B&TB

Kisame opened the door looked haggard and exhausted.

"Are you alright?" Was the first thing Itachi asked, completely pushing aside his previous thoughts.

"Fine." Kisame answered gruffly. "Do you need something?"

"I wanted to talk to you." Itachi admitted, but couldn't help but think was the wrong time.

Kisame looked dubious, but came out of his room, shutting it behind him. Itachi thought he saw something glowing inside.

"Let's walk then." Kisame said, pushing past Itachi. "What did you want to talk about?"

Itachi couldn't help but think he was intruding - instinct told him to be diplomatic. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life."

"You're welcome."

"And also I wanted to thank you for..." Itachi almost cringed at the thought considering he was forced to be here, a prisoner no less. In exchange for his brother! "Your hospitality."

Kisame laughed. "You don't mean that."

Itachi could have lied, but something told him that wasn't the right move. "You're right, I lied. I apologize." Itachi admitted. They were outside now, walking along the inner gardens between the small buildings. There was a small pond where Kisame stopped and watched a frog eat a fly.

"Don't lie to me again." Kisame said finally.

"The world is full of lies." Itachi said, eyes half hooded as he gazed into the water.

"But you don't have to be one with me."

And just like that Itachi felt a change inside of him, a realization that suddenly dawned on him. Kisame genuinely cared about Itachi's opinion. He words sounded like a command perhaps, but every step of the way he was looking out for him.

"And if I refuse?" Itachi asked experimentally.

"I will have to believe you."

"You would put that much faith in me?" Itachi asked.

"You are young, so you don't quite understand." Kisame sighed, sitting down. "Perhaps it is my fault as well. I have forced you here against your will."

Itachi sat down next to Kisame, looking towards the lake. "What do I not understand? Explain it to me, and I will."

"I am perhaps, too old to continue as I have. I will be honest then. I have spent centuries here, basically in solitary confinement. It takes a toll on the psyche. You do not believe me, I think." Kisame sighed. "If you wish to leave, you may do so. I realize it is not my place to keep you here."

"Why change your mind now?" Itachi asked. "Why keep me here to begin with?"

"I wanted a companion, a friend. My methods were not the best I admit, but that is what this lifestyle will do to your psyche. I have no faith in the world and speaking to you I have come to realize I do not have a place in it at all. You are young and have ideals and a life I could never comprehend. You ran at the first opportunity you had. I cannot comprehend why you stayed after, but perhaps you should leave."

"I'm sorry to ask this..." Itachi wasn't exactly sorry, but the timing wasn't right. Still, he needed answers. "Can you tell me about how time works here? My brother for example, where is he? How is he? Is he lost?"

"Ah yes." Kisame ground his teeth together creating a sound that was grating to the ears. "This place does not exist in time. Your brother left and ended up at some point in time. I attempted to make it as close as possible to the original time he came from, but these things are difficult to accomplish, you see. He is probably at home, just a few months to a year later than he should be."

Itachi exhaled. "I want to go home."

Kisame nodded. "You know the exit."

Itachi rose and, with his back turned to Kisame, he asked. "How did I get here?"

"Anyone who comes to these lands in the other world can be seen by me. I can bring them here. Your brother came too, to find you again. Many times. That's how I know he's safe."

"So this is a different world?"

"Of sorts. In all of time, among all the people who came here, it was you I wanted to bring here."

Itachi swallowed. "Why me?"

"Destiny."

"I don't understand."

"I don't either. Maybe it's because you would be happy here. Wasn't the library exactly what you wanted? There are labs to conduct research here as well. Plants that can't be found elsewhere. An ability to travel across time to anyplace, any thing you could wish for. These are all things you could have enjoyed, or still can if you wish to stay."

"I don't." Itachi said with a sigh. "I want to go home."

"Goodbye, Itachi."

Itachi wasn't sure how to respond to it. This was it? This was their goodbye?

"Goodbye, Kisame."

And Itachi left. He followed the path out, the same one he used to arrive.

He didn't see Kisame smile after he left.

B&TB

Sasuke looked out into the sky, eyes half lidded under the strain of the sun as he watched his daughter's kite fly through the air.

His wife, Sakura, was relaxing and getting a tan. His husband, Naruto, was in the water, surfing and making silly poses only to fall into the water.

Sasuke sighed. He wasn't in the mood for this.

"Sakura." Sasuke droned, walking over to her. "I'm going back to the condo."

Sakura, used to Sasuke's moods, didn't even object. "See you." She answered, adjusting her sunglasses and then turning her attention back to Ino.

The sand was warm beneath his feet, and the breeze just right flowing through the onyx tendrils of his hair. Laughter and joy filled the air, and somehow it was lost in Sasuke.

For almost eight years now he felt his happiness only hollow. Sakura and Naruto could bring him back, help him feel and drive out the loneliness he felt. But sometimes, just sometimes, the hollow feeling inside him was too strong and he needed to be alone.

