A/N: Itachi, is not, a pansy. I will never make him a pansy. As a matter of fact, the only OC character in canon Naruto that is remotely pansy is genin Sakura. This is an AU fic, the characters will all be inevitably a tad OOC. Can't be helped. However, I will do my absolute best not to make them flat boring predictable characters. So writing in depth characters takes a little time, isn't always appreciated because it sometimes isn't pulled off very well. I can't promise I'll be able to pull it off... because an individual's writing style is ultimately a reflection of that individual's personality right? Well, I'm a cynical boring panda. Let's hope this doesn't shine through any of my characters or the story, except maybe Sasuke, because I'm an evil wench who enjoys Sasuke's discomfort.
Now, this long Author's note was spurred by the sneaking suspicion that people would complain about my characterization of Itachi in this chapter. ... and that is all. I don't really have much else to say except Thank you again for the reviews.
So, Thaaank yooou. I've been sick this past week, headache, sore throat. That is my excuse for this obscene chapter.
oh yeah, I have found a lovely beta reader, so I will be reposting previous chapters. Nothing much should change as far as the plot or story goes, I may choose to reword some things, but most should remain as you've already read it/
Warning: oh more angst pertaining Lee, I'm really not nice to poor bushy brows. But he'll be ok in the end.
Disclaimer: I own Nothing.
-------Chapter 8 Kakashi POV--------
I may look happy, but honestly dear, the only way I'll really smile is if you cut me ear to ear. - Chelsea Smile - Bring me the Horizon
Disconcerted, I'm shaken from a dream that felt like I was reliving an old memory by a wide eyed Iruka.
"Kakashi, something is out there." Those words jarred me to consciousness, heart speeding, muscles tensing involuntarily. I stretch to loosen them as I slide a ratty red sweatshirt over my bare chest. Iruka clenches his hands at his sides, his honey colored lips are pulled back baring gleaming teeth in the dim light, a mixture of fear and worry sharpening his usually soft features.
"Stay put, don't wake the kids. Where's Itachi?" I glanced at the vacant mattress that had held a drowsy Itachi earlier this night. Iruka nodded to the open door.
"I woke him for his shift, he went downstairs and I was just drifting off when he woke me back up, told me to wake you and tell you he saw something. He's back downstairs loading an AK..." he trails off, his arms cross over his chest hugging himself, he's hunched against the wall, eyes narrowed, form anxious. The sight causes a sharp quick twinge in my chest, without a thought I grip Iruka's tense arms and pull him against my chest, stoking his hair and neck.
"It'll be ok." I murmur, noting how quickly he relaxes against me. He presses his face against my shoulder and exhales slowly. I pull him from me and lower my face slightly to meet his downcast eyes.
I quirk my lips, his brown eyes meet mine, I force myself to calm any latent fear that could be visible in my eyes. His lips quirk into a half smile to match mine. Then I squeeze his arms and release him. His watching eyes never leave my face until I walk out the door and soundlessly creep down the stairs. Itachi meets me at the bottom, almost startling me when his pale skin emerges soundlessly from the darkness of the house. The guy moves like a cat, swift, confident, no wasted movements.
"The alarms haven't gone off Kakashi," He mutters, sliding my glock into my fist. He moves back into the darkness, ebony eyes glinting.
"-What does that mean?" it's a rhetorical question; he only spoke it out loud to get my thoughts moving along the same lines as his.
I turn to glance sharply at his face. His eyes, dark as his surroundings, study me, patiently waiting for my analysis.
No alarms... what does that mean? The infected haven't proven themselves graced with the ability to act coherently, formulate plans, or avoid traps. Either whatever's out there isn't infected, or it hasn't gotten close enough to the house to trigger any of the distractions.
But, I don't have the full picture here. What did Itachi see?
"Itachi, what exactly did you see and where did you see it?"
He wordlessly led me through the dark living room; carefully peeled aside some of the duck tape used to blacken the windows and motioned for me to take a look through the glass.
The world outside is lightening, the sky mingling with heavy grey clouds is tinged dark blue, snow falls in random bouts, the street glistens with frost and the ground is almost completely covered in white. My eyes strain against the contrasting light and darkness, failing to differentiate anything unusual in the landscape. I almost jolt at the unexpected feeling of Itachi's breathe muttering against my ear.
"Look at the house on the left, grey roof, red wooden door-" my eyes move to the house. I blink, attentively searching out any details, one of the front windows is broken. Was it like that yesterday?
"Someone broke that front window recently. I heard it." I move my face away from the window and fix Itachi with a stare, signaling my full attention.
