Sasuke's P.O.V.

Itachi is dying. Kisame said he won't make it through the night. I'm completely freaking out I can't even defend myself to Naruto because Itachi and Kisame are fugitives. I can't get into that mess again, but I have to see my brother one last time, I owe it to him. I just hope he wants to see me.

I pulled up to my hotel and parked my car, the Zetsu were already waiting for me in the front. They're picking me up because Kisame doesn't want my car around if the ombu find us out. He said he'd get me out of there no matter what if that went down, but who really knows if I can trust that. Anyways, the Zetsu picked me up, needless to say it brought back some painful memories.

"Sasuke, you look well."

"And sober! What happened to you?" Blanco laughed.

"I grew up." Finally. Blac started driving and he told me how easy it was to break the whole Akatsuki out of max all those years ago. They said Deidara smuggled in explosives, Yahiko, who now goes by Pein, killed a bunch of guards, Hidan and Kakuzu too, they basically walked out of the prison. Madera escaped with them. Vanished without a trace, he's beyond old now, but part of me still worries he could come for me or Mikoshina. Kill the last of the Uchiha so his life wasn't for nothing. All of that keeps me up at night. I keep having nightmares of him killing Mikoshina right in front of me… or Naruto. I don't think my heart would be able to take it.

The Zetsu drove me out of town and stopped in the middle of nowhere. For a brief second I thought that this was how I was going to die. Payback for ratting on the Akatsuki. There's no expiration date for retribution. I activated rennigan just to be safe. But then they just let me out, left me right there on the side of the road. Great. Well at least they didn't shoot me and then leave me for dead on the side of the road. A few seconds later I got a call from Kisame.

"Hello?"

"Walk the dirt road to your right. Walk about a mile and when you see the fork in the road, turn left. We're in the green and white cottage half a mile down from there."

"Alright." He hung up the phone and I started walking. About fifteen minutes later I arrived at the house. So this is where they've been hiding. Kisame came out and closed the door behind him.

"How is he?"

"Unwell, don't freak out when you see him okay?"

"Just let me see him."

"He was asking for you earlier, I'll give you your time, he and I have already said our goodbyes, stay with him as long as you need."

"Thank you." I walked in the door and it was dimly lit with candles, it smelled of sickness and blood. I walked to the bed in the corner and Itachi was tucked into it. His skin was pail, he looked frail and weak, the stress lines on his face were so deep. My brother is actually dying. I can't believe he held on for so long. I took his hand softly and kneeled at his bedside.

"Brother."

"Sasuke." He reached out for me, I put his hand to my cheek. Trying not to cry I melted into the gesture.

"I'm so sorry Itachi, for everything. I should have told you, I should have never kicked you out. I should have been a better brother, you sacrificed so much for me."

"You sacrificed everything for me Sasuke. I was the one that should have been a better brother to you."

"No Itachi, no, it's okay. Really. I've had time to think, everything that you did… I understand it now, I do."

"When you were seven, you needed a brother, someone to teach you wrong from right, someone to look up to. I was none of that. I should have told you the truth, not let you find out the way you did. My obsession with protecting the Land of Fire forced me to throw us into mountains of debt and my health forced you to put the burden onto yourself. I don't deserve a brother like you." He let out a gruesome cough, he's dying, and soon.

"You don't have to hang on any longer Itachi, it's okay, really."

"Not, yet, I still…" he coughed again, "I still have so much I want to say."

"I'm listening, I'm here." I said getting as close to him as I could.

"Don't ever beat yourself up for what you did. You are a good person Sasuke. You are." He grabbed my shirt, the light in his eyes was starting to fade. "Just know, whatever happens, whatever you decide to do next…" He pulled my forehead to his with all the strength he had left. "I will always love you Sasuke." He kissed my forehead and I felt the strength of his hand on the back of my neck weaken. I looked up at him and his eyes were glossed over. I couldn't hold back my tears, I didn't want to. I cried so hard into my brother's chest. I cried until the tears wouldn't come anymore. Words can't describe how bad it hurt. Itachi Uchiha is dead.