Warnings: swearing, OOCness,

Disclaimer: Don't own characters

Chapter 10

Trying to get things right.

It has been a devastating week.

Itachi's family had not left him alone since he was brought home; in the hospital. Which, in a way, Itachi was grateful for. The comfort and affection is what he really needed. Especially considering how he was feeling.

During the day, usually, it was rather..fine.. After all, since he had been brought home, a lot of things had changed, in fact, for the better.

An example of this was that, Itachi, for once, was finally able to express himself to his family, the loneliness, the pain, the depression that he had been feeling these past months..All of it was finally able to come out. And when his family had finally, finally been able to hear him speak of it for the first time, in the hospital, they didn't interrupt, they didn't shut down on him and hold up the famed Uchiha mask that the family was so well known for, and much more then that, to Itachi's perplexion they all just nodded. They nodded and apologized, and hugged him with the utmost empathy. They were sorry they said, they hadn't realized they said, they wouldn't ever leave him alone again, they had said.

It was so very odd.

Itachi honestly hadn't expected that at all when it came to them. Maybe more resilience, denial, but none of the sort came. But, then again, Itachi was after all kidnapped and they had probably thought that Itachi would never be seen again. They were probably just so grateful they were given a second chance with him that they wanted to make it right.

It was funny how it always took extreme situations for things to be fixed.

At least they were fixed at all though.

And fixed they were. Itachi had told his father, about how he had never really wanted to be a police officer. Fugaku, as expected, was very disappointed, and he seemed to want to protest to Itachi, however, one glare from Mikoto was all it took for him to shut right up and nod with his lips pressed thin, and a frown plastered on his face. To help his fathers mood elevate, however, Itachi had suggested his brother for the position in his stead.

Sasuke, was shocked, however very much pleased. And Itachi's father, at first was rather hesitant, but in the end happy that he still had an heir for his position, and that he could have that heir to be his blood lineage.

It was actually one of the best decisions really. Orochimaru, would no longer be able to have his slippery hands over Sasuke now that he would be under direct training from Fugaku, Sasuke would be at home again, and Itachi, well, Obito had suggested that Itachi ask for a job from his uncle Madara.

Itachi was rather hesitant, after all, Madara was much like himself in the area of need for privacy. Don't get Itachi wrong, Madara treasured the Uchiha family, however, even with his great loyalty and love for the clan, Madara had always preferred to be kept to his own business, as such, he lived across the lake from Itachi's city on a small island owned by his lover; Hashirama Senju.

In all honesty, the reason for Itachi's hesitation was mainly due to the fact that he thought it would be rather awkward, working on the weekends in a solitary place with just his uncle, the famed mayor and some random servants, not to mention he had no idea what it was he'd would be doing at his so called job he was offered.

Obito had just laughed his concerns off, explaining that it wasn't as bad as Itachi was making it out to be. That, he had at one time worked for Madara and had actually quite enjoyed it. He had told Itachi that at one point he was a troubled teen, at one point when he was feeling the same way he was, disorientated after a certain accident of his he refused to tell Itachi about, he had found himself at uncle Madara's door, tired, sore-hearted, and confused, Itachi's cousin said that he had no idea what to do and nowhere else to go. He had told him that his uncle had welcomed him with open arms and had really helped him along the way.

He said that he had gave him a position as one of Hashirama's guards at one of the mayors government building, though, quickly explained that there were plenty of other positions waiting to be filled that did not have to do with holding guns or wearing tight-knit uniforms that Itachi could take; once he had saw the unfavorable expression the young Uchiha had made at the prospect of being a guard.

Itachi honestly didn't know what to think about any of this. This being his current situation and at the prospect of a potential career. The prospect of working beside his notorious uncle; the Madara Uchiha. Should he even go to his uncle? Should he even consider it? Would he end up being a guard? If so, why? Isn't that almost the same as a police officer? And as for his uncle..he hadn't seen him in years. Would he even react the same open-heartedness towards Itachi as he had with Obito? Uchiha's, and especially his uncle Madara himself were not exactly known for their affections. Perhaps he should just give up and wallow in his self misery...

