I thought this would happen.

You kind of look peaceful sleeping there. I don't know how you could possibly sleep out here, it's too damn bright and hot I think. Of course, I have always been mostly intolerant to light.

I didn't think they'd let me take you out here objection-less. But they did. I was surprised; they acted like it was no big deal and let me drag you out here. I think they're afraid of me too. Everyone else is.

But you're not afraid. You're just lying there on the grass, snug between the warmth of the sun and the blades of grass.

Your breaths are still calm but it doesn't smell like blood anymore. There's a nice summer breeze, with hints of the ocean not far east from here. Just a bit of salt water in the air. Not much.

Why do I always think of Uncle Obito when I'm near you?

You're still shivering though. You must be cold inside, in place of the warm heat that radiated in waves from your body. It was nice while it lasted.

Well, maybe not to you.

Your chakra was a silvery light blue, the way spun in the air untamed made me stir. It was very… appealing.

Do you still know I'm here?

You must know you're outside.

Afterall, we were on the same team in the ANBU. You were the scout, using your dog-nins and sensitive nose to pick out the enemy in the area while I move in behind and exterminate. Your nose should have definitely picked up the outdoor smells of pine needles and ocean side sand a while ago.

No, don't worry. Those days in the ANBU were just fine. I didn't hate my clan members. They just got in my way. It was for the best.

You think I'm crazy, don't you? To each his own I suppose. I'll never understand how you can be so sickeningly loyal to those people when you have the strength to wreak havoc.

It's not your style, right? But why should you hide behind that mask and let everything just pass by you? That doesn't make sense.

Maybe I can liberate you someday.

You don't want to be liberated, do you?

Nonetheless, they're better off dead. My father knew far too much about my works in the ANBU and was starting to get the other Uchiha elite riled up in suspicions. So what if they're suspicions were true, they were irritating me. I needed to test my Mangekyou anyway. It's kind of tiresome, but it works.

Of course, you already know this, don't you? Even if you could have the Mangekyou, you wouldn't be able to handle it as well. Hell, you nearly pass out by using the full Sharingan for five minutes at a time.

But what am I expecting? You are just the son of a coward, gifted with a powerful asset.

You're mad at me now, aren't you? I can't say. Maybe you should tell me.

Yeah, I heard about your father. The Legendary White Fang. Who knew you were his son? Don't worry about his suicide; he would've gotten killed in battle later on anyway.
Didn't Sakumo have long silver hair?

Why don't you grow out your hair? I fancy long hair.
Maybe that's why you won't grow it out.
I hate you.

But right now I hate the sun outside more. It's too fucking intense. We should go back inside the basement.

You don't want to, do you? You're still basking in the sun asleep and trying to get whatever amount of heat you can to replace that lost chakra. You look more like a cat than a dog stretched out in the sun like that. It's… fascinating.

Ah, so you are awake. You open your onyx eye and meet them up with mine. I thought no one would ever look into my eyes again, not after I've used my Sharingan on them that is. I'm almost touched by the gesture, but I'm too busy squinting from the damn bright grass and sky.

I guess that's my price for staying sheltered in a dark hole for so long. You don't seem to be bothered by it at all.
Or are you?
I can't tell, I can't really see well enough to check myself.

"What are you doing Itachi?"

You speak. I haven't heard a single thing from you since I dug some shuriken in your sides before tying you up with that sharkskin. Your voice is strong but quiet like it always is. There's isn't any fear in it, and has such little amount of curiosity in your voice that it hardly seems like you asked me a question at all.

You certainly are one-of-a-kind.

I'm glad.

"Go back to sleep."

I can tell you're contemplating it.

I don't like my voice. It always sounds the same no matter what is coming from it.
Dead.

Sometimes I wonder if you killed me a long time ago and I'm just here wandering until I find purgatory. It's accurate enough, I don't remember much of my childhood except when I was happy with Uncle Obito. It's like my mind was wiped clean like a palette and all that remained from my childhood was him.
I think I did it to myself. No one in my clan could.

You seem very tired; I wish you'd keep resting.

Then again, I'm not one for sleeping either.

But I think you'll forfeit this battle. The sun may be brighter than your chidori, but it's warm and lulling and you're already exhausted. There are many things to be said, even more things to be questioned, for both of us, but now is not the time.

Your mask is flecked with brown flaky spots along with your arms and under your breast. My hands too. I rub my fingers together as it turns powdery and blows away. Dry. Your blood has run dry.

But never cold.

You're special.