Chpater 11: My Characters: Bipolar Schizophrenic Junkie Sexually Confused Emo Happy Rock Fetishist-Hipsters With Too Much Free Time And A Fondness For Saying 'Fuck.'

Itachi sat back in his leather office chair, his fingers crossed, and his eyes pointed heavenward. Three years had seen little or no progress, yet in one week, everything had changed. That seemed to happen a lot with his life, and to tell you the truth, he wasn't sure whether or not he liked it. Although the last week had been more than satisfactory in results.

The Akatsuki were finished off, and well, didn't you read the last chapter?

Of course, that didn't come without a price.

Well, duh, or else we wouldn't have a story, now would we?

Raz, of course was becoming what Artemis described as a 'understandably emo kid.' Whatever the Hell that meant. But Itachi had the sneaking suspicion that it meant Raz was depressed, mopey, pissed, bitter, anti-social, and extremely annoying. But they had to put up with it. After all, the memories he probably had to deal with now were not exactly pleasent.

It had all come back to him when the second the kunai sunk into Gaara's back. Raz was Gaara's son. And of course, Gaara, hating Sasuke desperately, hated anything to do with him. So when his son was born with red eyes by a woman Gaara had not even known until too late was Sasuke's third cousin, Gaara had made their lives, both the boy's and his mother's; a living Hell. So when Orochimaru came along and took Gaara away and maade Raz feel wanted, it was only natural that Raz would feel attached. Itachi understood now; Sasuke would be getting Orochimaru's soul instead of him, so that's why he attacked Artemis so violently. But now...

"I never truly loved him, I realize that now."

The words echoed in his head repeatedly. But the next sentence was the heart of it all.

"I love your niece."

The problem was that Arty was now fooling around with some guy she met at a bar, what was his name? Kent, that was it. Yes. Kent was, of course, everything Raz saw himself as not. Kent was handsome, withPurple (why did it have to be purple,why?)eyes andblack hair. Whereas Raz looked with his red hair, eyes, and complexion, 'like he was covered in rust' in his words. Kent was smart and studious, not to mention outspoken and daring, whereas Raz had a quiet sweet manner. And most of all, Kent was musical. Arty was completely smitten, so much that it showed in a rather obnoxious manner. In fact, it was all she could think about, besides going back to Konoha to see everyone and get her band back up again. She even wanted to take Kent with her to be Sober Love's rythm guitarist, as if it wasn't bad enough. She was so caught up in all of it, she barely noticed Raz's new attitude, just dubbing it as 'emo,' trying to confort him,and occasionally trying to cheer him up by lip-syching to Michael Jackson and doing the Thriller dance. But she gave up after a while, and just started telling him to get over it.

But he wouldn't get over it.

Itachi sighed. He really needed to stop worrying about everything and have a vacation, but there was still so much to do...

There was a knock on the door. "Come in."

Eucharista Patricia enterred the room, a big smile on her cheery face, as usual. "Hello, Itachi-kun! I was just wondering if you were doing anything tonight?"

Itachi sighed and looked at her. She was wearing a green-plaid skirt and black blouse. It looked cute, especially with that smile she was wearing. It was like she was saying 'I'm a cute little little girl, come and play with me or I'll eat your face." Itachi couldn't help but have a fondness for her.

"Patty-chan, I'm sorry, but I really have too much on my mind right now to go out, but don't let me stop you from having fun."

Patty pouted at him. "You're worried about Arty-chan and Raz-kun, but you shouldn't. Stop concerning yourself so much with them and start living your own life. Remember when you used to do that?"

He did. He remembered being a young man wandering all over the country at will, not a care in the world, doing whatever he wanted, before he ever met Arty or started hanging around the Akatsuki. Boy, did that not suck. He pined for that forgotten freedom. It began to overwhelm him until...

"Yes, I do, in fact, Patty-chan, I think I'm in the mood for some deja-vu."

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Raz stared down at the coverlet, or, in truth, his purchase, like a stalker watching the object of hs obsession.His lust for it was overwhelming in a way that would of scared him if he had any room in his head for thought or feeling.

A magnetic attraction drew everything fromhim into this newly acquired object. However, there was a small part of him using all its strength to keep him from taking it.

Fear, he told himself. But deep down, he knew the truth. The thing keeping him away was that hope. That fantasy. Him waking up from this nightmare, Artemis lying beside him, grumpy for him waking her up and rewarding him with a sharp right. Pain? That was part of his fantasy? He really was a masochist. After all, hadn't he once hoped against hope that his soul would be devoured so some disgusting snake could inhabit his flesh? Was he not on the brink of something that had the potential to harm him just as much, if not more? Something that would not only hurt him, but everyone around him? Did he wish them harm? Even the woman he loved? Well, maybe. After all, that was probably the only thing left in this world he had to give her.