Except..That wasn't who Itachi was.

So, accept the proposition he did.

And now, he found himself sitting on a boat, waiting to see his infamous uncle.

Itachi sighed heavily, staring out the window of small boat. It was ferry, the only one operated in the small city of Konoha. He was nervous, for many reasons, but the main one being Hidan.

Oh no, his thoughts didn't leave the albino, not even once throughout this whole transition.

The weeks following after the car-crash had been nothing short of agonizing for Itachi. He felt his absence more then anything else, beyond everything else that had possible or could possible go wrong for himself. He tried to shake his thoughts of the man off, to distract himself, but as if to mock him, that only made him think of the albino, the thoughts coming back ten-fold and worse then before.

Some days Itachi felt like he was going crazy. He would see him passing by in crowds of people, see his violet eyes in the windows of shops when his mother tried dragging him out into the social world because 'You look a little pale and its good for your health, baby.'

It was all Itachi could do to drive himself from his frantic habits; to find a career as quick as possible, something to distract himself, to keep his mind occupied so he wouldn't fall back into the dark, the terribly dark truth that the man who had kidnapped him, the murderer, the man who he had inevitably fallen in love with, was gone, and never to re-appear into his life.

And why would he?

He was a dangerous criminal who had kidnapped the chief of police son. What if Hidan thought he had ratted him out to his father, told him who he was and what he looked like? What if Hidan thought he had betrayed him? What if Hidan thought he hated him?

Itachi gasped slightly, his thoughts making him more anxious and gloomy as they escalated.

Usually he had more control of these...episodes.

At least, usually in the day time he did.

As he had mentioned before, usually, during the day, he was fine. But sometimes, as occasions such as this, and at night, when he tossed and turned, his hands searching for the comfort of the tanned mans muscular, warm torso, or the sound of his beating heart...Even the sound of his atrocious snoring..It was all too much.

The yearning of his heart never lessened, the pain never ceased, he wanted him. Wanted him so damn badly.

One night, when Itachi couldn't stand the emptiness in his bed and in his heart, he had scowered to his little brothers room. Cuddling up beside him and when Sasuke turned to look at Itachi quizzically with sleepy eyes, Itachi had responded with a sad smile, and began to explain all that had happened when he was taken in the psychologist office. He told everything to his precious little brother when he had asked him what was wrong.

Itachi was done with keeping everything inside.

It caused too much complications and pain for his heart. He needed someone to reach back out to him. It was odd, he wasn't alone anymore, not in the way that he was before he was kidnapped, but he still felt alone. Like a piece of him had been ripped out when he was taken away from Hidan.

Sasuke had held his hand that night, tightly, and whispered to his brother the sweetest things. Telling him that 'it was alright' and 'you don't have to go through this alone', that, 'I'm always here, you can always come to me when you're sad', and finally, the thing he was afraid to hear and which had messed up his mind something fierce when he was brought home and spent all those nights alone in the hospital. 'Its just Stockholm syndrome, it will go away soon'.

Itachi didn't know what to make of that.

Of course it did make sense. Itachi was depressed and lonely, Hidan had taken him away into a new world of just Hidan,and only Hidan, where he received loving comments, gestures, compliments and kisses. It made him feel like he was being rescued so his brain locked onto it. And of course, Itachi being the skeptical and cold Uchiha he was, he would never open up to someone he had barely met and never that quickly and so tenderly. So Stockholm syndrome would explain all of what had transpired.

Except somewhere deep down inside Itachi, his heart was whispering "that's not it". That he had really and truly fallen for the man.

It hurt. It hurt and Itachi didn't know what to do with it.

He wondered if Hidan felt the same way...

