Mei kept banging on the door to her room scraping her hands to blood. Her voice became hoarse from continuous screaming and stomach kept getting tied in a knot. She never felt weaker than that time, trapped in a room unable to do anything.
"Please open the door!" she screamed once again. Mei turned around and started kicking the door with her leg. Tears continued streaming down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Suigetsu walked into the common space and looked from Karin to Juugo.
"She hasn't stopped screaming since Sasuke left," he said.
"So? Leave her. Sasuke will deal with her when he comes back." Karin shrugged returning to the papers in front of her. Suigetsu glanced at Juugo who looked indifferent.
"I'll go check on her," the blonde said.
"Suit yourself."
/
The blonde made his way to the Mei's bedroom. Her pleas to open the door were quieter, but Suigetsu could tell, Mei did not give up. The desperation and pain in her voice made his shiver. He did not know the whole story, but from what he had seen a disaster was about to unfold. Suigetsu lifted the jutsu from the door and walked into the room. Mei glanced at him like a caged animal. Her small figure looked even smaller leaning on the wall. Suigetsu looked at her face. Mei's pupils were dilated and lips slightly parted. Sweat beaded her forehead. Suigetsu watch as she attempted to get past him. In her current state it was impossible.
"Want to leave?" he questioned.
Mei nodded carefully.
"Want to stop him?"
Mei nodded again.
"Why?" Suigetsu did not understand his own intentions, yet he was curious, and he needed to satisfy that curiosity.
"Because I know what he doesn't." Mei responded. Suigetsu did not respond. Mei felt anxious. The time was ticking. Suddenly he did what she least expected. Suigetsu took one step away from the door.
"Go," he told her.
"What?"
"Go," he repeated nodding at the door. Mei did not lose time. She rushed to the door. She threw a final glance at Suigetsu who leaned on the wall with arms crossed on his chest.
"I don't understand why, but…thank you Suigetsu." The girl hurried out of the hideout.
Suigetsu sighed heavily. "Yeah, yeah…"
/
Itachi made another strike at Sasuke. The younger Uchiha blocked with ease, returning the attack. As the fight continued, the boiling rage and hatred fuelled his attacks. Sasuke activated his lightening and sent it as Itachi. For a moment, the older Uchiha lost his concentrate, but it was enough for Sasuke to pierce his body with his katana.
"You've become strong," Itachi said quietly.
"Itachi…I have one last thing to ask," Sasuke responded furrowing his eyebrows. Itachi snickered.
"Only one?"
Sasuke frowned furiously, resting finishing his brother off at that moment. Itachi raised his hand; his index and middle fingers pressed to each other and pointed away. Sasuke's gaze followed the direction. His eyes widened slightly. Itachi sat at the Uchiha throne, resting his face on his hand. Suddenly the body beneath him shuddered and dissociated into a flock of crows. Sasuke slowly stood up.
"Another farce with your special genjutsu?"
"What do you want to know?" Itachi's face was unreadable.
Sasuke spun around. He raised his katana and pierced another clone of Itachi.
"The third person…the other one with the Sharingan…who is it?"
A line of blood trailed down Itachi's chin. "Why…the curiosity about such a thing?"
"I am going to kill him after you." Sasuke responded gravely. His eyes narrowed. "Who is it?"
Itachi tilted his head. "Madara Uchiha."
"That Madara should be long dead. Are you making fun of me?" his voice sipped with anger.
Itachi ignored his tone. He leaned back on the throne and rested one hand on the other. "Madara is alive."
"Stop joking around!"
Itachi sighed. "In order to survive, we cling to what we know and understand, but knowledge and understanding are debatable."
Sasuke turned to face Itachi, a dark smile crossed his lips. "Big words Itachi," Sasuke hissed. "But let me tell you something you don't know. I will enjoy killing you more, as I watch my words sink into your mind."
Itachi raised his eyebrow but remained silent. "Mei is pregnant." He chuckled. "And her life is in my hands."
Itachi's hands grasped the throne. His nails dug into the wood, marking it.
"Oh," Sasuke smirked feeling pleased that his guess was right. "You didn't know?"
Itachi rose to his feet. "Why don't we end this game of charades?"
"Oh, it will end, brother, but the victory will be mine."
Itachi did not respond. For the first time in years, he did not feel like he wanted to die.
/
She ran without feeling her legs, not noticing the obstacles. With every step closer Mei felt like the distance was not decreasing. It felt as if she was running on a spot. She had to make it. She had to.
/
The fated battle continued. Itachi activated the Mangekyō Sharingan. A memory of his childhood invaded Sasuke's mine. The younger Uchiha sighed. "Finally," he said. "It all ends here." The brothers spoke no more. Itachi secured Sasuke in place with a shadow clone. Sasuke watched in slow motion as Itachi leaned in and proceeded to rip out his eyes. Fear paralyzed the young Uchiha. The next events happened in slow motion. Itachi's eye weakened, breaking his concentration, for a moment deactivating the Tsukuyomi, but it was enough for Sasuke to break free.
