A kunai was hurled directly at my neck. My sharingan- although not complete-allowed me to see it, and move myself so that the blade narrowly missed any vital points. The cold metal sliced my skin though, and I winced. I was shocked that my father was actually trying to kill me, but I put it down to spur-of-the-moment rage.
The logical part of my mind insisted that he really was trying to end my life, but I pushed the thought aside.
Itachi's hand moved like lightning and a shuriken was flung at my father. It cut his cheek, and then flew past him into the wooden wall. He hissed in anger, and drew another kunai from his weapons pouch.
"What the hell is wrong with the two of you?" He demanded, eyes narrowed at us and mouth twisted in disgust.
"We're in love. What's wrong with that?" Itachi snarled, crouching into a combat position.
I gulped, and then licked the blood away from my lips with a swipe of my tongue. There was a stinging pain in the side of my neck, but I forced myself to ignore it. I could feel the dangerous anger that was rolling off Itachi in waves. I could almost read his mind. He was disgusted that my father dare hurt me. I felt defiant and stubborn. I didn't want Itachi to hurt himself because of a protective urge towards me. I didn't want him doing anything foolish…
But it was too late for such thoughts. He and my father simultaneously lunged at each other, the metal of their blades catching the moonlight and sparkling. The kunai met with a loud clang.
I stood frozen as I watched the battle. I couldn't do anything. They were both far more powerful than I. Even if I could stop the fight, there was nothing I could do to fix the situation. Itachi and I had been discovered. Our parents hated us. Eventually the whole village would hate us. I wanted to scream. I wanted to turn back time so I could kill my feelings for Itachi, and stop this whole thing. I loved my brother so, so much. But it was in the wrong way… Or was it really wrong? Was such a powerful, great feeling so wrong? So disgusting?
I tore my watering eyes away from the scene that was in front of me. I glanced at my mother. She was cowering in a corner, her tears shining on her face. I knew the same thoughts were racing through her head, except she did think our love was disgusting, a sin.
I shook my head, tears falling from my eyes with the motion.
And without a second thought, I threw myself into the midst of the battle. I stabbed viciously at my father's left shoulder, and then shoved hard against Itachi's chest. They sprung away from each other, and I was left panting in the middle.
I looked at Itachi. He was covered in blood. He had a deep gauge in his right arm, and a thin slice across his cheek. Other than that, there were no visible cuts. I frowned.
"Fugaku!" I heard my mother shriek, followed by urgent footsteps as she rushed to his side.
I squeezed my eyes shut when I realized where all this blood was coming from. I turned my body to my father, and forced my eyes to open, sharingan still present. He was covered in deep cuts, which oozed sticky red liquid. He had a deep scratch in a diagonal line down his chest, which looked disgusting because of the amount of blood seeping from the wound.
The injury looked critical. The kunai that created it had broken through layers of muscle. Blood was trickling from his mouth.
I dropped to my knees, taken over by shock. This shouldn't have been happening. Families don't fight. My fingers went slack around the kunai, and I let it fall to the floor. My father struck my mother with a hard blow, using the back of his hand. She cried out in pain- he didn't hold back this time. She slammed to the floor, fresh tears spilling out of her eyes. Yet again, we were in the same position. I felt a pang to my heart as I watched her cry. I turned pleading eyes to her, begging her to stop this shared suffering.
My heart broke when she returned my gaze, but as a revolted glare. I watched as the anger was newly born inside her. Even if she started to hate my father, she hated Itachi and I more. We would always hold her hate, not him. It was never him, it never would be.
"Fuck!" I screeched, so angry about everything.
I had no idea what to do, what to say.
Itachi was breathing heavily, but not as heavily as my father, who almost looked ready to collapse. I clambered to my feet, and returned to Itachi's side. I heard a whoosh of air, right before a rain of shuriken cut deeply into my back. I fell to the ground, yelling in pain. Itachi appeared instantly by my side, clutching my arm.
"Bastard." He spat, directed at the man who threw the weapons at me. My father replied with a kunai to Itachi's face. My brother deflected it with a kunai of his own, which bounced off and narrowly missed my father's ear.
"How could you do this to us, Sasuke?" My father ground out. I felt sick from the repulsion in his voice.