"Mr Uchiha? We've arrived"

"Alright.."

Betrayal.

"I cant believe you would do this to me!"

It burned at his heart, its sharp blade piercing his beating muscle mercilessly.

"Of course I would do it! I told you I would! This is all your fault. If you hadn't of been so stupid-"

And he couldn't take it. Couldn't take that his precious baby was gone.

"I wasn't being stupid! I knew what I was doing!"

That his best friend had allowed his precious weasel to get away.

"You were, were you? Then what the fuck were you doing this for!? What were you trying to gain!"

That his best friend had aided in his precious weasels escape...to a...fucking pig no less.

"He was more to me then just a gain! It was never about gain! I fucking lov- I cared!"

He wouldn't stand for this. But what could he do? Where could he go? How could he get him back?

"Hidan..You-.."

He would find a way. If he had to tear down this whole shit-hole of a town, then by God he would.

"...You took out my fucking heart 'kazu...He took my fucking heart.."

Oh he would.

"..Hidan..I'm..sor- Lets get you back home."

"Itachi Uchiha" His uncle nodded in recognition, his charcoal eyes taking in his younger nephew questioningly.

"Uncle Madara..I'm sorry for this being so sudden, but.." he didn't finish his sentence. And in all honesty, he didn't have to. Madara didn't expect even a word from him, and he probably didn't care, if his stoic expression was anything to go by. Madara was never known to take kindly to pointless small talk. He was direct and straight to the point.

Itachi didn't take offense to that.

"Follow me." His uncle spoke suddenly, and began walking up the long spiral stair case, expecting Itachi to follow obediently.

And follow he did.

"Your father tells me you no longer have any interest in partaking in the clans prized career" Madara spoke in an oddly amused tone, though it was very hard to detect.

His uncle was rather quick on his feet, Itachi noted, seeing as he was having a difficult time keeping up with the older Uchiha, as he scaled the stairs elegantly and turned left down a corridor, entering a small office.

It was a beautifully designed room and so very neatly organized. 'It must be his office then' he thought. Hashirama Senju was never really known to be the stiff board type, meaning never a neat freak and organized, he was also known to skip out on paper work. His office must be a mess.

Itachi nodded at Madara's comment, following after his uncle, and watching as Madara brushed his hand across a beautiful crafted cherry wood desk, playing with a globe ornament with his finger tips absently. "It's never really interested me" he replied at last.

"Hn" Madara brushed his comment off, not really caring for Itachi's opinion, it was a pointless one after all. He already knew that Itachi never favored the job, after all, why else would he be in Madara's house?

"Then what is it you are wanting to do?"

He asked suddenly. So suddenly, in fact, it caught Itachi off guard. No one had ever asked him such a question after all.

Madara's left eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Well?" he didn't like to be kept waiting, and Itachi found himself growing slightly nervous over the older Uchiha's impatience.

"No one has ever asked me that before" He decided to be honest.

Madara nodded, though, there seemed to be a somewhat empathetic look to his eyes...No..not exactly empathetic but, understanding?

"Do you think you are the only one?"

"Huh?"

Sighing irritably, Madara turned to the desk, moving behind it and planting himself on the comfy Chester field chair. "Do you think you are the only one to feel such a way?"

Oh. "Well...yes? I mean, all Uchiha's are in the police force.." He said sheepishly. It was rather a sore spot for Itachi to be known as the black sheep of the clan. 'Funny how Hidan never seemed to care what I was' The thought that came so suddenly had Itachi flinching, which, sadly, didn't go unnoticed from his uncles ever so watchful eyes.

"Not all.." Madara replied absently. "I was never one for it..After all..I had originally wanted to be the mayor..though, look how well that turned out" When he spoke, it was bitter, like a foul poison getting caught on his tongue. Though, the look in his eyes was slightly amused, and admiring.

