This was a little hard to write, but I think it came out right. I'll be continuing on with Itachi for a little.

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Itachi

Primitive. That's what Itachi would call these cells. Thick and dark stones walls, keeping out any sound or warmth. It was meant to frighten. As were the steel doors that only had a little hole at the top, barred so you could barely see through it. A small wooden bench chained to the wall was the only thing in that cell. At least that was Itachi's case. He was a prisoner in his own home, but he would get the best cell, meaning he would have the option to be taken out to eat or bathe. Someone else there had no such option and Itachi was very aware of the fact that the other cell would not have a bench. Only a hole in the ground so someone could relief himself when needed.

If Sasori was really unlucky, his hands would be chained together, just like his feet. Making it impossible for him to really move around or sit comfortably. But Itachi wasn't sure. They hadn't spoken since they had both been brought here and a full day had passed already.

Food had been brought a few times and Itachi had been able to stretch his legs twice already. The emperor had not yet visited them, but Itachi knew his father saw this as some kind of teaching method. This would show Itachi what happens to traitors and of course this also gave them the opportunity and time to search for Deidara.

How could he have been so stupid and not see that Deidara would follow after him? Had he not practically forced himself into the water bender's life and then left without a real explanation. Itachi would've gone after Deidara if it had been the other way around. To get a proper reason why Deidara had left and then to question why he wasn't asked to come along.

By now Deidara should've heard the rumours about him and knew where he really was from and who he really was. The reason why Itachi was here should still be foreign to him. Where would he be now? Who had he run into? Had he made friends along the way or enemies?

Rubbing his hands over his face Itachi tried to get these thoughts out of his head. When someone was truly alone with his thoughts, it tended to drive them crazy. How many scenarios had Itachi made up already, all ending horribly? He really could not figure out what would make all this end right. At first he had believed his father would still listen to him. Hope had clouded his judgement and made him want to do this. He wanted his father to understand, but the man was power hungry. Now that he ruled one country, he wanted them all.

Doing another one of his rounds the guard passed by his cell, heavy boots clamping down on the stone floor hard. Not that there was much to see here. Neither of the prisoners had made much noise the entire time they had been here, so what was there to check up on? The clinking of his armour slowly faded away into the distance as the guard moved up a stairs again to stand by the door to make sure no one would enter. As if someone was going to try and break them out now. Neither of them had allies crazy enough to do so at this point.

What if Deidara would though, once he found out they were both here?

Leaning his head back against the cold wall Itachi heaved a sigh, letting his legs slide out in front of him. It was the most relaxing position he could get into at this point, even if his behind felt like a solid rock. Sitting on a wooden bench for this long was not good for the soft tissue in his butt.

Some time passed in complete silence once more. The only light they were provided with were the flickering torches hanging outside their cells, so there was no way to tell what time it was. It could be night for all Itachi knew and he really should be sleeping. So it came as quite the surprise when someone suddenly started speaking. Especially since it wasn't Sasori and he hadn't heard anyone coming in. Had the doors even opened at all?

'Why did you do it?'

A simple question, asked without much of an emotion present in his voice. Perhaps it hadn't been so surprising that he had come to visit. They hadn't spoken at all since Itachi's return and they had been so close before. He could already see him sitting on front of the cell on the floor, legs pulled towards his body, eyes glued to the opposite wall, acting as if it all didn't bother him much. But his small quivering frame would say otherwise, because Itachi was important to him and had kept secrets from him. Nothing was right at this point.

Should he had confided in Sasuke and share his secrets? 'Because I thought I could make a difference.' And that was the truth. Itachi had wanted to do something right for a change and have the world see things differently. This was not the only way they could live their lives. What if Sasuke would learn how to wind bend and could add that to his fire bending attacks? He would become stronger than his brother, defeat him easily and that would make Itachi so proud.

It stayed quiet for a while and Itachi did not bother filling the silence. Sasuke came here to talk, so he would need his space to actually figure out what he was going to say. 'I sneaked in when the guard was down here. He left the door open and apparently doesn't care much for his job since he only walked a circle and then went back up. Never saw me hiding behind the centre pillar.' Itachi hadn't asked for an explanation, but Sasuke gave one regardless. Maybe to show he could do these things all by himself now.

'You always were the light footed type,' Itachi commented softly, turning his head to the side the face the door. It was almost as if he was looking at Sasuke now, but that option would not be there for a while.

