The Last Week

The Last Week

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Ah, I tried a different way of writing in this chapter, as an experiment, and it turned out rather funny…hmm.
Chapter Seven: Shatterday

I don't understand. I never do. But I try, and sometimes, that's all you need.

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Itachi was weary…oh, so weary! He felt like a million years' worth of responsibilities and aches and wounds lay on his shoulders, and he was cursed to live with it till he died. He was tired of pain, tired of tears, tired of complaining to himself about his life.

But he couldn't die just yet.

First he had to wake up. Up, Itachi, up…there you go. Well that wasn't so hard. Now, what next?

He winced. Find a way to stop that headache! Kami above, what had he drunk? After thinking about it for a few minutes, he remembered. He looked around to see a tray of food with a small scroll under it. It was hangover medicine.

He checked his internal clock. Early morning. He winced again, recalling that he'd told his parents he'd only be gone a day.

Oh well, he could always blame the water.

For now…he was starving. The food was eaten in some sort of record time, and he scribbled a hasty thank you note to his hosts and grabbed his belongings, ready to face his stinker of a life once again.

The journey back to Konoha was awful at best. With every step he took, Itachi lost a little of whatever vigor he'd gained, with every mile he happiness slipped away until he was downright sullen as he walked through the Hidden Leaf's gates.

He forced himself to look around, and formulate a plan. Firstly, what were his aims today?

Apologize to parents for running away…apologize to friends for running away…apologize to Danzou-san for running away…kill best friend…

Hmm. That list was pretty morbid…maybe he'd push back the kill best friend thing.

So meant…right. First head home.

Itachi headed home.

Check, that was pretty easy! Next-drop off bag, take a shower.

Du dut du…du dut du….

Done with the shower, Itachi stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the Festival. Ok, now what? Locate parents and be polite to everyone.

"Itachi! I missed you yesterday!" Momo-san, the wife of the baker. You're killing her soon…

"I was ill-disposed, Momo-san."

"Kyaaaaaaaa! Itachi-kun!" a gaggle of girls. He deftly sidestepped them. You're killing them soon…

"Good morning ladies."

"Itachi-san!" Roku, a genin who admired him. You'll be killing him soon…

"Hello Roku, have you seen my parents?"

"Itachi!"

"Otou-san, okaa-san, I'm sorry for missing yesterday. I needed to be alone for a while. It was foolish of me and shall not happen again." Because I'll be killing you soon…

His mother hugged him, and he awkwardly hugged back. "It's okay honey, you've been working hard. Hasn't he, danna?"

Fugaku looked down at his elder son. "So Shisui was right—you were taking a break," he harrumphed, "Hmm. Never mind that you weren't here yesterday. You have been carrying your weight, and more besides it…more than expected of my child."

Itachi bowed. "Where is Sasuke?"

"With your friends," his mother laughed, "They're taking such good care of him, he won't come to us!"

To the taro stand then.

"Shisui nii-san, it's nii-chan!"

his friends turned to look, and Sasuke ran to hug him. "Stupid nii-chan," he said, "You made us worry!"

"I'm sorry," he smiled, "I'm really very sorry."

Everyone joined into a big group hug. It would have been a very sentimental moment…had Sasuke not chosen that moment so squeak, "I can feel nii-chan's thingy!"

Upon which they all let go, blushing.

Itachi grabbed Shisui's collar as he made to move away.

"Tomorrow, at twilight, meet me at the dock, alone. Ok?"

Shisui looked at him like he was crazy. "The Festival!"

"Trust me Shisui, this is much more important than the Festival."

Shisui nodded.

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