He frowns lightly, dark brows furrow in something akin to confusion.
"I saw lights, Kakashi. Someone is in that house. Someone not infected..." he ran a long fingered pale hand through his black hair, the contrast is startling. I'm struck with the image of a fishes' underbelly flitting to the surface of a dark lake before being swallowed back into the depths. He shook his head, still distressed.
"I don't know, if we should go out and make our presence known..., but those bodies, and what if whoever that is has something to do with how weird this place is... I-" He pauses, eyes dark and searching.
"Kakashi, I have, no idea what to do. We don't have nearly enough information to act on; we don't have a clue what direction to even take. Should we pack up and leave in the morning, get as far away from this place as we can?" his brows furrowed even more; like he didn't like the idea of running away.
"Should we investigate this, maybe make sense of what we've seen...am I willing to endanger my little brother's life on such a gamble, that maybe we can uncover information about this?" His eyes are fierce when they bore into mine.
"Are you willing to endanger your surrogate family's lives on this gamble? And what happens then, what if we find out the reason those adults had wires imbedded into them, would it change our situation?" he clenched his teeth, showing more emotion than I've ever seen from him in the week we've been traveling together.
"Kakashi." His voice is dull, forced.
"I don't know what to do."
I'm standing here, prickling cold emanates from the window raising gooseflesh on the exposed skin of my neck. Itachi stands across from me, eyes narrowed teeth clenched, fingernails biting into his palms and it hits me just how much younger than me he is, he rarely acts that young, but he is.
Normally, age isn't a deciding factor of a man's personality, the respect he garners or the choices he makes. Under normal circumstances, if Itachi were a new recruit I was partnered with, I'd have him sit down and think this through on his own. The answer would already be clear to me, because I've seen a lot, done a lot; I've killed while on the job, twice. Under normal circumstances I would be calm, calculating, distant.
It's the last resort, killing. You don't want to do it, it's the fear that spurs you, or the anger. Police officers are trained to defend themselves though, if you're fired on, or if you feel threatened enough, you can unholster your weapon. In most cases, the gun at your side is purely intimidation. The catalyst of whether you can settle a dispute peaceably or not is most often how well you use that intimidation to manipulate a scenario.
These, however, are not normal circumstances, by any means... and it feels like Itachi has just pushed the age factor into my face.
You're the oldest, most experienced; you make the decision that will affect all our lives.
But, this is Itachi. And even if these were normal circumstances I don't think I'd be able to take what he just said as him placing the burden on my shoulders. He doesn't want me to make the decision for him, he wants my input, he wants a hold on the situation that I don't even have. A chill not originated from the window flutters through me, I can't give him peace of mind.
We've been standing here silently for well over twenty minutes. My legs are stiffening and I shift them to relieve some of the stiffness. It seems to bring Itachi out of his thoughts because he suddenly looks up at me with an almost pained expression.
"Kakashi. We need to wake the kids. I need to talk to Sasuke. I think this should be something everyone has a say in."
It complicates things, but I knew we'd eventually tell them. I nod my assent. Itachi moves to the shadowed stairs then pauses, eyes on the window hesitantly.
"I'll keep watch." I inform him. He blinks at me, face expressionless, then turns and jogs silently up the stairs.
I turn back to the window; pale light is filtering through the tape. I lean my back and head against the wall. I realize I'm still tired, and the odd dream I had is slowly coming back to me, now that I'm more awake I can focus on drudging it up. It was a memory, from when my father was alive and an active member on the police force.
A homicide and something to do with one of the most influential businesses in the world...Konohagukure Corporation... one of their scientists was found dead in an alley. An autopsy performed on the body revealed odd results and the media was hounding my father for details.
Other than that, I remember my father's expression at dinner; we were in the back yard barbequing steaks and burgers. He and mom were talking about the work hours he'd been putting in lately. She was worried about him, he was tired and heavy bags adorned his usual bright intelligent eyes. The conversation steered to touch lightly on his current case, mom asked how konoha corps was dealing with the media, saying they should provide better shielding to the police investigators handling the affair.
Father's face completely shut down. Mom noticed, her eyes widened, her fork froze en route to her mouth. I'd never seen so much barely concealed contempt in my father's eyes before, but it flashed through them as mom quickly changed the subject.
The case was resolved almost a week later. The murderer was never found but Konohagukure was not sued by the scientists widow and the police could find no evidence of foul play on either Konoha's or the widow's part. We never spoke of it again, but father never supported anything having to do with Konohagukure. He made a point not too.
