Chapter fourteen
The night was warm the stars were bright lighting up the dark forest. It had been over five years since he had been in Konoha. It appeared to be the same, though what beauty the outside possessed he knew the horror that occurred within those walls. He couldn't say for certain, but the nagging feeling deep within his heart told him that something was wrong. He had to wait till it was dark before he could go in without the risk of being caught.
He was able to sneak in easily enough, though he didn't know his destination. The man thought that he would be at the house, but he wasn't there. So he relied on his chakra signature though the house he was brought to he didn't expect. He reached out to feel who was in the house only two people both were asleep.
After some minor lock picking he was in the house. The place hadn't changed all that much since he saw it last. He followed the signatures into a bedroom as he opened the door he didn't expect to find what he found.
Kakashi slowly began to open his eye; he thought he heard the door open. He had expected to find Danzou and his men, maybe even Tsunade. He didn't expect to find him standing there. Kakashi wrapped his arms around Sasuke protectively. He didn't know what he was doing here, but he wouldn't let him hurt Sasuke.
"Relax I'm not here to hurt anyone, especially him."
"What are you doing here?"
"Maybe we should talk about this in another room. We don't want to wake him up."
Kakashi slowly moved and placed Sasuke down on the bed. He curled up at the loss of heat, but he was still asleep. Kakashi made his way out into the living room.
"Why are you here?"
"I could feel that something was wrong. I didn't expect him to be here with you though."
"It's been really bad… it's also a long story."
"Then I guess you should talk fast."
"Why do you care?"
"He's my little brother he's the only person I love Kakashi. I'm not going to let anyone hurt him anymore."
"Take a seat then, like I said it's a long story."
They sat down on the couch and Kakashi began to tell Itachi the whole story. Throughout the time Kakashi told the story Itachi just sat there listening. His face was blank and he didn't ask any questions. Kakashi mentioned how Sasuke had told him about growing up, still nothing played on Itachi's face. He did leave out the part that he was forced to have sex with his brother. That was something no one needed to know about. Once Kakashi finished he looked over at Itachi waiting for something from him. Itachi just sat there listening to Kakashi talking about what Danzou had been putting Sasuke through.
"I'm surprised that he told you about growing up. I never thought he would talk about that."
"It was hard for him you could tell that it was something he needed to say though. He needed someone to help carry all the weight."
"It wasn't easy growing up. Your parents are supposed to protect you; they're supposed to raise you. I had to raise and protect him, if I didn't he would have died. I didn't mind it I was able to give him the attention he needed. I was able to make sure he was feed properly."
"He said you were the smart one, because you didn't show that you were scared."
"He's the smart one his IQ is amazing as well as his creative half. I always wanted him to embrace his mind I could always tell that it was his true power, his true gift."
"I knew he had a high IQ, but I didn't know he was creative."
"He use to draw all over his bedroom walls; then he would paint over them with white and start all over again. He writes songs and music, he can play the piano and guitar he taught himself. He's very creative and has an amazing singing voice."
"I never knew that, that's good that you told me it would be a perfect positive escape from this. Instead of hurting himself he can draw or play to be able to deal with all of this."
"Hurting himself?"
"Ya tonight Danzou and his men were here. After they left he took a shower and cut his wrist. I had heard a noise and then I realized that the shower was still going after at least twenty minutes. So I knocked to make sure he was okay he was extremely dizzy the hot water would only make it worse. Once there was no response I walked in and he had slashed his left wrist. He kept begging me to let him die; I was finally able to get him calm enough to stitch the wound."
"When he was five I was away on a mission. I shouldn't have gone on it, but father set it up I didn't get a choice. I knew he was hurting Sasuke when I wasn't there. It's part of the reason why I brought him everywhere. I was away for six weeks when I came back I went to find Sasuke right away. He was in my room reading just like he always was when I came back. Latter on that night I asked him to take his shirt off so I could check his wounds out. On his right wrist he had cuts all over it, there had to have been fifteen of them. I asked him what happened he told me he did it. That it was an accident the first cut, he was practicing throwing a kunai and one cut him. He said that one cut made him feel better that for a moment his heart didn't hurt.
After that he would do it when he couldn't handle it anymore. I told him that there are enough people looking to hurt him that he doesn't need to be doing it to. That's when I started to bring music books back. On his sixth birthday I surprised him with a guitar. Within a week he had already taught himself five songs. He was a natural, I would sneak him out at night and we would sneak into the auditorium. He would play the piano for me some nights we would be there all night long. The next day I was so tired, but it was always worth it seeing that smile on his face. He's so gifted too gifted to be a ninja."
"I never knew that he could do any of that; that truly is amazing. I'll try and see if I can get him back into that. It's going to help him get through all of this I honestly don't know when it will end. You said it was his right wrist how is that possible he's right handed?"
