A/N: Yes, guest the funeral was kinda late. I forgot I was supposed to have a funeral but late is better than never right. Anyway, I might not be able to update for a while from home. I'm on my highschool's wifi right now so I'll try as hard as I can.
Itachi didn't know what to do. Sasuke was three hours late coming home. Yesterday, after the pizza parlor, Sasuke had slammed his bedroom door and demanded not to be disturbed. Itachi was worried about him, so he called the police to search for him. He wanted a drink of sake badly. He thought of the last time he'd done that and decided against it. Instead he paced in circles around the living room and stared out of the window worriedly.
After a few more hours Itachi received a call. He was told Sasuke was found on the side of the highway beaten badly. He was taken to Konoha city hospital, where he was currently in surgery. Itachi hung up the phone and ran out the door no shoes, no coat. He headed straight for the hospital.
When he arrived, Itachi was sweating insanely and his feet were bleeding but he ignired this. He was told his brother was still in surgery and the situation was grave. Itachi got his feet bandaged and then wandered into the waiting room where he sat and waited.
Itachi could hardly take it, first his parents and now his baby brother, what would he do. He couldn't bare the thought of losing Sasuke too. As he waited he began to cry. He cried until he had no tears left. The surgery went late into the night and eventually fatigue got to him and Itachi fell asleep.
Around 3:00am Itachi was woken up by a doctor. He was told that Sasuke's situation had been bad and they'd done their best, but Sasuke would not be guaranteed to remember much. He had taken several heavy blows to the head which may have affected his memory. Right now the boy was asleep but Itachi was permitted to visit stayed with Sasuke all night and waited for him to wake in the morning. The boy remembered most things but had forgotten his parents' names, Itachi's birthday and other small things.
When Itachi was given a bill from the hospital for Sasuke's care, he was horrified. He definitely could not afford this. He was only making up to $150 a day, which was hardly rnough already. He stared down at the paper and wondered what on Earth he would do about it. He would need another job, but so far he couldn't get a job even if he payed the employers.
As he stared at the page he noticed something strange. There was a signature on the bottom next to some text stating the bill had been payed. He called the hospital and asked about it. Apparently somebody had donated the payment in the nsme of his father.
Itachi thought for a long time about who it could be. Eventually he concluded it must be his father's old partner on the police force. Officer Fuuma, he had probably felt responsible for the boys, since he'd known them for so long. He called officer Fuuma too and asked him about it. His suspicion was confirmed and he thanked officer Fuuma profusely.
-Later That Day-
Itachi was worried constantly about Sasuke. He had let him rest all day but decided the boy needed to eat something. He pulled out mom's old recipes and chose one for Sasuke's favorite, omusubi with okaka. He brought the food into Sasuke's room and offered it to him. The poor kid wiced as he lifted the food to his mouth.
"You're taking your meds right? They'll help with the pain Sasuke."
"Yes Ita, I'm taking them. They don't really do much though. By the way, thanks for sending the cops, I would have died without them."
"You don't need to thank me, I was doing what any big brother would do. I was simply looking out for my otuoto."
"Well every brother doesn't run barefoot across the city to wait hours for his brother to be let out of surgery, only to find out he doesn't remember random stuff."
"Don't worry about your memory, the doctor says it might come back, if you rest. I just want you to get better."
"Itachi-nii...I love you."
"I love you too Sasuke kun."
The two hugged for a brief moment before Sasuke winced in pain. Itachi released him and helped him lay down comfortably. He sat for a while talking to Sasuke about what had happened then stood and left.
A short time later Sasuke's school received a call from an angry Uchiha who demanded the bullies be expelled. The principal tried to explain there was no proof but Itachi told him that Sasuke's injuries were proof enough. Eventually a meeting was arranged.
Itachi went to the meeting, ready to argue for days. When he stepped into the office he announced, " I won't stop until those boys are punished."
"Mr. Uchiha, I can't punish them. The incident happened off school grounds."
"It didn't last time."
"They have already been punished for that."
"Principal Sarutobi, I don't feel safe sending my brother to your academy while those boys still attend."
"We can arrange for Sasuke to change classes if you like."
"Sasuke shouldn't be published for their actions. If you won't expel them, then I'll be forced to have the police investigate them. If you keep this up, you'll be charged with obstruction of justice. Do you really want that ? Because I can make it happen."
The look on Sarutobi's face was strangely satisfying to Itachi. The man sat considering Itachi's warning. In the end he decided to expel the boys to avoid any unnecessary trouble. Itachi left the meeting smiling.
He saw Sakura and Narutoin the hall. They asked how Sasuke was and Itachi told them he was recovering, then victoriously announced the bullies were to be expelled.
This earned a small cheer from each of the two students. They asked if they could visit and he said it was a bad idea but they could call whenever they wanted. He left the school and headed home. On the way he picked up some tomatoes for Sasuke and some dango for himself. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, until he had that nightmare again.