His uncle will probably forever loath Hashirama, the clan, and the citizens for choosing the Senju over him, and Hashirama, feeling it his duty to take the position despite his regret for it, would forever regret putting that slight barrier between him and his uncle. However, despite this, there still lied a deep love for the man, and Itachi knew deep down that his uncle would always be there for his family whenever they truly needed it despite them turning away from Madara at that time. I mean, the proof of that would be him standing here right now, right?

"So..you..Does it get easier?" Itachi asked suddenly. Madara was like him in a way. He was a black sheep. There's one in every family Itachi supposed. But, Madara had been through the disappointment, the separation, the bitter feelings, and the loneliness, and somehow Itachi thought he could know the answers.

Madara may not have got his dream..He wasn't the mayor but Madara was now a politician, aiding the mayor in his works. And despite his sometimes bitter attitude, his uncle seemed happy. Happy despite all his loss and his failures. His disappointment. 'And you want to be happy too..But lets face it..' Itachi believed, he believed that Madara could somehow know the answers to his un-spoken questions.' What you really want..and want to know' The answers to his key to unlocking his path in life..and finding his way..'Back to Hidan..right?' so he asked. He asked Madara his question and waited.

Madara glanced up at Itachi, his eyes calculating, narrowed,"Somehow I feel as if that question has a double meaning."

Itachi's eyes immediately aborted to the floor. Down casted. "Does it get easier..?" He repeated, his voice soft, and almost in-audible. He didn't want his uncle to know why he was asking..He didn't want him to realize why he was truly wanting to hear what his uncle had to say..but..

He felt a hand on his shoulder.

Looking up, he stared into the eyes of his uncle, a small amount of recognition and sorrow were held in Madara's ever aloof eyes. He felt a hand curl a piece of stray hair away from his face, and Itachi nearly cringed because Hidan used to do that sometimes when they layed on his bed late at night talking.

"Time," his uncle said. "Time solves everything."

Itachi was confused, because, it felt as if what his uncle said wasn't all that simple as it was made out to be. It was rather..vague..

"Meanwhile..I have job for you that I think you would like.."

Reaching into his back pocket, Madara pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Itachi.

"You like children right?"

"..Of course" Itachi always loved children. He really enjoyed baby sitting his younger brother a lot in his child-hood, and as the years went by, he enjoyed babysitting his younger brothers friends too, Sakura, Karin, Naruto, and Suigetsu. Though, he wasn't particularly fond of the fights Karin and Sakura used to get into over Sasuke.

"Then bring that to the blue building beside government building that handles the banks and cities states of affairs...A lot of politicians have children that are in need of daycare services and they are under staffed at the moment."

"..Thank you uncle Madara" he felt..different. Like there was an un-spoken promise to Madara's previous words. To him handing Itachi the state seal approval to his new found job. It wasn't bad..It just felt like..something was about to change.

"Yeah, yeah. Now get the hell out of my office. I have better things to do then chat"

"Yes sir"

Kisame was in hysterics.

Hysterics of laughing of course.

He had did exactly what his Leader-sama wanted to do.

Dirty deal the dirty dealer.

He sat, currently, on the curb of the side walk, watching as Sasuke himself, hand-cuffed the slippery bastard and throw him in the patty wagon.

What did Kisame do one may ask?

Well, lets just say, a certain cousin of his {Suigetsu} used to work for a certain snake. And his cousin just so happened to have a lot of dirt on Orochimaru's secret under ground labs {human testing, it even left a bad taste in Kisame's mouth}, and he also just so happened, to owe Kisame a few favors. So, those favors {residing in documents} just so happened to...slip, right by a certain Sasuke Uchiha, who just so happened to have studied under the snake, being at the snakes house {meaning he knew exactly where what was}, that just so happened to hold some of the under ground tunnels leading to his testing labs.

"Hahaha..ah.." Kisame grinned, feeling accomplished as he moved to stand up from the side walk, making sure his dark gray Akatsuki mask was still clipped to his right side. "Ha..?"

