Chapter Fourteen
Waiting, Leaving Forgotten.
His eyes were drawn to the calendar in a discreet manner, his younger brother downing the coffee across from him. Only three days, but he was foolish in asking her for that day.
"I'll see you then." Sasuke said a wave as he exited the house. If he didn't know any better he would've thought he was up to something.
But Sasuke, (hopefully) had long since outgrown petty tricks. So he was left alone with his thoughts once again, writing his signature on anything that required it.
He was close to stepping away from his position, to leave it with Sasuke. But not everything was done, and it wouldn't be until another four or five months.
He wished he could simply get through it quickly, but with his father breathing over his shoulder every five days. It couldn't be done any faster; five days should've been plenty of time. But lately things were stacking up, adding more and more.
Even Sasori one of his quieter workers had complained about the extra work that was being received in the offices. Sasori only complained when younger children were brought into his work space, wailing until they fell asleep.
So he really hadn't the time to add in any more, and his father was sure of it he knew. He only wanted what was best for his sons, but Itachi was bitter with that exclamation.
If that were the case why not let Sasuke take over, like he wanted too? Itachi simply wanted a smaller company, enough for him to live into his retirement. He was not fond of clan arguments his father was so adept on starting, nor was he fond of ending it in the most logical way.
Causing his father to scold him later on like a child, which Itachi was not. It was all he ever heard and he was growing sick of it, it was what had gotten Shisui killed. It was what had caused so much mentality to be thrown into chaos. For what?
It was always for the clan, how he hated the notion. It wasn't that he despised his clan, no he was as loyal as any Uchiha. But now he wasn't so sure.
He was taught from a child that Uchiha were great, luckily he was smart enough to see pass that. Uchiha were as equal as any other clan, but his father thought them greater. That they deserved more respect.
That Itachi was living proof that the Uchiha were superior over all, he scowled. It was always the clan, the clan. That same notion was what forced Shisui to try and attend the meeting through the sleet and ice. There was no snow.
Just ice, ice ice.
Then, just like that a car lost control snatching his best friend away from him. All because of the notion, that damned notion.
Uchiha are not held back, by anything or anyone.
The pen snapped in his grip, blue ink splattering across a rather unimportant document he could easily choose to reject. It stained his hand dark in the lamp lit room.
He watched it trail down leaving a blue mark in its wake, was the clan really so important?
He never agreed with it, and he was relieved when his brother (although silently) had seen through it as well. Even when that was when he had turned thirteen that was still early enough.
He remembered that day with a startling clarity, it was like ice cold water had been thrown onto him. Dripping slowly down his face and into his shirt, stinging his skin with its coldness.
He remembered it all, so very well. The piercing wail of the sirens, the screams of those who had avoided the crash. The ice stained a rusted red, people gathering around the scene with their mocking whispers.
He had seen the crash through his window, and had run. Shoving through the crowd with his shoulders, some glaring at him others tearfully moving away as if they knew who he was and what Shisui meant to him.
Shisui's eyes were usually bright and warm like a flame, some sort of mischief in his gaze. Not then. His eyes were clouded, blood came from a cut in his lip staining it red. His face was pale and ashen. Then he spoke.
His hand clasped over his shoulder as if nothing was wrong, as if he wasn't hurt. As if there hadn't been a glass plain shattered over him, like this was just another day.
"Sorry….Tachi…" he had apologized, and smiled. His voice was croaked and rasped like someone who hadn't any water for a few days. It shook his core, he was mentally shaken. He watched them put him on a stretcher, a blanket covered his chest before they suddenly just sopped.
They didn't move, only exchanging a knowing look. A woman had run from the crowd (who was she? He questioned in the present) and placed two fingers to his pulse.
She bit her lip, tiny tears falling off her chin as she said five words that had shattered his being.
"Theres no pulse, he's….dead…" another had taken her away and Itachi had choked on air.
He felt nauseas his eyes unseeing, he heard nothing. Felt nothing. Only that something had shattered and broken, sinking inside him. He pitched forward. His forehead slamming into the concrete.
He cried.
He had been broken, he Uchiha Itachi who had never shown anything to the public, just broke down.
"H-he's going I-into shock!" A tiny warm hand was placed on the side of his face; it was all he knew at the time.
"Please hold still." She had said, he was aware of being lifted onto a stretcher but it was different. He heard the camera flashes but the next day there were none, just like it had never happened.
He stood up ignoring the thoughts of that day as he cleaned his hand of the blue-black ink. It was already close to the end of the day.
Had he really been so caught up in his thoughts? He drank some water, still dry mouthed even afterwards. That day, how long would it haunt him?
He needed answers, but the real question was to what? He cracked his neck and sat down in front of his computer, a good place to start would be why there were no pictures. He had heard the clicks and flashes, so why weren't there any?
He almost, almost disconnected when the computer slowed down to a snail's pace. Instead he stood up, and walked outside.
The crisp night air was starting to creep in, it was fall. Seasons changed so quickly, just come and go. Wasn't that what everything was?
To be remembered, then to leave this world for death. Then as time moves forward, it doesn't wait for the memories to be engraved into ones thoughts, no its always going to continue.
Until even the most valiant are forgotten, would that happen with Shisui? With him? Of course it would.
It always did.