I know you all missed me, and I missed you, so here is the latest. I'd had recent troubles trying to think about how to CAREFULLY proceed after the death of Hotaka's brother, and what happens to Itachi next because of this - and his new problem with Fumio who has shown his true colors now - and about time he proceeded trying to find out who brought him back and WHY...

Chapter Eleven

Goodbye For Now

Cries were soft but audible. Every man in the room was unable to cope with the loss of the man still in the bed. His brother, with puffy, reddened eyes, reached to clasp his hands over the chest. Isao and his son sat quietly on the sofa, gazing ahead at nothing in particular, and Kichiro had left to get someone to come and collect the body.

Itachi continued to sit on the edge of the bed, his back facing Hotaka who was weeping over his younger sibling's body. He died in the early days of being with us in this village...the village I have just come back to. The one I once called home, defended at the cost of love and happiness...died for.

I come back and rekindle with my family, get to know my sister-in-law and my niece, whom I see one day becoming a powerful Shinobi.

Now I witness death before my eyes for a second time in this new life. And this time is my lover's brother. It's like a reversal of the ages, and the time I felt death take me away before Sasuke...

He closed his eyes, barely feeling Shiranui resting his head in his human's lap. Itachi's hand subconsciously came to rest atop his friend's head, caressing it. He could not find proper words to speak; you could never find the correct words of consolation at any time like this. He ought to not, but his mind was attempting to rationalize this. They might have to return to Kirinono because of the death, and Tsuneo would need to be buried in home grounds, or would he be cremated? He could not ask Hotaka now.

The festival would lose the one traveling performance it had now, but what could be done? Tsuneo said he regretted leaving us all now at this time; he said that he believed in us all...did he mean he wanted us to go on without him? We are short of one member now. He quietly let out a breath that began to tighten his lungs. He felt a tear come and slip through the corner of his eye, drenching that section of the bandage over his eyes.

The same bandage Fumio almost snatched to see if "Ryuu Kaze" was as he said he was.

And now that Tsuneo was gone, the time to tell the truth was getting close.

The door opened then and there. Kichiro had returned, and so had a certain familiar face. Itachi kept his face stoic, because Sakura knew he was keeping up a façade, which he felt himself growing weary of in his bones, and she seemed to sense it all from him. Nevertheless, she offered the men in the room a small smile before it was gone, and she knelt beside the dead man opposite of his brother who was wiping his tears.

"I'm so sorry," Sakura said softly to Hotaka, who offered her a small, forced smile in return and nodded once. She then politely asked them all to leave her so she could perform the autopsy, and a handful of med-nins in her staff swarmed in to aid.

"I'm returning to our room," Isao announced, speaking of the one he shared with his son, who nodded but said he was going to have a drink at the bar and asked if any felt like joining. This wasn't for celebration, but just to ease away the hollow feeling that dominated their minds and hearts. Itachi didn't want a drink; he just wanted to go to sleep, and he could see Hotaka didn't feel like it, either.

He caught the look Fumio gave him, but said nothing as he led Hotaka across the hallway, with Shiranui following him.

Ryujin and Amaterasu came up, sensing the tragic atmosphere and whimpered as they joined in nudging the man who had just lost his brother. The older man weakly chuckled and took them both into a small embrace. Itachi watched as he walked over to check on the pups who had grown so much in the past few weeks, learning to walk a little but still had ways to go. It turned out that Sakuya would be the subdued female, but unless provoked, she would attack if she wanted to, and being the only girl in the litter, she fought playfully against her brothers to prove her strength, making him chuckle.

She was currently on Suijin, who was ever the combination of his parents, and the feistiest of the three. He just thought he could take on his sister and prove himself alpha over the eldest, Fujin, who would stand by and watch in amusement. These pups had nothing better to do than to play fight and then nuzzle against each other by the end. Their mother would go over to check on them, then paw at them gently to get their attention. Then they would swarm over her, growling and barking.

The pups then barked and ran over to their uncle and Itachi, both of whom were kneeling before them. Picking up Fujin in particular and holding him against his sternum, he felt warm to his core. He'd been wanting to bring them all to meet Sarada, but now he wasn't sure if the chance would come. Hotaka would want to have his brother's corpse taken care of, and this gig was threatening to be cut short. Itachi could see the festival being cancelled as a result, but a life was more vital, if you asked him...