"He was born left handed. It's rare for an Uchiha to be left handed. My father didn't like that one bit said that all Uchiha's were supposed to be the same. So when he found out he broke his left wrist till he was able to do everything with his right. Now when he's alone he will use his left hand to write and do other things over his right."
"That's unbelievable to go through what you both have been through is amazing. You've both survived it Itachi you did something right for him to still be fighting."
"I regret not taking him with me. I shouldn't have left him alone. I went to Danzou and threatened him thinking that he would leave Sasuke alone. I won't make that mistake twice."
"What are you going to do? We collected evidence it's being processed any day now Danzou and his men are going to be arrested for this."
"They won't go to jail Danzou will make sure of that. I'm going to make sure Danzou and his men leave him alone for good."
"You're going to kill him."
"You don't need to know Kakashi all I want is a few moments alone with him. I won't wake him up I just need to see him."
Kakashi knew what Itachi was going to do. Itachi knew that as well, but this way if he didn't tell him then when questioned he didn't have to lie. Kakashi gave a nod it was the least he could do after what Itachi was going to do. Itachi got up and headed off into the bedroom.
Sasuke was still curled up on the bed the covers were half off of him. Itachi pulled the covers up to Sasuke's shoulders then sat down beside him. Itachi couldn't help but feel the pain in his heart as he saw his little brother lying there. He truly did regret not bringing Sasuke with him that night. Itachi honestly did believe that Danzou would have left him alone though. Not only that, he wanted to give Sasuke the chance to have a normal life. He couldn't have that with having to hide and constantly watch his back all the time.
Itachi knew he couldn't be here that long he didn't want to wake Sasuke up. Itachi put his hand in his pocket and took out a letter and placed it down on the bedside table. After that he took off his necklace that held a ring and put it around the letter. Then he just sat there watching Sasuke sleep for a few moments. Finally he bent down and kissed his forehead and whispered I love you.
He then got up and made his way back out into the living room. Kakashi was still sitting down on the couch waiting to see if Itachi would leave through the door or the bedroom window.
"Take care of him."
"I promise."
With that Itachi was gone only three words were spoken into the dark living room.
"Thank you Itachi"
With that said Kakashi got up and put on some coffee he wasn't about to sleep after that. Too many thought were running through his mind. He did know for certain that he needed to get Sasuke back into being creative. He needed a positive escape and from the sounds of it that was what he did growing up. Letting out a sigh Kakashi decided to so something he's never down before; sit down and write a list. At least this way he could figure it out by looking at it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
It was just past four in the morning when Sasuke began to stir. He was in a great deal of pain still and he couldn't help but feel sad at the loss of body heat from Kakashi. He liked falling asleep in his arms; Sasuke was worried that after what happened things would be different. They weren't though, he still felt safe in Kakashi's arms.
In a weird way he felt safer he now could trust Kakashi fully. He had the chance to truly hurt him not only hurt him but completely break him. He chose other wise though. As awkward as it will be for the next little while at least he'll always have Kakashi's safe touch.
Sasuke rolled over and noticed the letter and necklace on the table. Slowly he pulled himself up into a sitting position. Taking a moment to adjust to the pain as his weight was now on his butt. Sasuke picked up the necklace first. He ran his fingers over the ring he knew who's it was once he saw it. Itachi always wore the ring around his neck. One day when Sasuke was four he was hiding in the woods from his father. He started to walk back to the house when he had found something shine from the sunlight. He went over and picked up the ring. Later that night when Itachi got back from a mission Sasuke had given it to him.
Sasuke had told him how he found it and wanted him to have it. Telling him how he could look at it when he felt like he couldn't go on. That it would remind him how he wasn't alone that he had him. That when all else failed he would get back up and fight for his life, because he had Sasuke to keep living for.
Itachi had taken it and up until now he always wore it around his neck. Sasuke reached over and picked up the letter. It had his name on it and he knew it was from Itachi. It was his hand writing and held his nickname only Itachi used. Taking a deep breath Sasuke opened the letter. One sentence was written across a solid white piece of paper. One sentence that spoke volumes to Sasuke.
That's all it took for Sasuke to know he could do this. That one sentence was all it took for Sasuke to know that he wouldn't have to worry anymore. Sasuke knew that it was over that Itachi was going to make sure of it. That's why he was here to make sure Sasuke still had hope. Sasuke put the letter down on the bedside table again. He then laid back down with the necklace wrapped around his fingers. Slowly he began to fall back asleep.
It was easier to do now knowing that Itachi was taking care of Danzou and his men. He was finally safe finally free from them. Sasuke knew that his big brother wouldn't leave until he was completely certain that no one would come after him again. The one sentence kept running through Sasuke's mind as he found comfort in those few words to fall back asleep.
'You need this more then me right now.'