"Left alone on the pavement Thinkin' back on what it was, I'd open up my chest for your entertainment, I'd do anything for us I'd do—" Tablo (True Crime Lyrics)
A Collection of ITASASU One-shots...
Summary: Itachi's dying wish is for his brother to live happily. Sasuke just wants the truth. WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH. SAD. Inspired by: Big Bang Haru Haru
Pairings: Itasasu. Mentioned NaruSaku and ShisuiIzumi
Genre: Angst Hurt
True Crime:
Second Story: Hiding Behind A Lie
"They say that you have mere hours left," Shisui murmured, checking over the last of the documentation that had been administered.
"Thank you, to you and Izumi, you've both helped me so much," Itachi said, uncurling his bony fingers from the thin white covers settled over his lap. He was dressed in all white, his pale face looking gauntly and drained. The tubes sticking into his nose, the stringiness of his hair…it all looked so wrong… "And congratulations on your engagement, I wish you so much happiness,"
"Thank you Itachi," Shisui smiled, placing the documents to the side. "Look what I brought you," he said, reaching into his bag to bring out two large photo albums that Itachi instantly recognized. He took them into his hands with great care, opening the first one.
Itachi smiled softly, looking over the pictures of him and his beloved little brother. All of them from the past when they had been close.
Closer than brothers should have ever been…
"Are you sure you want it this way Itachi, wouldn't it had been easier to spend the rest of your days with him?" Shisui asked, looking at his cousin in anguish. He had seen Itachi and Sasuke grow apart. Guilt ate at him that he followed and did as Itachi had asked. Pretending to be Itachi's new lover and in the process breaking Sasuke's heart, making him hate Itachi.
The truth was, Itachi didn't deserve Sasuke's hate.
Sasuke didn't deserve to lose Itachi.
Life, this reality, was just too cruel.
"It's for the best Shisui. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I selfishly kept my brother to myself and just left him alone afterwards. I'm glad he's found someone new to love," Itachi said. It was a delusional thought, Shisui knew, but didn't correct it.
"You mean with his new boyfriend, Naruto." Shisui whispered, turning his head. He knew Naruto was actually Sasuke's best friend and the two pretended to be in love. Sasuke wanted to spite Itachi, or something, he had no doubts. Shisui held back a bitter smile, these two Uchiha Brothers were too much alike.
So foolishly perfect for each other.
After all, Sasuke still spat words and cursed him for taking his big brother away from him. Shisui had never, and would never come between the two brothers.
Just as he knew that Itachi never meant to hurt Sasuke. All Itachi ever did, he did for his baby brother. Intending for Sasuke to always have the best and be happy in life.
When he had learned of their incestuous relationship Shisui had been shocked. Admittedly, at first he thought it was wrong, and a bit disgusting. But looking at them together changed his mind and he found himself wishing for them to thrive and make it together despite what society thought. Their love wasn't for him, or anyone to judge. It just was, simple and pure in nature.
When Sasuke and Itachi are together, there is no denying that they were made for the other, simply meant to be.
Time and illness said otherwise though.
Around the time that Itachi had headed off to college, he'd ended up finding out that he was had some form of cancer in his lungs. Itachi eventually found walking to be difficult as his breathing worsen. He'd cough up blood, and struggle to breathe on most days.
Itachi had been so scared to tell his little brother what was going on. He crumbled in the face of thinking this was divine punishment because he and his brother had committed sin by being together. Sasuke was still young, Itachi was older, he should know better.
He corrupted his baby brother.
It was stupid, Shisui thought. This was not Itachi paying for their sins, this was torture, and it was unfair.
Such is life, he supposed.
"Itachi, what will Sasuke say once you are no longer here?" Shisui asked his voice thick with unshed tears as he gazed at him. Itachi, still smiling, turned to him and shook his head.
"There will be nothing to say, there is nothing that you can say. Life will continue whether I am here or not," Itachi said simply, turning to the next page. His eyes going soft at the picture of his baby brother smiling into the camera with kitten ears on his head.
Shisui gritted his teeth, "Itachi," he murmured. Itachi glanced up, his eyes so light and empty, resigned to his fate. Shisui had so much to say, he wanted to scream 'Sasuke's still so madly in love with you' but the words didn't come out.