And that was what he wanted. They were in India right now, along the southern coast. He could feel something strange in his eyes, as if he were being tracked through them - but whoever it was they had an override, authority. He was the clan leader, there shouldn't be anyone with authority over his eyes, not since his father died.

Why then...?

It was his imagination, Sasuke decided. The condo was on the third floor and quite spacious. They had chosen it for the view, and indeed, from here Sasuke could watch his family if he so desired.

He didn't realize he wasn't alone until he had taken a beer from the fridge.

"I'd tell you you're not old enough to drink but you look older than me now."

Sasuke jumped and his eyes blared to life, swirling at top speed.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asked, a blade in his forearm was reaching out towards the palm of his hand from within his skin, ready to strike.

The man looked like an Uchiha. He had deep bags around his eyes from exhaustion, but all the trademark Uchiha characteristics. Black hair, onyx eyes, porcelain skin, the fan around his neck. But Sasuke had never seen him before.

"Don't you remember me, Sasuke?" The mysterious man asked. "It has been a while but I am your big brother."

"I don't have a brother." Sasuke responded.

The man looked sad. "I'm sorry I left you alone all these years." His voice was soft.

Sasuke's heart was pounding in his chest. "Enough! I've heard enough. I want you gone. Go or I will attack."

The man contemplated, and then asked "you would not speak to me?"

"No." Sasuke began to feel a throbbing in his mind, a sudden and powerful headache.

"How about mother and father?"

"My mother and father are dead."

The man looked visibly distraught at the news and turned to leave. "I will leave you then."

Sasuke swallowed as the man left, and used his eyes to call the Uchiha headquarters to download the entire event onto their servers. He needed more information on this man. But first, he needed a painkiller.

B&TB

Itachi had used his parental control over Sasuke's eyes to gather information. It was an unusual control that took longer than necessary and somewhere along the way Itachi realized Sasuke had new eyes. He followed the GPS, and luckily his old bank account was still accessible through his fingerprints and social security number, so he was able to pay for it.

It was only natural after all, it must have been some time since they had last seen each other - Sasuke looked old. Maybe even older than he himself was. Technology had changed and the eyes too probably.

There was only one thing. When Sasuke said he had no brother, it was not anger or rage speaking - it was a genuine belief. Sasuke was not lying, Itachi could tell even with the older technology in his eyes.

This opened up a thousand new possibilities. Did Kisame teleport him to an alternative universe where he did not exist and had no place? Was this a twisted revenge of some sort, a hatred for leaving? But no, his bank clearly remembered his existence. Then why didn't Sasuke? Maybe he was brought back as a different person, not as Sasuke's brother? Could there be another Itachi in this world at this time?

Itachi wouldn't intrude. He left the condo at Sasuke's bidding. He wouldn't leave Sasuke alone just yet, but he needed to research this world, and possibly return to speak to Kisame about what happened.

Itachi sighed and turned to see children laughing and playing at the beach that was right along the condos. After a pause, he walked towards the rolling ocean waves, letting the salty scent of the ocean fill his lungs with momentary happiness.

This place was beautiful, and the sound of joy left his heart aching. He stepped closer and closer and sat down in the sand, thinking about Kisame who had a shark like appearance.

Was Kisame born in the ocean? Why was he part shark? These were questions he never got to ask.

"Daddy?" A girl asked, and Itachi twirled to look at the girl who was looking back at him with the trademark Uchiha features. She looked happy and then she frowned.

"You're not daddy."

Itachi's heart felt like it would burst. "Who is your daddy?" He asked, almost choking.

"Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki."

Itachi trembled.

"Why are you crying mister?" The little girl asked.

"Sarada! What are you doing?" Sakura approached and Itachi recognized her instantly. One of Sasuke's friends.

"Mommy! Mister is crying." Salads answered, pointing at Itachi.

"I-Itachi?!" Sakura asked.

"Y-you recognize me?"

"Wait-wait here okay?!" Sakura said. "Sarada, stay here with him, don't let him go."

"Okay mommy." Sarada answered.

"NARUTOO!"

B&TB

"So... You three... All three of you?" Itachi asked, hoping he wasn't prying.

"We all love each other." Sakura answered simply. They were seated in a coffee shop by the beach.

"Why are we skipping around the main thing here?!" Naruto asked. "Where the hell have you been, Itachi?!"

"I'm sorry I- I can't explain."

"Naruto!" Sakura scolded. "Sasuke said you had been kidnapped by some monster and things... Things didn't make sense."

"Yes time didn't make sense. To me it has only been a few months since I saw you and yet... You both have aged admirably." Itachi circled his hands around a steaming hot cup of tea.

"It's been almost nine years."

Itachi gripped his cup tight, nearly burning his palm.

"Sasuke... I went to see him."

"He wasn't the same after you left. They had to erase his memories. He ripped out his eyes."

Itachi widened his eyes in shock. "Why?!"

"To find you!" Naruto slammed his fist down.