That happened almost 20 years ago. I don't know why I dreamed about it, maybe because Itachi's and Father's faces were so very similar for a moment. When Itachi had gripped my arm yesterday out in the backyard, his eyes were filled with confusion and a despairing kind of rage, pent up with no outlet, no one to blame. It's a funny thing, two men who are so careful to conceal their thoughts, my father and Itachi, and yet they both have the ability to feel so deeply about something.
Lee's POV
Itachi woke Naruto up last because Naruto is so much fun in the mornings. Note the sarcasm.
Upon opening his sleep clouded blue eyes, Naruto sneezed twice, fell limply from the edge of his bed, clunked to the grey carpet floor and stayed there while the rest of us pull warm clothes on.
It's maybe 6 in the morning. I'm what Naruto calls a morning person. Not that Naruto has much experience with my attitude during the AM. Naruto does his best to avoid mornings.
Sasuke is poking Naruto on his scarred cheek. Naruto tiredly swats at Sasuke's hand vocalizing his irritation with grunts.
Ino giggles in the corner; she's pulling an outfit out of Naruto's duffel.
"Don't coddle him in the mornings Ino, he's going to become dependent on you." I berate her lowly. Itachi leans against the wall, watching us covertly under his lashes.
Ino shuffles over and flings the clothes on Naruto's back.
"Wake up Sunshine. Itachi and Kakashi want our attention." Ino chirps into Naruto's ear.
Naruto mumbles something and rolls under the bed.
Sasuke chuckles, grabs a hold of Naruto's ankle and pulls him from under the bed. Naruto's night shirt rolls up his chest, his neon green Gir(1) sleeping cap is snagged off his head onto the floor and Naruto snarls and kicks out at Sasuke.
"Lee'mee alone!" Naruto digs and scratches at the carpet with his fingernails, trying to gain enough leverage to break from Sasuke's grip and crawl back under the bed.
Ino snorts while Sasuke raises an eyebrow but doesn't release the squirming Naruto's ankle.
"Fine, moron. " Sasuke tugs Naruto closer, leans over him placing one arm on either side of Naruto's hips; he captures Naruto's flailing legs underneath him and sits on his thighs.
"If you're not going to wake up, I guess I'll have to dress you." Sasuke smirks down at Naruto.
"All right, I'm awake! Get Off you molester!" Naruto's blue eyes are wide, a pink indignant blush dusts across his face. I raise an eyebrow at this behavior. Sasuke is being a little more aggressive with his feelings now I see. As interesting and curious as this development is, Itachi and Kakashi's summons takes precedence over this, I'll have time to think on this later.
Sasuke shifts off of Naruto to sit on the bed.
Naruto warily watches him before scrambling up, grabbing the clothes Ino provided and flinging himself into the closet to change. Sasuke smirks at the closed closet door till a fuzzy sleepy black kitten tumbles into his lap. Mogget curls up in the crook of Sasuke's knees like he belongs there. Sasuke's only protest is the frown that curls his mouth down at the edges.
Itachi, surprisingly speaks up.
"That's rather adorable little brother. This picture's missing a petite blonde 19 year old though."
On cue a grumbling Naruto opens the closet door fully dressed, shooting Sasuke a black glare that melts as soon as it connects.
"Aaw my Mogget!" Naruto crawls up the bed to Sasuke's side and hovers over him.
"Poor kitty, were you cold? Sasuke'll keep ya warm, won't ya Sas?" Sasuke examines the fawning Naruto silently.
Itachi pushes himself from the wall and motions us all out the door. Ino catches Naruto's and Sasuke's attention, well more accurately she grabs Naruto by his arm and starts dragging him out the door.
Sasuke cradles Mogget in the fold of his right arm and follows. I'm last out the door and close it behind me.
Iruka follows us downstairs from the doorway to the elder's room with an apprehensive look on his face.
Kakashi leans against the living room wall next to a window emitting the only source of light. We all narrow our eyes, trying to see in the darkness.
"We've got company." Kakashi's voice is dry and low; eyes examine the floor in front of him, one hand raised to point briefly out the window. Eyebrows rise across the room.
"We don't know who they are. Normally we wouldn't hesitate to signal them, but-"He inhales deeply and looks up at each of us.
"Itachi brought to my attention abnormalities in the deceased bodies we burned yesterday. Imbedded into the skulls of the adults, only the adults, we found thin electrical wires and something similarly strange in their bone marrow. We were going to search through the surrounding houses today, Itachi and me, for any similarities in the other deceased. However, the situation has changed."
What the hell? Is the general consensus of this entire situation, bewilderment is clear in everyone's eyes and body language.