All he could do was hang his head and wait. He shook his head and Itachi looked back down, his smile never once dropping. Shisui wondered how could he still smile when his life was marked by mere minutes. Itachi truly was something else.
"Sasuke will continue to live happily without me. Please don't ever let him find out." Itachi said softly. Shisui nodded. He'd already spent years hiding this secret, what was the rest of his life compared to that?
The steady beeping of the machine that was helping Itachi breathe filled the room.
Rhythmically ticking away the time.
Unknown to both of them, outside the door listening in on them was a blond haired boy, his blue eyes wide with tears. He brought a hand over his mouth to try and stop his sobs.
When he had come to the hospital to visit his girlfriend, Sakura, he had not expected to find Shisui there. He had followed him, determined to have a conversation with him. He had wanted to know why Itachi was so adamant about leaving Sasuke.
How could he be so cruel to come between their love.
What he didn't expect was for Itachi…all this time, and Sasuke's anger, all because….Itachi was dying
Fuck Itachi, and fuck Shisui for helping him lie. Naruto was not like that, he would never lie to his friend and he was not going to let Sasuke continue to live filled with hatred towards the person he loved the most.
Dashing off, he ran determined to tell his best friend just what he found out.
"We will be together forever Otouto, once we figure life out. It will just be me and you against the world," Itachi had said, he was so happy and hopeful, his fingers caressing Sasuke's as he moved to slip a ring on.
Sasuke nodded his head, smiling at his brother as he watched the cool metal ring on his finger. It was a promise ring. His brother had said that it would represent everything that they wanted to accomplish in life. To them, nothing matter much than being together.
It didn't matter what way, shape, or form. They were willing to work hard just as long as it was the two of them against the world.
"Niisan," he called. Itachi smiled at him, watching him. Sasuke blushed as he moved forward, grabbing his brother's face still so he could kiss his cheek. "I love you," he said, hugging his brother as well as he could.
Itachi was older, bigger, but it didn't stop him from wanting to envelop all of him.
Itachi had been momentarily shocked, before bringing his arms around his younger brother, squeezing gently at his waist and hips. He smiled, his eyes softening. Here, pressed so intimately together, was the best feeling in the world.
"I love you as well, Otouto,"
Everything that Itachi had ever said had been a lie.
Every kiss, every touch, every fucking moment! How…how was all of it a lie. Sasuke couldn't understand. Itachi's soft gaze on him, their fingers interlocked…
Sasuke whipped more of his tears. They wouldn't stop falling. Everyone was talking about the happy marriage that was happening soon. No one was talking or looking at Sasuke, like they were avoiding him or something, but he was not stupid. He'd seen Itachi give Shisui that ring, and the way that he kissed his cheek.
That was their thing.
He was officially losing his older brother, and he didn't know what to do. Even when he pretended to have someone new, there was no getting Itachi jealous. Why had Itachi abandoned him, and when had he stopped loving him, it made no sense to Sasuke.
What had he done wrong?
Sasuke hated Itachi.
At least, that's what he told himself when he had ripped his photos and broke anything and everything his brother had ever given him. Tears poured from his eyes as his heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
Perfect, always loved by others, his older brother, Uchiha Itachi was everything that he wanted, and all that he hated.
He was sure that he was, so why couldn't he pull this damn ring from his finger. Sasuke pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes, willing himself to stop crying.
All anyone could talk about was how his brother was so successful. How wonderful it was that he was marrying someone equally as great, and getting on with life.
Getting on perfectly fine… without him.
Sasuke punched the wall nearest him, finally falling to his knees on the floor.
Fuck, why is it that he had to fall in love with his older brother…
They were the closest of brothers. From the very beginning Sasuke had been so fascinated and taken with his brother. Itachi was the only thing that his eyes followed. People claimed that he was so cute, admitting and wanting to be like his brother.
Reality would shock them.
He didn't want to be his brother.
He wanted to be with his brother.
Holding him tight, melting under his touch because it was the only place that he felt warm, safe, and happy. Itachi was comfort. Itachi was his home, sun, moon, and the stars.
Itachi was everything.
The two of them were out and about, having a good day.
Sasuke had been thirteen at the time. Itachi had just turned eighteen and was planning to move away to university. Itachi would have left much earlier, but he had refused any and every offer to advance him for an earlier university entry.
