mellow tone seemed off putting. It wasn't usual for him to sound so serious.

"Itachi-sama…." Sasuke felt his knees grow weak.

"Sasuke! What are you doing let them in!" Michiyo ran up just to stop as she saw Itachi standing in the doorway. "Oh…"

"Bad timing?" Itachi seemed rather sad and confused now. Slightly fearful that maybe it wasn't the best idea to come by.

"Why are you here?" Sasuke was almost angry, but the sadness in his voice overwhelmed that by far.

"Because… I wanted to apologize for kicking you out and invite you back home…" Itachi spoke solemnly.

"What…" Sasuke couldn't believe what he was hearing. Everybody else remained quiet and seemed to fade back a little so that the spotlight dimmed only on the two brothers.

"… You see… I watched the news the other day and saw some newly released footage of you and Naruto fighting… It seems you came to Sakura's rescue but I could tell you weren't with her when she arrived… You had nothing to do with the incident besides being there at a bad time… I didn't listen to you or anyone else about you not being apart of this… I thought you had gotten in with the wrong crowd when I saw you with her… So… I… assumed the worst and I was stupid. I'm sorry Sasuke."

"…." Sasuke didn't know what to say.

"Please… come home…" Itachi felt grief. He hadn't meant to hurt his brothers feelings and understood that abandoning Sasuke like he did was just about the worst thing he could have done. He too missed their parents but not the same way Sasuke did. No… he missed them but didn't feel a longing to be a family still. Sasuke on the other hand did. And as his older brother he needed to realize that.

"…." Sasuke didn't speak. Instead he just stood there. Everyone else moved in closer to Sasuke and wait for his answer.

"Well… little brother?" Itachi knew what was coming next.

"….no….Itachi…." Sasuke looked up at his brother slightly angry, but not as much as he had been. "I won't… not… yet…I'd rather…. Stay here… with my friends…" Everyone was taken back a little.

"As you wish… I'm glad….you've grown….you're not so foolish anymore…" Itachi smiled a bit and left.

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Authors Note: Yay Itachi's not mad anymore and I've progressed to the point where Sasuke OC pairings work! Lol Okay well this doesn't really enlighten us on the new storyline but I promise it's important for us to set ground work here. Also for the timeline nuts this is happening same day as the Naruto part in the last chapter.

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