Chapter Four: Memories
I do not own Naruto.
This chapter is a little different, I believe the title should speak for itself. Sorry for the long wait, had some issues that took a few months to work out. I am excited to write this story and can't wait until we get to the modern world with the other Sasuke, although my updates may be a little slow. Enjoy!
He tried walking towards the duck again but the annoying thing kept moving away from him. Sasuke sat down on the ground and folded his arms over his chest. Fine, he wasn't going to try then. He blinked his eyes, refusing to cry. His stupid eyes didn't want to obey him though as a few stray tears fell.
"Oh Sasuke," His mother's voice said softly, a hint of laugher in it. "Come her son." She sat down next to him and pulled him into her lap. "Give me your hand." Sasuke held out his hand as his mother placed some more bread crumbs in his palm. She then slid her hand under his. "Keep your hand straight and hold still."
He did as she told and kept his eyes on that annoying duck. The foul bird slowly made its way over towards them and reached out and ate the crumbs from his hand. Sasuke couldn't help but laugh from the ticklish feeling he got which made the duck run off again. His mother began laughing and her fingers slid to his belly and tickled him some more.
When he was out of breath and tears had streaked down his checks, she picked him and set him on the ground. "Come on, it's time for us to get some lunch too." She said as she entwined his smaller hand in hers.
Seriously this had to be the biggest, fucking hill in Konoha. Sasuke stood near the top, his skateboard clenched in his hand. He held it a little tighter than usual so Itachi couldn't see his hand shaking. He wasn't going to admit to being scared.
"You don't have to do it you know." Itach said beside him.
"I'm not afraid." Sasuke muttered, but he was sure his brother heard the slight waiver of his voice. There was a thunk as Itachi slapped his palm against Sasuke's helmet that was on his head.
"I never said you were twerp. Way older kids than you have chickened out."
Sasuke glared at him from under his helmet then turned to look back down the hill. He was the one that begged Itachi to bring him out here. He knew mom would probably freak if she found out. He suppressed the shudder at the thought of dad finding out. Fugaku Uchiha wasn't above arresting his own son, if it scared some sense into him. That was, if he got caught.
His brother had been only five when he conquered the infamous road. It was outside the city limits and lead to the top of the mountain. Most people came here to hike and picnic and get away from the noisy city. Young couples made the trek to make out at night. The city made a fantastic view, all lit up as it usually was. Currently, the city was the furthest thing from Sasuke's mind. It sat behind him, hiding behind the trees.
Biting his lip, Sasuke studied the road, noting how it turned slightly to the right halfway down. Many a person had left their mark, literally, on that small bit. If he did this he would be the talk of the school. Alright, so Sasuke was three years older than when Itachi had accomplished this feat, but still, no one in his class was near his own level of skill. He just wasn't sure if he was ready for this.
"Come on little brother, perhaps another day. I don't think you're ready."
Sasuke looked at his brothers retreating back, his mouth open. What? Not ready? Itachi was going to let it go just like that? He first felt relief that he didn't have to do this but then something else spread through him. Anger and determination. Turning back towards the hill, Sasuke dropped his board and without a second thought his feet had pushed off and he was flying.
It was fantastic, the adrenaline pumped through his veins as the wind rushed past him. He shifted his weight and added the right pressure as that turn came up and he was past it. He laughed out loud and glanced over his shoulder to see Itachi right behind him. His grin was just as big as Sasukes.
They quickly reached the bottom and gradually slowed down. Sasuke kicked his board up and flipped it into his hands just has his brothers arm went around his shoulders.
"See, I knew you could do it." Itachi beamed at him. Sasuke just smirked and elbowed him gently in the ribs.
"Jerk." He muttered, but his smile belied his insult.
He was cold and hungry and to stubborn to go home. Sasuke sat huddled under the plastic contraption the younger kids played on at the park. The rain pelted against it was annoying, but he wasn't going to be going out in it anytime soon. He snuffled and rubbed his nose against his sleeve. At least he had stopped crying. How pathetic he must look, but at the moment he really couldn't care.
How could he have said that to his brother? The look on his face when Sasuke had yelled at him had broken his own heart. Sasuke had snapped and it wasn't even Itachi's fault.
All the teaches at school were unfair, continuously comparing his papers and grades to those of his brothers. Sasuke got practically all A's and still it wasn't good enough. He had to continuously hear about Itachi this and Itachi that. How Itachi's projects were always so original and well thought out and planned. How Itachi graduated from High School when he was just thirteen and how they keep pushing Sasuke to take the same fucking tests to see if he could prove to be as smart as his brother.