He looked up and saw his partner going over to the mini bar that was beside the fire. He sighed and half-closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"It's nothing to be sorry over, Itachi. We knew it was coming...but it was too soon." The man's voice faltered, and his body visibly trembled, threatening to give way. He nearly dropped the bottle of sake as a consequence.

Drinking never solved problems, only washed them away temporarily. A part of Itachi feared this man would turn to alcoholism. He could not see this man who made him alive and well, whom he was developing feelings for, turning into another man entirely over the loss of his younger brother whom he adored with all his life. Itachi would endure this, but he would also make sure it wouldn't happen.

He stood behind Hotaka and wrapped his arms around the other's waist. "What do you wish to do now, hn?" His heart was slowly hollowing out, but he felt it wouldn't last as long as his lover's would for some time to come. He hadn't been personally close to Tsuneo, but he was vital to his new life as he had been his brother's.

Hotaka's head leaned back, sighing sharply as he melted into the younger's touch. "I don't want to think about this today. I just want to close off from the world for awhile..."

Itachi's lips found their way to the exposed juncture of shoulder and neck, kissing gently, giving the silent suggestion even if it was at an ambiguous time.

~o~

He and Hotaka lay in bed for a good hour before there was a knock on the door. The wolves were on alert, at attention, before Itachi stood and reached for his shirt which lay on the floor just as Hotaka himself redressed as quickly as he could, before going to answer for him. The Uchiha was about to grab his bandages when he recognized Sakura's voice and smiled with relief when he heard the door close after Hotaka let her in.

"Itachi?" she called softly, pulling her long white coat around herself as she stepped further into the room. At the sight of the wolves, her professional shell dropped for a moment, and she laughed softly, kneeling down before them all. "Hello again, Shiranui," she said when the blue-eyed beast went up to nuzzle her, and she was greeted by his brother. "Itachi, who are the rest?"

"This here is Ryujin, the alpha," he answered, joining her in the kneeling position, "and this is Amaterasu, his mate. These little ones are Fujin, Suijin, and Sakuya." He held each of the pups one by one as he introduced them.

She cooed at the little white pup splotched with his father's colors, and he whimpered as he looked up at her. She nuzzled his little wet nose lovingly. "Sarada wanted a pet, because she's seen how one of our closest friends and comrades has his beloved dog, and she has grown fond of him." Her verdant eyes dimmed a little. "But a pet requires so much responsibility..." Itachi faintly remembered Fugaku once saying the same thing to him and Sasuke, but dealing with these magnificent beasts around him, it hadn't been that troubling. Except they were wild before they found me and took me in, and I never got attached to an animal long enough.

Sakura set Suijin down and looked him in the eyes again. "Itachi, maybe you should know -" She dropped her voice. "- what I found in the body - or rather, what remains - is something that Naruto and Sasuke should know. I'm going to examine it and then bring it to them. Whatever comes of it, I think you'll want to become involved."

He furrowed his brows. She'd found something in Tsuneo's body...why was she telling him this now? Unless...if she is confiding in me, then it must be a clue to what I have been searching for all this time. It could point to whoever brought me back...

...but WHY would Hotaka's brother be in the middle of this?

"Sakura, what is this about?" Hotaka asked, having heard parts of the conversation. Damn it...now he'll want to be involved. "What did you find in my brother?" He knelt before the two of them. Sakura shook her head sadly.

"That's what I have to find out. In the meantime, you can't breathe a word of this to your friends. If it's what I think it is..."

That was all that was needed to know. Hotaka understood right away and was just showing her to the door. She called goodbye over her shoulder, then reached up to touch Hotaka on the cheek and softly whispered she was sorry for him losing his brother, to which he nodded to, but before he could close the door, he was stormed past by a seething Fumio, and a panicked Kichiro was coming behind him.

Itachi swallowed as he calmly stood up and locked gazes behind his bandage. He smelled and sensed it all in one - even before the venomous words came to light.

"Itachi...Uchiha," Fumio spat, eyes flaring with bloodshot. He'd gotten more drunk than he should have, apparently. "I should have guessed all along."

