A/N: Hey thanks guys for all the awesome reviews! Sorry I left you on a cliffhanger.
Kakashi POV
'Fugaku has been released." The words kept ringing in my ear. It had only been a year and he was being release! Who the hell decided this! "Kakashi I know you must be concerned…" Concerned! You think I am only concerned!
"The man who beat my son is being released and you think I am only concerned! To hell with that Asuma! What if he comes after Sasuke again! And what about Itachi and Mikoto? He could easily take out all of his rage on them! Asuma to say I am concerned is an understatement!" I yelled. Immediately I regretted yelling at him. Asuma was a good friend who would lay down his life for Sasuke any day. "Asuma sorry it's just…"
"I understand." He cut me off. "I almost killed the poor kid who came to tell me. Apparently my father was to chicken to tell me himself. How you going to tell Sasuke? The kid won't take it very well." He was right. Sasuke would think that meant he had to pack up his bags and leave Anko and I. I wouldn't let that happen. I looked over to Itachi who was staring at the ground. It might have been my mistake but I think I see fear in his eyes. When he saw me looking at him he quickly put on a brave face.
"Asuma go to my place and tell Anko make sure none of the kids hear you. I need to talk to Itachi." Asuma left without another word while Itachi started to look more frightened. "There is no need to be afraid of me Itachi. I won't hurt you." He scoffed.
"You couldn't hurt me." He whispered. He went to sit down at a bench and I followed. "What do you want to talk about?" He asked me with no hope in his voice. Even the anger had left him. The only thing that remained in the boy was numbness. I felt so bad for the poor kid. When we were saving Sasuke I never thought about how it would affect Itachi. No one considered him in the middle of all the chaos.
"I'm sorry." I told him. He looked at me shock filling his eyes. "I never thought how your life would turn out. I was only thinking of Sasuke. You know just cause you're older doesn't put you in any less danger. I should have seen it before. And then when I did have your little brother in safety I was selfish with him. I'm sorry Itachi. You deserve better." He was fighting with himself. Whether to respond or just let me keep going.
"No I don't." He whispered. "I let him beat my little brother just because I was scared. I never thought of Sasuke. I only thought of what he would do to me if I told. I am such a coward." He pulled his legs up and wrapped his arms around them. I had a feeling this was the most emotion Itachi had every expressed in a day. He let out most of his anger and now he was letting out his sadness. I put my hand on his shoulder. When he looked at me I gave his one of my famous one eyed smiles.
"You aren't a coward Itachi. You are one of the bravest people I know. When I was your age I would have never told on my father. I had a thing for the rules and if someone told me I was breaking the rules by telling I would have taken it with me to the grave. And don't be upset with yourself you are only a kid. Kids get scared sometimes. The fact that you came to me and my team was very brave. Don't put yourself down Itachi. Sasuke holds you as one of his greatest heroes." At this Itachi looked up at me with disbelief. "Your brother loves you very much Itachi. He respects you and wants to be like you. I saw him practicing his scowl the other day. When I asked him what he was doing he told me his brother did this to scare people into telling the truth. When I laughed a little he gave me that exact same scowl. Let me tell you this you would have been proud." Itachi chuckled a little. I hoped that meant he was feeling a little better.
"I miss him." Itachi whispered so low I almost didn't hear him.
"I know you do he is hard not to miss. I went on a mission a week ago and out ran my team by a good fifteen minuets so I could go see him and Anko again. The sad this was it was only a two day mission. I don't know what I am going to do when I get longer ones." Slowly I felt Itachi's weight shift closer and closer to me. He was only a few inches away when I removed my hand so I could pull him closer so I could hold him in a half way hug. When I looked down Itachi had a semi smile on his face. "Itachi I don't want to take you from your mom but I can't take Sasuke from you. It isn't fair on both ends. And I can't give Sasuke back because one he would be endangered and two I am way too selfish to give him up."
"Then what are we going to do?" He asked. I could tell by his voice he was on the verge of tears. Sasuke had used that voice many times after he had a nightmare about his father. I started to rub his arm and pull him closer if that were possible.
"I don't know but we will figure something out." For awhile there was silence. Then there was sniffling. "Itachi you can cry. I won't judge you I promise." After a little more sniffling there was whimpering. Two minutes later there was full on crying coming from the Uchiha. I just held him in my arms hoping that in the end he would feel better. I knew what it was like to hold everything in and then just rupture. I had done it several times as a child. I hoped I was just as much there for Itachi as my Sensei was there for me. I couldn't bear to watch children go through such pain. It was wrong and horrifying. Children shouldn't have to carry such a burden. "It's okay Itachi just let it out." I kept telling him. After about ten minutes the crying became whimpers which soon faded into sniffling and then to silence.
"Thank you." Itachi murmured. I patted his shoulder as an your welcome. "Mother doesn't have much time anymore I guess I just can't really express any emotion but anger." I pulled him in again. He gratefully took the love I was willing to give.