Kisame frowned, when he moved to brush his hand to the right of his leg, he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. Slipping his hand in, he grabbed the phone and flipped it open, pressing it to his ear curiously. It wasn't often that people would call him.

"Kisame..?" He heard Kakuzu on the other line, his voice gruff.

"Ho? Kakuzu? Well isn't this a treat." Kisame grinned, Kakuzu was one of his good {and only} friends of his, and well, that being said, Kisame knew Kakuzu quite a bit. Kakuzu never called anyone unless it was important. He didn't like wasting minutes on his cell phone.

"Listen..You're very good at finding information..After Zetsu of course, but, well, he acts directly under Pein-sama and this is something I don't want anyone but you and I..And Hidan to know about."

"Hmm" Kisame's grin faltered, he, after all, didn't really appreciate going behind his leaders back. His betraying days ended the moment he found his dysfunctional family at Akatsuki. Well that and when he had met a certain weasel in high school. Needless to say, Kisame was rather mortified to hear his old high school partner was kidnapped and had actually spent his free time trying to find the Uchiha..But to his luck, nothing ever came up. Just when Kisame was starting to get suspicious..'Maybe its because someone in the organization has him..'

The kid showed up again out of no where. Oh it was all over the news, and this..Obito Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake were dubbed famous! But the random appearance of the Uchiha never settled well with Kisame..It was all too...random. Getting off track here..Kisame tuned back in from his mixed thoughts to listen to the miser yell at his phone angrily that 'pay attention! minutes are expensive to buy and you're wasting mine by zoning out!'

"Alright, alright, I owe you anyways, as long as its not that bad, I'll find what you're looking for" Kisame relented, deciding on compromising slightly. He had, after all, owed Kakuzu one for saving his ass one time when he accidentally shot down the fourth Mizukages body guard Fuguki. He had nearly gotten caught by the police that night, but, thanks to some bribing on Kakuzu's part, they managed to put the blame on someone else.

"I need you to find out where a..Itachi Uchiha is"

Kisame frowned at this, "And what ever for?" he questioned, slightly hesitant on giving up is old high school friends information.

"Ugh..Its a long story.." Kakuzu sighed tiredly.

Nodding, Kisame scanned the area for a bar, noticing a new strip bar being in place a couple of houses down from where he was standing, "Well, lets meet for a drink then? Explain it to me then?"

Kakuzu sighed again, slight irritation was heard as well as an angry rant of comments in the background. Kisame predicted that to be the misers Jashin friend.

"I'll pay?" Kisame offered, to help ease his friends hesitation. He truly wanted to know why the miser wanted information on Itachi. Itachi was a good kid, and treated Kisame quite fairly when no one else would through out his years in high school. He was the only one other then Kakuzu and Konan he could call a friend. And well, Konan didn't exactly count because she was friends with everyone in Akatsuki.

"Alright" The man agreed huffily, a loud smack was heard on the other line followed by a string of curses.

Kakuzu must've hit Hidan again.

Chortling, Kisame said good bye and hung up his phone, placing it back in his pocket.

"Time for one hell of a drink" he thought to himself, cheerfully.

Im back.
Here you go. And zoom, im off again.
Just gonna say now, that the most important characters right now are Obito, Madara, and Kakuzu. Because they are going to determine the fate of Itachi and Hidan. So be sure to pay attention to them ; ) that is also why I focussed my attention on Madara and Itachi this chapter. Ive already decided the ending of this story so I know how this will all go down.

I supose it will be a while yet before this story ends considering my hiatuses and the way im ending this story, so never mind for the whole ending soon bit I gave last chapter. Oh boy.

Don't kill me.

Also it was very late when I made this so if there is any spelling errors or anything of the sort I will re-read it later when I wake up and fix it. So please, le patience.

Anyways, thanks to all for reading, and reviewing, I hope you have a nice holiday.
G'night 3