Sasuke didn't want to take the tests, he wanted to do things his way. He knew he wasn't as smart as Itachi and he had been okay with that.
Then why had he told Itachi that he hated him and it was all his fault that Sasuke couldn't do anything right?
God, he was such a moron. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. How could he ever go back home and face him. He began to shiver slightly, but he ignored it and squeezed his arms around his legs tighter. His pants were soaked, his shirt wasn't fairing much better in this shelter and his damp hair starting to drip into his face and down his back.
He didn't hear the footsteps until they were practically on top of him with the rain. Sasuke stiffened as a dark blue poncho appeared in the fading light and slid in next to him. Itachi pushed the hood back and just sat there next to him. The smell of hot coffee wafted towards him and without even looking at him Itachi held out the covered beverage. Sasuke's hands fisted in his pants, he couldn't look at his brother.
"Go on, take it." Itachi sighed.
Sasuke reached over and took the cup, letting the warmth soak into his cold hands, but he kept his eyes fixed on the cup. He wanted to say something, to apologize, but that stupid lump in this throat wasn't allowing it.
"Mom told me what happened."
"Itachi, I..."
"She's going to talk to the school about it." He paused and Sasuke knew he glanced over at him then looked away. "Unless you don't want her too. I could talk to Iruka. He's actually pretty smart when it comes to handing things like that. It might surprise you, but he helped me out back when...umph."
Sasuke lunged at his brother and hugged him, his body shivering with cold and shame.
"Sorry, Itachi. I-I didn't mean it." Arms came around him and rubbed his back.
"I know." He said softly. "I know." Itachi's ruffled his damp hair and Sasuke tried to hide his sniffles. They sat like that for a while, not needing to say anything. "Let's get you back before mom gets dad to send a patrol squad out after you."
"Fugaku, stop." His mom giggled. She actually giggled. Sasuke rolled his eyes and firmly kept them away from his parents. He did not want to see them making out like some teenagers while on vacation.
Heaving a sigh he walked over towards the water's edge and let the waves lap at his feet. He squished his toes into the wet sand enjoying the warm water as it caressed him. He began to wonder where Itachi had gotten off too. The rat had left him alone to deal with his parents and he was going to make him pay for that.
Sasuke was going to be starting High school next year, and dad was already pressuring him to start prepping for the Academy. As proud as Fugaku was of Itachi achievements, Sasuke knew he wanted one of his son's to work in law enforcement with him. Which left Sasuke to fulfill that desire.
A particularly large wave washed up to his knees brining Sasuke out of his thoughts. He realized that he had walked further than he thought along the coast line. Up ahead was a rocky outcrop and Sasuke made his way towards them. It was about the time that he heard a slight noise, a soft female laugh. Curious, Sasuke climbed the rocky outcrop and stopped short.
There was his brother, making out with one of the local girls. His hand was on the back of her head, his mouth pressed against hers, with her arms wrapped around his neck. Itachi used his other hand to wrap around the girls waist and pulled her against him.
He was shocked into momentary stillness as he watched his brother. Then, with a smirk, he pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures. For blackmail purposes obviously. What he wasn't planning on was his mom texting him at that exact moment and of course his phone was not on vibrate. Sasuke glanced over at Itachi who had turned to glare at him. Grinning, Sasuke took off. He didn't dare look back, he knew Itachi would be right behind him.
The car sped down the road as Sasuke changed lanes, passing the slower traffic and taking the turn down their street just a bit too fast, but he liked it. Liked driving, the speed, the control, the thrill. He pressed his foot down on the gas a little bit more and felt the car lurch forward. Sasuke didn't slow down much as he pulled into the driveway, coming to an abrupt stop with the slight squeal from the tires.
Grinning, Sasuke turned to look at his father who sat staring, wide eyed straight ahead. One hand clutched at the dashboard, the other on the handle of the door.
"Well?" Sasuke asked.
Fugaku held up a hand and closed his eyes a minute before putting his palm out. "Give me the keys."
"What? But..."
"Give me the keys." It was the tone of voice he used that brooked no room for argument.
"Come off it! You can't tell me..."
"Give me the keys Sasuke."
Sasuke snapped his mouth shut, turned the car off and practically slammed the keys into his dad's hand. Fugaku pulled his hand back and took a shaky breath.
"I'm going to contact your driving instructor tomorrow and see what it is they teach you in that class."
"What are you talking about, I'm a great driver. What did I do wrong?"
His dad opened the car door and got out; Sasuke opened his own and followed his dad into the house his complaints falling on deaf ears.