Ino makes a small squawking noise in her throat. Naruto, face surprisingly blank, leans against the wall opposite of Kakashi, his blue eyes narrow on Kakashi's face in concentration. Sasuke is watching his older brother with a frown and Itachi shows no indication that he acknowledges. Iruka takes a hesitant step further into the dark room, confusion clear across his face.
"W-, wait, wires?" Iruka shakes his head slightly, obviously trying to wrap his mind around this. Kakashi gives him affirming short nod.
"Yes. Now before anything else is done, or said, we as a group have a decision to make here, and I want you all to think about this decision keeping what you now know about the situation in mind." He paused, his eyes meeting all of ours briefly before continuing.
"There are non infected in a house across the street. We don't know who, how many or if they have any connection with the abnormalities in the deceased bodies we burned. Now we can do one of three things.-" Kakashi crosses his arms across his chest.
"One, we can keep quiet, observe them for a while and put off further action till we're better informed-"
"Two, we can signal to them, shine a flashlight through the second story window, use Morse code or something-"
"Three, we can leave. Pack up quietly and go. Forget about the abnormalities and continue to live as we have been."
That third option has its obvious appeal. Too bad Naruto has an irrepressible talent for ignoring the obvious.
"I like that first option." Naruto says almost as soon as Kakashi closes his mouth. All eyes turn to him, most are duly incredulous.
Ino's are not. She nods slowly, her eyes narrowed and lips pursed.
"I like that idea as well. There are too many things we don't know about this situation. I want to understand." She said, voice firm.
Ino, and Naruto, sometimes I think they don't quite grasp the current reality. This is how life is, we don't do heroics. We accept the things we've done to survive, we don't ask why.
You'd think, after four months of surviving, they'd understand this. And, sometimes, I think Naruto has a stubborn inkling, Ino however follows Naruto when she hasn't had the time to make up her own opinion. She's not some weak minded fragile female, eager to gain recognition; she just loves and trusts Naruto. Though, I don't think she realizes how platonic the love she harbors for him is. She loves him like a mother would love her son, she doesn't realize it, but I've recognized the difference.
And it's for the best, as he's not interested in her like that in the slightest. I don't think Naruto's ever experienced loving someone more than a friend, or a family member. Maybe, he's just a very very good actor, because I've never seen that burning presence in his eyes when he looks at Ino. That familiar bittersweet emotion that tinged my sight when I looked at Temari is not present between the two.
"I... think the first option is the best also." Itachi's eyes never left Sasuke's as he said this. Sasuke's frown deepened, but that was the only reaction he had to his elder brother's words.
"Kakashi, you're opening this decision up for debate, because you've already formed theories on this situation," I mutter loud enough to be understood. Kakashi just watches me from against the wall, his black eyes glinting in the growing light.
"I'd, like to hear them... your theories. It might help in forming my own." Kakashi looks down at the floor, eyes carefully dull.
"I think, that right now, it doesn't matter what we do. We all came together, in the interest of self preservation. The unspoken terms for this convergence were we'd keep each other alive for as long as possible. Along the way, the terms evolved, we are emotional creatures after all. It'd make sense that we'd grow attached to each other, biase and personalization changed the terms minisculely to 'keep each other alive because we desire your presence', among other things." Kakashi uncrossed his arms and leaned away from the wall. He looked up and a small smile lit his face.
"I think that we can change the terms of staying alive and staying together a little more if we want to without regrets. That if we change the terms to, say 'Keep each other alive and find out what's going on' we'd have to make it a cemented goal. No going back on our words, no compromising. It's just another reason to live, in a world that is no longer presenting us with reasons left and right, we have to get a little creative."
Ah, Kakashi, you manipulative bastard.
"It's a nice thing to hear, but to actually do these things, I-"Iruka shakes his head, his doe brown eyes are wide.
"What about the kids? They're-" Kakashi raises a hand and cuts Iruka's worry strung voice off
"-as much as I admire the fact that you are willing to spoil the younger members of this group, Iruka, they've survived in this world for four months, just as you have. They've proven themselves capable of making a decision of this magnitude." Iruka looks slightly anguished at the thought, but bows his head and brings a hand up to massage his forehead.
"I just, don't want to lose anyone else." He murmurs. Ino wraps an arm around Iruka's shoulders and smiles into his face.
" 'ruka dear, you have nothing to worry or feel guilty about. Kakashi's right, we're capable youngsters. We get ourselves in and out of shit daily. It's just life. We'll be fine." Ino cajoles, her tone lightens the oppressive mood. Naruto grins toothily, Sasuke's frown eases slightly, Itachi displays a flat smile which is best described as gentleness in his eyes, and Kakashi nods complacently. Iruka produces a watery grin.