"You can always come to me. Anko would be happy to listen as well. If anything she would make you a dinner for a king and then be all ears. I don't want you to be a stranger in my house Itachi. In fact I want you to be such a frequent face I start calling you son." He looked up at me with tear stained eyes. My heart started to break just as it did for his younger brother just last year.
"You really mean that?" Itachi asked with just the slightest quiver in his voice. I nodded my head and he sighed. "You would really call me that?"
"Of course I would." I brushed back one of his stray hairs behind his ear. "Itachi you are a very bright kid and I think you are amazing. I would be not only proud but honored to call you my son." Then I saw for one of the first times Itachi smile. It was a beautiful one as well. Just like his younger brothers with pearly white teeth. One look at it made everyone else want to smile as well. They would put it in their memories for they knew it was only on a rare occasion that such a magnificent event as this happened. He finally sat up and we both stood. He gave me one last hug then he parted.
"I have to go bring the news to mother. She will need me. When Sasuke finds out please tell him that I will do everything I can to protect him for all the times I just sat by." Then he turned away from me and began to walk. I wanted to chase after him and tell him that he should tell his brother himself but I didn't. Itachi had gone through to much today. Telling his brother something like that he just couldn't handle right now.
"Itachi." When he turned to meet my eye he gave me a half smile. "Take care of yourself okay son." He nodded. "And remember what I said don't be a stranger." Again he nodded the resumed walking away from me. Yet again I felt the pull to go and protect him myself but I couldn't. I knew he would never allow it when his brother was endangered. And that thought brought me back to Sasuke. I had to go home and tell him the truth.
Itachi POV
My heart broke when I turned away from Kakashi. I knew I would never feel that love again. As I walked away I felt like I was walking away from my last chance at a family. Once I told my mother the news I didn't know what would happen but I knew it wouldn't be good. A picture of Sasuke crossed my mind. God I missed him already. I missed the way he smiled and how understanding he was. He never got angry at me in the years he was beaten and I had done nothing. He never lashed out at me or father. He would just take the beating. I would never understand how he could do that. I wish I was so forgiving. But I wasn't and I won't be. If father ever comes back into my life I would make sure he would know of the hate I held for him. He was scum and I would treat him as such.
I finally reached my house and opened the door. We never moved from our home sense it was so beautiful. I wanted to leave seeing as so many bad things had happened here but mother just couldn't. If we left we would be a disgrace among our clan. As I entered the house I took of my shoes and walked up the steps. The wood felt cold under my feet. I got a feeling something bad was about to happen. Then a smell came on. A smell so disgusting that it made me want to vomit. I made my where the stench was coming from. In the kitchen I saw what was causing the odor. There with his grimy feet on the table was my 'father' with a bottle of whiskey in his hands. He gave me an evil smile that looked like it should have belonged to a crocodile. "Hello son." He sneered. My nostrils flared at what he called me.
"I am no son of yours." I growled at him. The anger and rage I had thought left me this morning came tumbling back ten fold. The want to kill him was definitely inside me. I wanted to take him apart just like he had done to our family.
"Now now don't be so harsh Itachi. I am responsible for yours and your brother's lives." I gave him a glare that was so harsh it would make even the strongest of ninja's back down.
"Yeah that is the only mistake you haven't made. Now. Get. Out. Of. My. House." He stood and walked his way over to me. Well it was more like swaying considering he was flat out drunk.
"Want to repeat that boy." He whispered in my ear like he was an all powerful god. I pushed him in the chest so he would get his smelly face away from me.
"I said, Get. Out. Of. My. House." Again I said this behind clenched teeth. He was a pig. He smelt like a dump and was dressed like he lived in one. Prison certainly changed his way of dressing. He wasn't wearing his normal silk robes but what looked like a rug with splattered mud on it. "Now." I added very darkly.
"And if I refuse?" He was taunting me.
"I have every right to kill you for breaking in." I said just as rude to him.
"This is my house boy." He snarled.
"Not anymore." I shot right back. He turned around as if he was going to think this over. I was watching his every move, so when he swirled around to hit me I was able to dodge. "I won't hesitate to kill you." I warned.
"Sure." He acted very cool as he reached for his whiskey. I was going to take it away from him but I decided against it. If I made a move for his alcohol it would only lead to an all out fight in which we would most likely destroy the house in. I don't think mom would be very happy about that. He turned his back to me and began to leave. "Just you wait Itachi. Just you wait." I had no idea what that meant but I knew he was leaving. I wanted to scream to stay away from Sasuke but he already thought of this as a game and that would just encourage him to play harder. For now I would just have to stay silent.
When he was finally gone I ran to the phone and dialed Kakashi's house number. It rang only one time before Anko picked up. "Hello." She answered.
"Hello this is Itachi I need to speak with you about my father." That got her attention.