"I am so sorry, father." I whispered, sick of everything. I was shaking still, leaning on Itachi like he was my only lifeline.
"Don't call me that! You are not my son anymore!" My father yelled, and I let out a loud sob. I was so angry with myself for breaking down, but everything was falling apart.
"Leave, Sasuke." Itachi commanded, but I did not move one inch.
"N-no." I choked out, wiping my tears away with my wrist.
"I said, leave!" Itachi's voice was firmer, more urgent now.
"He's not going anywhere." My father growled, taking a step towards the two of us.
Itachi defensively stepped in front of me, guarding me from any attacks.
"No, Itachi. I'm not leaving you here with him. You'll die!" I hissed, pulling a new kunai from my weapons pouch.
"I can take him. I don't want you getting hurt anymore! Just leave! Run away! Hide and don't come back until morning!" Itachi ordered, his voice so loud that it hurt my eardrums.
My father let out a harsh laugh.
"Yes, run away, like the disgusting creature you are."
I gaped at my brother, breaking inside at my own father's words. He despised me. How could my parents instantly switch to hating me, from loving me? Where were their maternal and paternal instincts? Gone forever because of who I am and who I fell in love with?
I found myself unable to bear it any longer. I couldn't listen to those words of hatred anymore. I still loved my parents- well, only my mother- I never loved him.
I braced myself with one hand on Itachi's shoulder, and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
I knew that the sign of love would anger my parents so much more, and when a choking sound came from my mother's direction, I knew that it sickened them, too.
I ignored this. Itachi was the most important person to me right now.
We'd be together after this. Although my life was mostly ruined… actual existence would be completely pointless if I lost Itachi. I couldn't survive without him.
"Don't die." Was all I whispered against his lips.
"I love you." He whispered back.
"Disgusting fags." My father spat.
"Fuck you." Itachi lightly pushed me away, telling me to leave at that moment. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long," He paused to grab a kunai. "Prepare for defeat, old man."
"You're repulsive." Was my father's only reply. He took another step forward.
I took one last long look at my mother; I knew I was not going to ever return to her presence. I was banished from her, and this house.
"I love you, mom." I stated, and then jumped up onto the window ledge.
She was standing now, and spat on the floor, eyes trained on me.
I pushed open the window and jumped out, unable to bear the hatred any longer. I dropped to the grassy floor, and let my tears streak down my face. I heard clashes of blade on blade behind me, and the cries of pain as flesh was cut into.
I started to run. It was late at night, probably around midnight, actually. I picked up my pace, desperate to get away. The image was imprinted in my mind… the look of disgust on my mother's face. My father, I didn't care about. I had never cared for him. But my mother… it was enough to make me wish I hated Itachi. This would never have happened if I had never acted on my feelings. I knew such thoughts were pathetic, though. The past could not be changed, and I needed to focus. Still, I couldn't prevent the rage, directed at myself, that bubbled up inside of me. I sprinted further into the darkness until I was out of the Uchiha compound. Only then did I start to slow down slightly.
I tried not to think of the conflict back at the house, but of course, it was impossible. Someone was going to end up dead. I could only hope it wasn't Itachi… the only person I had left. He wouldn't kill my mother… which meant she would end up telling the whole clan. They would all hate Itachi and I. I knew I wouldn't be able to hack that.
"Fuck." I whispered to the wind, letting my despair out in one tiny curse word.
Eventually, I came to a halt at the village gates. Suddenly desperate to get out, I sprinted through the wooden gates. I slowly walked on, and then strayed from the path. I charged into the woods, trying to find a decent tree. Once I found one with big enough branches for me to rest on, I pooled chakra at the soles of my feet, and then ran at the sturdy tree trunk. I arrived at my chosen branch in a matter of seconds. My mind was racing. I didn't want to sleep, but I forced my eyes to close. Images of hateful looks passed in front of my eyes. I turned over on the uncomfortable, wooden makeshift bed.
Horrible scenarios of bloodshed and bodies floated through my mind. It took many hours for me to drift to sleep. Even my dreams were plagued with slaughter, but of many, many people.
I didn't anticipate just how accurate my dreams were on that night.