It was obvious Sasori would be listening in. Not that he had much of an option anyway, but was it really okay to share those little family moments with someone who wanted his head off? It was private, but Sasori and he had shared far more private things before though. Their silly rivalry over Deidara seemed so unimportant now. Though now Itachi thought of it, was that the reason why Sasori was here? Because Deidara had followed after him? Sasori had left before Itachi did, so it was strange for him to suddenly show up. The borders had been closed as soon as Itachi had reached the castle and after that everyone was checked who had wanted to pass. Sasori was found out instantly and Deidara would've been as well. But he hadn't been it seemed. He would've been brought before court and punished excessively. Deidara had passed the border before Itachi had reached home. So where was he now?

'Do you think you can change things?' Sasuke suddenly questioned and Itachi instantly recognised that strange hope he had always felt in Sasuke's voice. They both had witnessed their father's power first hand and knew it wasn't the right way. Itachi understood more than Sasuke, but the fact they both knew was enough.

The worst now was giving the answer though. Leaning forward Itachi rested his arms on his knees, head in his hands. Another sigh left his lips and he could feel a humourless smile tugging at his lips. 'I really don't know, Sasuke.'

It was then that Sasori made himself noticed. Chuckling at Itachi's answer the sound resonated through the chambers, echoing on until it was completely silent again. 'You can't change shit, Itachi. This world is rotten and it will fall under your daddy's reign of power. We better give up now.' His bitterness now hung thickly in the air, giving them some kind of reality. This could indeed happen and perhaps the world was really rotten.

'The world can change. Everything can change,' Sasuke suddenly spoke resolute, pride shining through in his voice and trying to overpower Sasori's demeanour. 'It just depends on what you do to achieve it…' That bit made Itachi narrow his eyes at the door. Had Sasuke really just say what Itachi thought it meant?

Something shifted outside of Itachi's cell and he could hear the rattling of chains. Sasori had stood up and was stepping closer to his iron door. 'Yeah? And who is going to go through with this idea of yours, kid?' he questioned mockingly and Itachi actually understood why Sasori had. 'You think you'll be the one confronting your father and defeating him in some kind of epic battle? Or will you do it as sneakily as you had getting into these cells? Backstabbing your own father, literally.' Another empty chuckle echoed through the chambers and Itachi visibly flinched at it, the thought of murdering their father not sounding very appealing at this point. 'Don't make me laugh. And you know what the worst part is? That after your father a new emperor will rise and will rule the very same way. For a moment things change, but before you know it you are right back where you started and guess what, you won't be this one's son.' That idea he left hanging in the air and moved further back into his cell, chains dragging over the floor.

Something then softly scraped over the floor right in front of Itachi's cell and he realised it was Sasuke standing up. What would be going through the boy's mind now? He was not a child anymore and knew how people were treated by their father, but was this not too much for a teenager that was still learning how to live his life? Too much responsibility resting on his shoulders. 'I won't share your opinion on this, because I don't want to think as dark as you. Things will change one way or another.'

'Go upstairs, kid. Enjoy your life as long as it lasts and make use of all the riches you have. The only person you can count on is yourself. Never fall in love, because it will only hold you back.' Sasori suddenly sounded very tired and perhaps also a little sad. Why he spoke of not falling in love was strange to Itachi, but maybe he blamed himself for falling in love with Deidara. If he hadn't, then he never would've come here.

Sasuke never replied to Sasori and simply bid Itachi goodbye before silently moving up the stairs, feet barely making any sound as they hit the cold stone floor. The door opened now and once it closed with a final bang they were left in silence again.

Itachi didn't really want to think about having to murder their father to make a change or that nothing would actually change. There should be some way that he could succeed. Show his father what it meant if they shared their talents with others. Maybe he could teach another bender how to fire bend and have his father see. But who would be crazy enough to follow this idea and rebel against the emperor?

'Deidara is alive,' Itachi suddenly spoke up without really thinking about it, but now that Sasori was talking, he felt like holding onto it. Even if Sasori could only see the negative side of things, they could talk about trivial things and just have same sound around them.

The shifting of chains was heard again and Sasori took his time to reply to that sentence. 'How can you be sure? Did you talk to him?' That made Itachi swallow his words, because no, he hadn't actually spoken to Deidara. Hadn't seen him since they parted ways weeks ago. 'Thought so. You know nothing, Itachi. For all we know some random guy got to him and killed him without telling anyone. He would be seen as some random water bender that illegally had crossed the borders. He might be alive or he might be very dead. Just know that if he is indeed dead, I will come for you, Itachi. I blame myself for loving Deidara, but I blame you for everything that happened afterwards and I will punish you for it. That is a promise.'

And a promise Itachi took very serious.

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Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

Let me know what you think!

And I'll also definitely will be rewriting this one. I've been doing another one and that one is making me cry. I'm afraid of what I will find, but I promise I will make it so much better!

Also the plan is to finish this story before the summer ends, so get ready for faster updates again :)