I heard her take the phone from her ear and yell, "Sasuke don't pick up the phone I am talking to some girlfriends okay?" I didn't hear a response but he must have said okay back because she put the phone back to her ear and said, "What is it?"
"My father was at my house when I got home. He has resumed his drinking and smells like a pig so you should know if he is in the area. I can't tell you much because I have to warn my mother as well but I can tell you this he is angry. I mean really angry so you guys have to be careful. Don't doubt him just because he is drunk." I took a deep breath because I was trying to tell her this as fast as I could so I could go tell my mother what was going on.
"Okay Itachi we will be sure to step it up. And thank you. I'm so sorry you have to be in the middle of this." Anko sounded very genuine. I could see why Sasuke loved her so much. She had a fire in her that made her seem very odd but she could be very gentle.
"Rather it be me then Sasuke. I have to go now I'm sorry." Then I hung up the phone before she could even say goodbye. I ran from the kitchen to my room and grabbed and extra bag of kunai then went down stairs. I took all the keys to the house and stuffed them in my pocket. I bolted the door shut and then left the house. I knew my father could still get in but this way it would be more difficult.
I walked down the dirt roads trying to be more casual instead of freaked out but I couldn't tell if it was working our not. I had to get to my mom as fast as I could but I couldn't at the same time. When I finally reached the Jonin headquarters I gave up and ran the stairs two at a time. I belted through the door and saw my mom sitting and talking with another ninja. She was still in uniform and had her headband right in place on her forehead. When she saw me she gave a confused smile. I ran to her and took her arm and pulled her into an empty room.
"Honey not that I don't love seeing you but you can't just swing by when you want to." I waited for her to finish her sentence and for me to catch my breath.
"Father was in the house." Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. "I came home and there he was in the kitchen drinking whiskey with his feet on the table. Before you ask he didn't hurt me but he was mad that much was clear. I finally got him to leave but as he left he told me to just wait. I don't know what that means but after he left I called Anko and told her. Mom I don't know what to do." I started breathing hard again because just as before I said all this in one breath as fast as I could. Mom looked like she was still processing everything when she pulled into her arms and rubbed my head.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there Itachi. Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you." I wasn't worried about me I was worried about her and Sasuke. I didn't tell her that though because the hug felt too nice. After all that had happened I was glad that she was still my mom. Truth was my father did scare me. He was crooked and sly. I knew he had something awful in his head and he was just waiting for the right time to get his revenge. I was slipping I could tell. Slowly I was loosing myself in this. I was trying to fight but it was becoming harder and harder. Sasuke was safe the only thing that kept me from falling was my mother. She was the only thing that I could fight for. I was the only one who would fight for her. And I would to the very end.
"I love you mom." She pulled back surprised with tears in her eyes. She gave me one of those smiles that made me smile and cry as well.
"I love you too baby." We hugged some more until it felt like our arms would fall off. It felt good to finally be with her again. Not just physically but emotionally.
Kakashi POV
When Anko told me the news I almost ran to find Itachi and see if he was okay but I couldn't. I knew that I had to tell Sasuke what was going on. He needed to know. So Anko climb the stairs as slow as we could. I didn't want to tell him. I didn't want to bring his world crashing down. But I had to. It was the only way to protect him. We opened his door to find him reading one of his many books on his bed. He put his book down and looked at us curious as to why we interrupted his reading time.
"Son we need to talk." I told him. Anko and I both took a spot next to him on the bed. Sasuke turned to his mother.
"What is it mom? You seem sad." Anko tightened her lips together trying not to cry. By the time this was over I new we would all break. This room would be filled with tears and wails of pain. Most of them would becoming from our poor little boy.
"Sasuke your mother is sad because…because…" I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Because what?" Sasuke was getting impatient with us I could tell.
"Because your father was…" Anko tried to say.
"He was what?" Sasuke asked.
"He was released." I ended it right there. I spit it out with the last of my will. Both his mother and I watched Sasuke for his reaction. He seemed to be thinking over what to do.
"Okay." He sighed. Anko and I looked dumbfound at our son. He just went for his book again.
"What?" Anko shouted. "Sasuke how can you just say okay to something like this?" Anko was now standing with her hand in the air. I was with her on this; Sasuke was acting way to casual for my liking.
"Because mom I know you and dad won't give me up. I'm not afraid of him." He then moved and laid down to read his book. For a few minutes he just laid there reading not paying us any mind. I got up and gave him a kiss on his forehead.
"It's okay to be scared Sasuke. Your mom and I are always here." I told him. He nodded and I left with my hysterical wife. I knew he was faking his acceptance of the situation. I would confront him on it later but right now Anko and I had to make a few calls to our friends so they knew what was going on. We all had to band together to save Sasuke.
Sasuke POV
I lied. I'm scared.
A/N: Hope you liked it. I sort of wanted Itachi's character to be explained more in depth. And I wanted a bond between Kakashi and Itachi to be created so I kind of focused more on that this chapter. Tell me what you think. Bye!