His parents thought he was wasting his potential, but allowed him to do things as he wished. They had always been lenient, wanting for their children's happiness over other things. Although their father loved boasting about how great both his sons were.
They both knew that their parents wouldn't be happy with what they really wanted in life. It was their sort of secret. Their parents were off well not knowing anyways. This was their life, not theirs.
Sasuke was sad.
"Don't worry otouto, it'll be only for a while," Itachi had said once he expressed his sadness. Sasuke had pouted, refusing to believe him. Itachi had gazed at him intently, leaning in until Sasuke was smiling wide, his heart beating fast and wanting to hide from his brother's eyes. Itachi hadn't let him, nuzzling into his soft cheek and murmuring his love for him. Sasuke couldn't stop smiling as joy blossomed through his chest.
Itachi always knew how to make him feel better in no time.
It was going to be okay. This was all part of their plan and it would only be for a few years. Itachi promised to call and visit in that time.
"Stay still," Itachi chuckled, holding his brother against him. Sasuke was trying to squish their cheeks together as Itachi aimed his new cell phone high above them.
"We won't both fit in the screen if I don't!" Sasuke complained.
At the end of it, there were several images of Sasuke and Itachi making funny faces, fussing, not looking in the correct direction, and their favorite of each other smiling without a care in the world.
Itachi turned to Sasuke, kissing his cheek before capturing his lips in a kiss. "I'm going to miss you," he whispered.
Sasuke had blushed red, licking at his lips as he mumbled, "Me too, I already miss you niisan," Sasuke closed his eyes. "I love you so much."
"I love you even more," Itachi responded.
So why did he have to pretend that they were nothing.
Without him, he was empty. Unable to function properly because all he was left feeling was cold and empty.
He hated him so badly…
Closing his eyes, Sasuke leaned against his wall. The images of his brother smiling at someone else, holding their hand…broke his heart even more. His eyes shifted back to the damned ring that weigh so heavily on him.
When his brother failed to call, made excuses, or simply never got back to him, he assumed his brother was just too busy. He didn't want to burden his brother. Instead he worked hard and focused on reaching him.
If he could complete school, pass everything, then he would be able to follow after his brother all the faster.
The hardest part was when Itachi failed to visit.
Gradually they had started to grow apart. Itachi had his life, and Sasuke had his. His mother had said that it was normal. That it happened with every sibling. That he would understand as he got older and went to university.
She made it sound like such an awful place.
Why would anyone want to go somewhere that took you away from your most important person.
"Silly, Otouto,"
Nothing had ever given him a reason that his brother would leave him.
That he would move on without him.
Sasuke felt lost, not knowing what to do. He was so angry. Not only at his brother but at Shisui for daring to take him away from him.
"What we want isn't right Otouto, I can't do that to you," Itachi said when Sasuke had attempted to confront him over the change in their relationship. "I would have thought that you would have grown out of whatever it was that we were thinking as children. It was foolish Otouto, let's grow up."
Was Sasuke really the idiot that had taken everything that they had shared with each other seriously? That he had thought their love was real and there was nothing but sincerity and warmth between them…Did his feelings not mean a damn thing!
"You're my brother. I trusted everything that you said." Sasuke snapped. "I'm in love with you!"
"I don't want to hurt you, Sasuke, but I think you should find someone and fall in love with them instead. They will be able to give you everything that you want and need." Itachi patted his head. It felt condescending, like he was dismissing everything that he ever felt. "As brothers, of course we love each other. We just can't be in love with each other."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, slapping his hand away, "That's not the point,"
Itachi stood, poking his forehead like he always did when he couldn't get his stubborn Otouto to do as he said. "Forgive me Sasuke, this is what is best."
That was the end of their discussion. There was so much that Sasuke still wanted to say. He wanted to argue, but his brother had just cut him off.
The words he wanted to say wouldn't come.
There was nothing to be said.
Itachi's fingers slipped, his chest was tight.
Shisui moved forward, concerned. "What's wrong?"
Itachi had tears in his eyes as he slowly chocked out the words. "I can't breathe..." he gasped, lurching forward as he tried to force himself to hold on a little longer. There was so much that he wanted, that he had avoided thinking about over his impending doom. Why was he thinking about it all now.
His little brother, his smiling face, his warmth.
Itachi didn't want to die. The albums fell as the machines started to go crazy. Shisui was screaming, calling for a nurse or a doctor. Anyone. Itachi knew, this was the end...