"What's wrong with this shirt?" Sasuke asked as he changed it again for the fourth time. The pink haired demon glared at him a moment before going back through his closet. At least she definitely looked like a demon at the moment. He swallowed and just did as she asked. Sakura really was only trying to help.
"Because you want to catch his attention, not scare him away." She said as she pushed through the clothes hanging there, not that she hadn't already gone through them a dozen times.
Sasuke had just finished buttoning up the last shirt she had given him when she pulled out another one. She walked over to him and held it up to him. Taking a step back, as far as her arm would allow, Sakura looked him up and down.
"Put this one on."
Sasuke glared at her, but it had no effect. When did his glare stop working on her? "What's wrong with this one?" He asked as he began to take it off.
"Nothing, but I think this one makes your skin tone stand out a little more."
He rolled his eyes. "What skin tone. I've always been pale you know. Can't hold a tan to save my life."
"Exactly, it's one of your best features. Now put it on."
"Fine," He said as he yanked off the one he just put on. Sasuke was aware of Sakura watching as he changed but it really wasn't unusual. After he had discovered his sexuality, whatever would have blossomed between them changed to something along the lines of best friends. Her stare tonight was anything but predatory. She knew a certain blond artist had caught Sasuke's attention and she was helping Sasuke get his.
"Better?" He asked as he put the shirt on. A slow smiled spread across her face and she winked at him.
"Much, now let's go. Maybe one of us will get lucky and get laid tonight."
"...and it's more developed aspects dealing with in terms of quantum field theory, string theory, and speculative quantum gravity theories."
"Hn," Sasuke replied as he twirled the pen around on his fingers. He'd spaced out to his brother's explanations long ago. He was trying to write an essay for History regarding the past Hokagage's and what, if any, contributions they had brought to the city. Itachi had seemed excited about his new project so he had asked him about it. He wasn't expecting him to continue on and on and on. It really was interesting, he just had no idea what he was talking about.
"You're not really listening are you?" Itachi sighed.
Sasuke mentally shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked at Itachi, a small apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry, you had me until you went in depth with your mathematical equations. You know I can keep that shit straight in my head."
Itachi just grunted and continued to type on his laptop, getting his project request papers and grants in order.
"So, what would the point be in discovering these other worlds?" Sasuke asked. Itachi paused in his typing and quirked and eyebrow at him. Sasuke just smirked at him. See, he had paid attention to some of it. Itachi shook his head slightly in amusement.
"You surprise me sometimes little brother. Not many people do that you know."
Sasuke drew a few doodles along his papers edge. His own laptop was opened beside him, but he preferred to write down his outline in an actual paper notebook before he started. Itachi went back to typing on his laptop, and it was a few seconds before he answered.
"Well, because at this point it's just theory. Many people in the science community still just brush it off as just nonsense. But to me, the thought, even the idea, of there being other worlds like ours, in different universes, is fascinating and even a challenge to see if I can prove that it isn't just nonsense."
"Hn, and the point to this would be?"
Itachi turned and stared at him and Sasuke could see that fire that burned in him. The excitement of discovering something new that no one else had yet burned there.
"Imagine the idea that you could exists at the same time in more than one place. Worlds upon worlds of different Sasuke's, each living a different life or similar lives. Some of these places could be wildly different from our own, depending on the circumstances on which those worlds were created. There could be countless possibilities.
"Yet each one of you would have different experiences, different outcomes. In one world you could be a doctor, in another a lawyer, and yet in another you could be a murderer. Just think if we were able to tap into the power of travelling or communicating with your other selves what the possibilities could be, think about the intelligence and knowledge you could pass from one to the other. The options would virtually be limitless.
"And that, my little brother, is why I do it. To discover if it is real, if it is even possible. To see if there is something more to our meager existence than what we see in front of us, and perhaps to even discover what that purpose might be. The power of the universe could be laid bare before us. It is the building blocks to a higher plane of existence or the possibilities of what that existence could mean. Knowledge is power little brother."
Sasuke was ensnared by Itachi's words as that fire that possessed his brother leaked into his own soul. He could feel that raw burning desire and knew that nothing would stop Itachi from reaching his goals. It sent shivers down his spine and the whole concept still left Sasuke's head reeling.
The light was so bright it hurt his eyes as it ripped him apart. Itachi was yelling his name, the panic and fear evident on his face. This time, instead of everything going black, Sasuke's eyesight slowly brought the room back in focus around him. His eyes meet the shocked look from the man who had somehow invaded his mind. He wasn't sure how he knew that, or how it was even possible. An unsettled felling came over him as he had a moment of clarity. One he wished he hadn't had.
"Oh fuck." He whispered, just before he leaned over and emptied what little there was in his stomach.