"Naruto!" Sakura placed her hand over his. "Itachi is the victim here!"

Naruto grumbled and then apologized. "I'm sorry- I know it wasn't your fault but seeing Sasuke suffer-."

"I understand." Itachi said. "Can we restore his memories?"

"No. It will do more harm than good at this point. He's finally healing and happy... Itachi you should just leave." Sakura said harshly.

"It might be okay if you were to return but with his memories back he will gain an obsession with that place again, and he will forget to live." Naruto agreed.

Itachi got the distinct impression that this topic had been discussed before.

"Why don't you live as a friend? The other Uchiha have a protocol for what to do if you're found again." Sakura said. "You can know Sasuke as a friend, and everything will be go back to almost normal."

Naruto nodded. "We would love to have you in our lives, but we don't want Sasuke to fall back into the darkness. This is a deal we can use."

"I take it you've talked about this before." Itachi finally voiced his concerns.

"We have. We had a lot of time to think about it while we helped Sasuke move on." Sakura took a bite of her ice cream.

"And Sarada?" Itachi almost choked.

"Sarada is your niece. You can see her everyday if you want."

Itachi nodded. He could agree to these terms.

B&TB

Two Years Later

B&TB

Itachi was unhappy. It wasn't that his family wasn't great, he loved Sarada, who had grown to call him uncle. It wasn't that he was sick, something that the doctors, even the Uchiha doctors, could not figure out. Something with his lungs - something that couldn't be fixed even when replacing his lungs. Why it kept coming back, no one knew, but it did.

Sasuke hated him. It was clear that Itachi's presence was agitating Sasuke, even with everything the Uchiha clan did to suppress his old memories and feelings. Sasuke was haunted, feelings with no memories clawing up at him.

Itachi was a bodyguard again, for a famous pop star of some sort. Loud, obnoxious music, thousands of fans, having to push away every person who came close even threateningly... It wasn't Itachi.

What he wanted was to research, to study, to create, even travel. There was a time once, where he had all of that, and he refused to enjoy it for fear of his brother.

Now he came to the harsh realization that his brother didn't need him. Sasuke could live, heal and more without. Naruto and Sakura put in a good word for him, but even now Sasuke obsessively researched Itachi when he thought no one was aware.

"Where are you going uncle?" Sarada asked, breaking his thoughts.

"I'm going on a long vacation." Itachi said, using an excuse. As long as he stayed he was obligated to the Uchiha, to Sasuke even.

"When will you be back?" Sasuke asked casually, but Itachi could feel the weight behind his words.

"I'm not sure, Sasuke." Itachi said as gently as possible. "We may never see each other again."

Sasuke shook his head. "We'll have fun then."

"We will miss you." Sakura embraced Itachi, filling Itachi with the scent of spring and cherry blossoms.

"I don't understand why you have to leave." Naruto had his arms crossed, looking genuinely upset.

Itachi frowned, his eyebrows pushed together. "I apologize. It is for the best."

"It's not because of us, is it?"

"No."

"We can talk with our eyes." Sarada grounded, her sharingan blaring to life as she spoke.

"Yes, yes we can." Itachi knelt down to pat her head.

And just like that, Itachi left. Maybe with distance and a new job he could find that thing that was missing for him, whatever it was. He sat on the plane to Mexico, looking out over at the airport. He had brought minimum luggage with him.

"Did you think you'd be rid of me that easily?" Shisui asked as he took a seat next to Itachi, nudging him carefully.

"What are you doing here?" Itachi asked, eyes wide. Shisui had never forgotten Itachi, and was one of the few lights in Itachi's life.

"I couldn't leave you alone, after all." Shisui leaned back in his chair.

"It would be for the best. You have a life here."

"So do you. So do we." Shisui insisted. "I'll come with you as long as it takes for you to find yourself, or whatever."

"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that." Itachi insisted, over the voice of the captain telling everyone to buckle up.

"It always is. Look, I don't know what you went through back there, but you are important to me and I have no intention of letting you suffer." Shisui sighed.

"What about that girl you've been seeing?"

"She understands I need to make sure my cousin is safe." Shisui crossed his arms. "And that girl has a name. She's your cousin!"

Itachi winced. "Tohru, right, yeah, I'm sorry."

Shisui smirked and poked Itachi lightly. "Are you jealous, Itachi?"

"No it's not like that!" Itachi shook his head. "It's just, I don't know... Thank you for coming with me. However, you can't stay. I need to figure things out myself."

"What kind of things?" Shisui asked.

"Let's talk about happier things and perhaps when I have my thoughts together... I will tell you." Itachi said.

"Great! So do you think we will get one of those cool hats while in Mexico?! Look I know this cool artist who has a concert in Mexico City this week so let's..."

Itachi let himself get caught up in Shisui's light, because right now it was enough.

A pair of glowing red eyes watched him from a few seats back, eyes that did not have the trademark Uchiha swirls.

I posted this a week ago on AO3 and I just really need to catch up to posting things on .

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