"You broke through my Tsukuyomi?" Itachi dropped to his knees, Sasuke continued staring at his brother with a madman's grin on his face. Itachi braced himself folding his hands to perform a jutsu. Sasuke attacked, sending a wave of lighting at his brother. Itachi dodged with easy, but Sasuke's attacks did not stop. A rigged shuriken followed, striking Itachi with a blade. Itachi landed on the ground and pulled out the blade, causing his blood to splatter all over the floor. The older Uchiha glanced at Sasuke. His eyes twitched. Itachi's vision blurried.
"Backlash from the earlier Tsukuyomi?" Sasuke snarled. "How unfortunate. I like it."
/
She kept on running. "Just a little bit more, just a little…"
/
The time stood still and nothing else existed around them. Thunder shook the sky. The darkness quickly crept around them. Heavy rainfall poured from the sky. Lighting hit the nearby ground. Sasuke raised his hand, allowing the lighting to slide into his body. He activated the Kirin. An enormous creature made of lightening appeared before them. He lunged forward and struck Itachi. Itachi's eyes widened as his body was devoured by the light. Sasuke's eyes returned to normal as he dropped to his knees. "It's over…" he whispered.
"Is this…the death you wanted to recreate?" Sasuke jolted at the sound of Itachi's voice. He slowly rose to his feet clenching his teeth. The mark on his body activated.
"Damn you,"
Sasuke glared at Itachi. His brother sat on the ground smiling lightly. "Without this I would have been dead," Itachi continued smiling. "You really have gotten stronger little Sasuke, but this time…" Itachi rose to his feet, "I will show you my final trump card."
/
When she reached the Uchiha Clan hideout she could not believe her eyes. The place was in ruins. Mei looked around desperately, trying to figure out where to run, and that was when she saw it. The Susanoo, pulling out the legendary sword of Totsuka.
"No…no…" she whispered and rushed to the battle site. "STOP IT! STOP IT, ITACHI!" she yelled. Itachi glanced at the girl with his blurry vision. "PLEASE STOP!" she pleaded with him, but he looked away. Suddenly giant snakes extended out of Sasuke's body. Sasuke dug his nails into his knees. Mei rushed towards him, but Itachi snatched her before she reached his brother. "What are you doing? Let go of me! Sasuke, he…" Mei fought trying to get out of Itachi's arms.
"You idiot!" he hissed. "Look at him. He used up almost all his chakra; he cannot control that thing inside him. He could have killed you."
Itachi transported Mei to a safer distance while watching Sasuke from the corner of his eye.
"I don't care, I need to help him." she slapped his hands away.
Itachi cupped her face. Their eyes met. His breathing was heavy and irregular. Her hands landed on his arms. "Calm down," he said quietly. "Everything is going to be fine." He touched her forehead with his. "I promise." Itachi leaned closer and kissed her forehead. His hand gently landed on her belly; a small smile crossed his face. He knew.
Sasuke's scream echoed in the air. Itachi released her and hurried in the direction of his brother. Itachi quickly assessed the situation. Sasuke could no longer suppress Orochimaru inside him. itachi did not hesitate. The snakes emerging from Sasuke were killed and Orochimaru was sealed. "Is that all you've got?" Itachi asked looking at his brother. Sasuke snarled.
Mei watched from afar. She could not hear the conversation, but she knew that Itachi said something provocative. It was only then that it hit here that Itachi's "fine" was not going to happen. Itachi was at his limit. She rushed towards them when Sasuke started to attack once again, yet all his attacks were reflected. The attacks mirrored and struck Sasuke. His body slammed into a large rock. Sasuke winced, but he felt no pain, the only thought running through his head was that he was going to lose. Itachi made his way to his brother. His movements were slow and battled. Mei climbed her way to the brothers. She had to stop them. The Susanoo suddenly faded. Itachi raised his hand and reached out to Sasuke. Sasuke jerked back but the rock prevented him from leaving. Itachi's fingertips poked his forehead.
"I am sorry, Sasuke. There will not be a next time," he whispered. "Take care of Mei…"
The older Uchiha dropped on the ground. Sasuke's body gave up and he fell beside his brother. Mei reached the brothers. Her hands were shaking as she reached out to Itachi. Blood flowed profusely from his eyes and mouth. "Itachi…" she whispered. Mei gathered her strength and started flowing chakra into his body, but Itachi's body rejected it. He was dying. "Is this your definition of fine?" she cried. "How is this fine? Itachi!" Mei clenched his clothes in his hands and shook him. Tears streaming down her face were washed away by the rain. "Please don't die…please…"
His hand twitched. Very slowly he covered her hand with his. "Don't cry…Mei…" she squeezed his hand in hers. "I love you…I have always…loved you…" he breathed out and closed his eyes. Her head dropped on his chest and a heart-breaking cry filled the air.
Sasuke listened to her cries, his mind balanced on the edge of unconsciousness. He felt nothing. No sadness, no happiness, no pain. Sasuke Uchiha felt empty. She sobbed loudly. His eyes were closed but he sensed her letting go of Itachi and moving towards him. Even if she finished him off, he did not care. Everything was over. Mei said something through her tears, but he did not hear the words. His mind blanked and he sank into oblivion.