.
.
It was the middle of the night, and Itachi was coughing again. Sasuke could hear him all the way across the compound.
He seemed sicker than when Sasuke first found him, and Sasuke knew the stress of the villagers wasn't helping. Slowly, Sasuke found his way to the kitchen and began rummaging for the tea kettle in the back. He struck a match and set the kettle on the burner, waiting for the water to boil.
He pushed the door open; Itachi was hunched over in the dark, a fist against his mouth. He barely looked up when he set the tray on the table.
"I made this," Sasuke said. He pushed the teacup forward. "It's probably not very good."
Itachi accepted the cup gratefully, and Sasuke couldn't help but notice his hand shake. "Thank you, Sasuke," Itachi said. "That was very thoughtful of you."
Sasuke sat down slowly, his eyes never leaving Itachi's face. Hair fell in stringy pieces and there were dark bruises under his eyes.
"You saw Tsunade, right?" Sasuke said. "What did she have to say?"
Itachi set the teacup down. "She said I have a good prognosis. Everything is going to be fine," Itachi said. Sasuke stared at him, doubtfully.
"You're lying," Sasuke said. Itachi's mouth twitched.
"Little brother. You must really learn to trust more."
"But it doesn't make any sense!" Sasuke said. "Madara said you were dying, that you were forcing yourself to stay alive-"
"I've been stressed," Itachi said. "But now that my situation has improved, things should be getting better."
Sasuke didn't have to be told the gritty details: the emotional turmoil, the constant worry. The years of guilt and sorrow and being on the run. A sound mind begets a sound body, and Tsunade had explained that the stress of Itachi's past had been the root cause of his illness. The Uchiha were fire-breathers, moreso than most clans. Their techniques demand perfect control; anything less than that would cause their chakra to tear up the lining of their lungs.
"It was making you sick," Sasuke said. Quietly Itachi moved and sat beside him.
"Things have been...difficult," Itachi said, slowly. "But with you here, things have been much better."
Sasuke kept his eyes fixed on his hand. His vision blurred slightly, and he could feel the warmth building up behind his eyes.
"Tch." Sasuke swiped at his eyes, angrily. "And that's supposed to heal you, right? Sounds like bullshit to me," Sasuke said. Itachi seemed to be concentrating on the teacup, sliding it across the table.
"Do you forgive me, Sasuke?" Blind eyes flicked upward, searching his. Sasuke glared.
"I made your goddamn tea, didn't I?" Sasuke said. Itachi smiled.
"Then you know I will be fine."