He'd listened outside the door. I should have sensed it myself, but damn it...

Hotaka recovered himself and glared murderously. "Fumio, boy, what has gotten into you? My brother just died, and you come in here like this -" he said angrily only to be cut off rudely.

"Yes, your brother died, and this man has been lying to us all along. I always smelled it off of him that there was something. I'm always right. Ryuu - no, Itachi," Fumio hissed, "you owe us an explanation before I get my dad on this."

~o~

The festival was cancelled for the next couple days due to the loss within the gig in town. A memorial service was being held in Tsuneo Yoshida's honor, and his elder brother and best friend - none other than Isao - would lead the services. Today would be that day, but afterwards, the group would take the body back to Kirinono for home burial; tomorrow, they would return for the remainder.

This event was first created in honor of me - it should now be taken to remember a man who died amidst men who cherished him. And he never knew the one his elder brother began an...affair with was actually the one who was given this honorable celebration.

The day was beautiful, but it had no power to control the aura surrounding the small gathering in the forest not many yards from the village entrance. Every flower in white and assorted summer tones were tossed into the small casket given as a gesture from the Hokage himself; the coffin was sweet-smelling maple, but it made the stomachs of some queasy. All were dressed in black. Naruto and his family were present, as were Sasuke and his women. Distraught fangirls were there, of course, weeping over the lost member of the group they'd come to love.

Itachi kept his lips in a tight line as he held the hand of his lover. This love isn't compared to the one a brother has.

"Well, it's my turn," Hotaka said softly as he stood up after the Hokage stepped down, giving the man a somber smile and handshake before letting him stand before the modest lot of people watching. Hotaka cleared his throat. "Tsuneo was the greatest brother a man could ever ask for in his life. When we were younger, he would always follow my tail, and we had each other when we lost our parents at a young age. No child should have to witness that. From then on, I took care of my brother and gave him everything he needed - and one day, I met the love of my life, while still being there for Tsuneo." He paused to sigh. "It had been very difficult to think that you're being forced to choose the one you met and fell in love with, recognized her soul with yours, when your only brother was the one you dedicated your life to. But Tsuneo just smiled and said he wanted his aniki happy, so when I married Kairi and had two beautiful children with her, my baby brother was there through thick and thin. He was even more when I lost my wife three years ago." A glaze in the eyes.

"Just when I thought I wouldn't lose another just yet, we learn too late that otouto was deep in the stages of a disease that was so sneaky we couldn't do anything but wait for the inevitable. Then a very special someone..." His gaze traveled then to Itachi, who allowed a smile to show, and his eyes ever concealed by bandages. "...entered my life one day. He became part of the family I have that included my own brother and the ones with me today."

Then and there, he began to choke on his words, causing several hearts to crack and weep with him. "The life we had was one that I will never forget even if someone wanted me to. Tsuneo was one of a kind. He would have...wanted me happy even if he was gone. Though I expected it all this time and wasn't alone, it still feels he left too soon."

Itachi's tears leaked through his gauze, and he reached up to wipe them. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a stricken Isao do the same, and Kichiro was comforting him even though the man wasn't his father. Fumio was doing the same, but the other young man gave him a hard look before it turned to Itachi, softening by only a fraction. Did you have to ask Fumio's?

He'd told them both the truth yesterday after Sakura had taken the body away for examination and the autopsy to be filled, and while Fumio did accept he'd told the truth, he hated the fact that secrets had been kept all this time. Kichiro had looked amazed, but at the same time, didn't know how to take this in - or the fact Itachi Uchiha was alive all this time, but with no idea who had brought him back.

He was back to what had been started.

The obvious distrust was evident in Isao's son's eyes, but the father himself remained oblivious because Itachi had done what he had to in order to prevent Fumio from speaking: Tsukuyomi.

He'd sworn to never use his abilities in a malicious way again. When he raised the bandages from his eyes, the shock was evident in the irises of both other young men before him. He didn't inflict damage, but enough to quiet Fumio down and assure his tongue was tied. It pained him to do this to the man - and in front of both their friend, no less.

Hotaka had never seen his lover behold his Shinobi skills, so the dismay was there...but so was the amazement at the powerful effect the once-dead Uchiha instilled.