Naruto made it the Uchiha household, simply barging in. Mikoto looked miffed as he dragged mud through her clean floors and Fugaku snapped at him to come back and clean up his mess. Naruto ignored them.
It was raining outside, and he knew that he was being bad, especially because the Uchiha kept a clean pristine, and white carpet.
He would deal with their wrath later.
Pounding his hands over Sasuke's bedroom door he screamed. Sasuke opened the door, telling Naruto to shut up. The blond rushed inside, soaking wet. "What are you doing running in the rain like that?" Sasuke asked, confused by his best friend.
He looked as terrible as Sasuke felt.
"Sasuke, I just learned something bad about Itachi, I need you to know," The blond rushed to say while trying to swallow air into his burning lungs.
"Wait slow down…" Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows.
"Itachi…Itachi…" Naruto panted.
Sasuke scoffed, moving away from the blond. "I don't want to hear shit about Itachi," he hissed with anger. Ready to close himself off.
Naruto grabbed him around his shoulders, spinning him around. "Listen closely, teme, I will only say this once." Naruto took a deep breath to calm his fast beating heart. Trying his best to keep his thoughts together long enough to say, "Right now, Itachi is dying at the hospital!"
Sasuke's anger fell from his face, "No…you're lying…" Sasuke shook his head in denial, "Why would you!" he demanded, feeling betrayed by his best friend.
Naruto punched him, trying to knock sense into his friend. It was always through their fists that they could get shit across to each other.
"I'm not lying!" The blond roared, "Itachi is going to die and you need to be there and tell him everything that you've wanted because you won't get to ever again!"
"Where?" Sasuke asked, shaking.
"Konoha Main hospital, now!" Naruto cried.
Sasuke pushed past his friend, running out the front door. Naruto moved to follow after him but was stopped by an angry Mikoto who forced him to stay and clean. Naruto prayed that it was not too late.
Sasuke ran all the way to the hospital.
They lived in a village. A shitty place where they all knew each other and the population was relatively small. Everything was within a few miles of range. It took him a good twenty minutes to get there, breathing hard. He ran to the front, asking for Itachi's room.
The nurse standing in front of him was his friend Sakura who looked at him oddly. She pulled up the information that he asked for and told him the room number. Sasuke was in even more disbelief that Itachi was really there.
He ran to the nearest stair case, not willing to wait for the elevator as he rushed to get to his brother's side faster.
Once he was close he was met with Shisui waiting outside. The man looked up with tears on his face, but obviously shocked to see him.
"Itachi, where's Itachi!" he demanded.
"Sasuke," Shisui said, then dropped his head, shaking it slightly. No there was no more hiding it. Not with Sasuke here. Shisui was not going to keep his promise to Itachi. He couldn't in the face of his frantic cousin. "I'm sorry. Itachi didn't want you to find out about this. He wanted to leave this world knowing that you would be in love and happy with someone else because he'd be unable to give you that"
"Where is he…" Sasuke growled.
Shisui motioned his head for the hospital room door beside him. Sasuke dashed to open the door, but Shisui grabbed his arm stopping him. "Sasuke,"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, glaring. "What"
"Sasuke, Itachi never stopped loving you. For him, it's always been you. But please, live your life happily like he wished for you." He grabbed Sasuke's hand, uncurling his fingers to place the cold simple ring that Sasuke instantly recognized.
It was the other pair of the promise ring that matched the one Itachi had given him. It was Itachi's ring.
"He will always love you Sasuke. Itachi stopped breathing... he's gone."
"No," Denial hit. Sasuke felt tears fall from his eyes. He gripped the ring close, devastated. This wasn't true. The fuck was going on! How…All this time…
What was truth, what was a lie, everything came crashing onto Sasuke.
Shaking, Sasuke ran towards the room door, pulling it open. Inside, the head doctor was having a nurse chart away the last of Itachi, who was still hooked up the breathing machine, but there was no pulse. No one stopped him as he ran to hug his brother's still body, wishing to feel any last traces of his warmth.
"Itachi…" he cried. "I never hated you. I'll always love you. Only you."
He fell to his knees, hand holding his brother's stiff one. He never wanted to let go. And he wasn't. He'd live the life that they wished, and always planned to have.
Until they were together again.