"Breakfast is in order; we can make our decision afterwards." Iruka warbles, ruffling Ino's hair fondly around her head. She smoothes her messy blonde hair down, slightly peeved but follows Iruka into the kitchen to help.
"I don't want to insult anyone here, because I know you all understand the full implications of actually staying here and waiting this out... but, have you really thought about this. I mean, yeah terms of survival and all that shit like you said Kakashi, but would it be worth it, I mean, whoever they were you burned in the backyard, they're dead." Sasuke paused and took a breath, then pinched the bridge of his nose and continued.
"How do we know that it's not just some medical procedure, they had brain cancer or something, or their bones were weak and they needed constant stimulation to keep from being crippled, that would explain the abnormality in their marrow, maybe-"
Sasuke's mini tirade was cut off by Itachi.
"Little Sasuke, the scenario you suggest is unlikely, due to a few reasons, foremost being the obvious financial funds needed for such an unheard of procedure. And the chances of both adults having the same exact ailments that would require the exact same procedure is unflinchingly low. Cancer and bone marrow deficiencies cannot be spread like STDs, foolish little brother."
There's something Kakashi hasn't told them, I'm surprised he forgot, but, no, he probably didn't. The mass suicide. I stare at Kakashi accusingly, because I know he's hoping someone else will tell Naruto. Sasuke doesn't know either; he doesn't know all the elements of this situation, otherwise he'd accept it. I'm only beginning to understand, there is definitely something wrong in this neighborhood.
The feeling is a dull throbbing, a coldness that makes me tense as though I'm being watched. The strangeness makes me want to run, far far away from this place. We've been through hell and back, we've been through too much to get killed investigating something that promises such dubious profit. Promises, knowledge that could erase our wills to live, or further strengthen it... I grit my teeth and lower my head into my hands.
"Is it worth it? Would it be worth it? I know, heh, what do we have to lose right? Nothing, we have absolutely nothing to lose." I raise my head to see everyone's gaze focused on me.
"But, even with that, does that make it worth it? What would we gain goddammit? You ever heard the term ignorance is bliss? Maybe that pertains to this situation. Do we really want to know? I'm not being a coward, I know how it sounds, I..." I snap my teeth together and hang my head, unable to see their pity or disgust. A swell of unrepressed emotion threatens to tear itself through my lips, my back thumps against the wall and I slide down to sit on the floor. I distantly realize I've allowed my emotions too free a reign, and the result is my current panic. The realization is fuzzy though, and I don't care enough to stop it.
Warm hands caress my head; they slowly trail to my shoulders and give them a small squeeze before I'm wrapped into strong encasing arms.
"Heh, Eeyore, I wondered when I'd be forced to see you cry." Naruto's voice is so damn soft in tone, like he's seen every single sin I'd ever committed and doesn't give a rats ass. His arms emit heat like a fire and he rubs my back while I shake.
"You know, I think you're the bravest of us all, completely admitting how hopelessly fucked this entire situation is to yourself. Blatantly looking at that, and not lying down on the floor to simply die, Eeyore, you're my role model ya know." I feel warm liquid drip from my nose onto his shirt. I sniff and bark a short laugh.
"You're something else Naruto." I mutter against him. He chuckles, the vibration is soothing and I emit a soundless sigh and lean into his warmth.
I bet Sasuke would give anything to be in my place right now, that thought makes me snicker. A slightly out of character thought coupled with an out of character action, must be the atmosphere in the room. I smile, Naruto sighs and his chin digs slightly into my shoulder as he nuzzles the side of my face.
"You sure are warm Eeyore, I think I'll use you as a human body pillow tonight." Sasuke grunts from across the room and I have a hard time suppressing a more audible snicker. Itachi, however, has no qualms on making his amusement vocal. He chuckles in a way that makes even me and Naruto stiffen like deer caught in headlights.
Geez, the guy could be an evil villain on another plane of existence with a laugh like that.
TBC....
(1) Yes, as in Invader Zim Gir.
Mm, I was going to put more into this chapter, but I kind of haven't updated for a while... So I'll save it for next chapter. And I suppose I'll spoil the fact that I'm introducing Lee's love interest in the next chapter. This is not a /Lee or a Kaka/Iruka fic, so those relationships will not be the main focus. Don't expect them to be. They'll have random tiny little moments but the main focus here is Sasu/Naru. and zombies.