Another reminder of the circumstances that put him in this state. He had once wished her harm, death even. He hated her for her very existance, loathed her to the brink of insanity. And now?

He had just wanted her to be happy. But now, he realized there was more to it. He wanted her to be happy with him. And he had probably a million chances to make this dream become reality. But he had missed them, ignorant to the nature of his own feelings. Now, he had lost to some guitar playing pretty boy with a stupid haircut.

She was so happy though! She was in a state of bliss, and she knew and appreciated it, unlike him. Just another way she was so much better than him. She had a lot of growing up to do? He was still that same hateful naive little boy wishing for revenge. She was everything her name suggested and more. She was...everything. He hated her, he loved her, she brought him comfort and hope, she brought him pain and crushed his every dream.

Now all that was left for him lay on his coverlet. It looked so insignificant to anyone who didn't know. But while Raz knew he was a fool, he knew he was not ignorant. Especially when it came to this.

He grabbed the syringe and drove it into his arm. As the liquid spread throughout his veins he saw a woman walk towards him. Not Artemis, for she only brought forth half the feelings in him that the girl did. Needles to say the pain part was gone.

He saw her face and gasped. So like Arty's only without any traces of anger or pain. She was just.. beautiful and happy.

"Hello, my son," she said in a voice like music.

"Who are you?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Have you forgotten? I'm your mother, Rei. I'm here to---"

With that, she faded away. Raz rose to the breaking point of disappointment. So much so he didn't feel anything as he slipped out of conciousness.

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Arty was shocked and doubting. No. Way. No Fucking Way.

Was she alive? Because if she was, that would explain a lot.

No, there were her vital signs. But, then, what was she doing in heaven?

Who cared? She was just so beautifully, completely, breathtakingly, nuerotically happy, nothing else mattered, just Kent. That was all there was.

His eyes, oh, his eyes? PURPLE PURPLE PURPLE! PURPLE! BIG! PURPLE! EXPRESSIVE! PURPLE! No, his nose? Pointed, strong, perfect. Lips, well, they came with a perfect look... and everything else. Hair? Shiny! Black! Reaching to his ears! Like Gerard Way's! It was a fucking miracle! His voice, deep and funky (like Joey Ramone's, was that legal?). Everything he said was funny, insightful, sarcastic. He danced around in summer storms singing the F.U.N song. He'd yell out in public areas for everyone to get naked and headbang to The Beastie Boys. He did a dead-on impression of Linda Blair in the 'The Exorcist.' He wentto horror movies and laughed at them. He made cinnamon buns. He moon-walked his way to work. He listened to Nine Inch Nails. He wore John Lennon Granny glasses and made fun of Sid Vicious. He sung 'Material Girl' in the shower. He kissed guy-friends on the lips. He wore fairy wings when he went to the library (don't ask). He walked around barefoot. He was an orgasm on legs and happiness in pants. She was becoming one of those women she hated, and she didn't give two shits.

It didn;t matter, she didn't hate anyone. How could she? All her stamina and emotions were used up loving his every detail.

Heehee! Sunshine! Kittens! Anne Rice Novels! The resurection of Kurt Cobain! Yellow Submarines!

Seriously, he had, in his bathtub, at least twenty hand-carved yellow toy submarines. What was better than that? Ummm, yeah, she couldn't think of anything either. Well, that wasn't surprising, since all there was in existance as far as she was concerned was a certain someone whose first name started with a 'K.' R.E.M's Shiny Happy People would be her theme song if it didn't suck so much.

And, since he existed. Nothing was going to faze her. No one could piss her off. No one. Unless it was that dude who sang on the Shaws Jewelers radio ads. Yeah, then she might be capable of a pissy mood. But other than that, the world was perfect in every way.

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AN: Short Chapter, I know, but I thought I'd answer some reviews for once. Sorry about the title, it was longer than the chapter, I know. And, as it turns out, this author's note. Don't worry, I will write a long chapter soon, I promise!

Mio: Under no circumstances will I let your suspicions come true. Sorry, but Patty and Itachi are not Sasuke and Sakura. That character is merely a gesture of affection towards a friend of mine who is a monster Itachi fangirl. And about your problem, try making your friends at school read your stories. And, as for Raz's mother; I thought it ridiculous to add another OC. So that, much like the rest of my character, is a mystery.

Spirit Demon Goddess: Sorry about EvilRockrKeed. He is my spastic friend Dillon, who currently living at a Bio Lab in Housten Texas where they are conducting esperiments. But don't tell him, he thinks every time he's absent from class it's due to him being 'sick.'

Everyone Else: Yes, I know, I rock. Yet despite my possession of this information, you have to keep telling me that. Or else I'll go totally emo and curl up into a ball and then penguins will attack and eat my brain and you'll never hear from me again.