Itachi felt like he truly betrayed his lover. Betrayed their friends. He had done so many times in his previous life, but now...

Kichiro said nothing, too stunned, as he helped carry the unconscious Fumio to his father, who was disgusted that his son was more drunk than he should have gotten. But a berate wouldn't be in order because of the loss. When they were both gone, Hotaka had turned to him with an unreadable expression. His brother passed on into the afterlife, Sakura Uchiha came to tell her brother-in-law and new friend the finding within the corpse, and then Fumio overheard when neither realized it.

None of the others spoke to him since then. He didn't know if Kichiro would ever find his bravery to speak again even though he didn't see the Uchiha as a menace and DID protect himself for reasons - and Fumio might never come around, or even if he would, it wouldn't be for a long time.

Some people shut you off for no reason, or merely act on impulse, and you can't do anything about it.

He closed his eyes at the same time he placed a hand over his heart. He could feel it breaking by the seconds that passed with both the memory of yesterday's events, and the eulogy that the grief-stricken but still smiling elder brother - just like a true Shinobi masks his pain so well, and he's not a ninja - gave, and he found himself tilting his head upwards to look at the sky.

When he lowered his gaze, he found Sasuke glancing over at him, a glaze in his eyes within an emotionless mask. The words had affected him more than anyone realized, but Itachi as his aniki knew him well.

~o~

He was at the entrance with the group that welcomed him in his early days of being back in the world. He was saying goodbye to them - for now. Nothing was the end of the world anymore. He stood true to his word that his heart would remain open, and he would enjoy anything that came his way while it lasted. He was happy with the time he had with these men, though he'd made an enemy in the end with one of them who'd had every reason to be suspicious.

The body was still in its casket and given the flowers that the mourners had left for Tsuneo. It had been placed into the empty cart that didn't have their packed up equipment. Fumio was the first to be in, making his father shake his head, before he turned to look at Itachi with a sad look in his eyes. "Ryuu," he said tenderly, still unknowing who the "blind" member really was, "I'm sorry you can't come with us, but I hope your family can take care of you now." His face fell even further.

"Hotaka really needs you, you know. He's lost his brother, and he really cares about you..."

"I know," Itachi said softly, "and I will remain so with him. But right now, I need to take care of something familial, a terrible time as it is." Isao nodded somberly and patted his shoulder before turning and joining his stoic son on the wagon. Kichiro was coming up to him now, swallowing a gulp, but he had his balls intact.

He said in a low voice, "I'll try to talk to Fumio, and I wish you luck in your...search," he said, surprising the Uchiha. He's slowly becoming unafraid of me. Itachi smiled back and said nothing, only nodded once. Now one more man was left...

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Hotaka whispered, leaning close enough so their noses nearly touched, making him shiver.

Itachi reached up to put both hands on his partner's chest. "I'm sure," he answered softly. "I've only proven to be a burden in one's eyes, and I must do what I need to; I have to find it out now. If it's that dangerous, then I can't have you placed in harm's way."

Hotaka narrowed his eyes. "I'm a grown man," he said. "I take care of myself."

"That's not the point. In the Shinobi world, even in times of peace, there will always be a life lost even if you make the promise it would never happen. I...care greatly about you for that. I've lost too many people, and I cannot have a repeat. You lost another yesterday, and you should not witness losing me. Remember what I have told you?" The older man sighed, nodding his head in defeat and disappointment. Itachi leaned up and placed a brief kiss on a cheek. "The weeks and every second I spent with you have been more than the best I have savored."

"So, it's goodbye for now."

"Yes...for now." Another kiss was shared, this time on the lips...before Itachi let him go, and another tear fell from the corner of his eye.

When the caravan was gone, Itachi turned around to see his family standing there. Sarada had fallen asleep in her mother's arms; Sakura herself was crestfallen, and Sasuke's eyes were half-closed, but the message was clear.

We have work to do.

I hope the wait was worth it, so review appreciated. :) Things are just getting back to the way it had begun for Itachi.

I apologize if it seems cruel for him to stay home behind and leave his lover who has just lost his brother, but it's necessary. And he's still keeping his cover even though a new enemy (and not a dangerous one at that) has been made, only a few people still know his identity. It's a matter of time before it explodes, and the mystery has to be solved soon, right?