Chapter: Thirty-One

Title: The Devastation

Author: Juniper11

Beta: BlueArcticWolf

Chapter Thirty-One

He hadn't gone far, Sasuke noted. He sat in the garden of his home meditating or attempting to meditate-but he wouldn't be for long. Sasuke took a seat right across from Itachi, folding his legs beneath him. It came as no surprise that Itachi ignored his presence, so Sasuke did what any younger brother would have done in such a situation. He yanked a handful of grass out of the soft earth and tossed them into his brother's face. With the help of a small breeze jutsu, the grass tapped and tickled Itachi's eyes and cheekbones.

The response was immediate. "Must you be so childish Sasuke?"

"Just making sure I have your attention, Itachi."

"You don't," Itachi replied curtly.

"Itachi…." Sasuke whined, a near pleading note entering his tone.

"No, Sasuke."

"Why can't you see that this would be for the best? Why won't you let me do something for you for just once in my life?"

"If you want to do something for me then make a rational decision since the one you're currently attempting to make will by no means be for the best."

"You mean it won't be best for you? Because everyone else seems to think it makes a hell of a lot of sense. I don't get it, Itachi. I've never seen you put your feelings before the safety of the village before. "

Itachi's eyes snapped open and met his little brother's furious gaze. "Leave. I'm done discussing this."

"You know what? I am too." Sasuke turned to walk away, but suddenly Itachi was there blocking his path.

"Don't do anything foolish, Sasuke."

"I won't." Sasuke said, his eyes clashing against Itachi's in a battle of wills that was interrupted by a tremor more violent, more devastating than any they had felt before….because a lone figure stepped through the veil that separated the dimensions in search of something that was once stolen from him.

Sasuke's eyes locked with Itachi's and without a second thought they both sped off towards the dimensional tear. Only, once they reached the area there was nothing to be found.

:::

It was a devastation that could not be put into words. Kakashi walked through the village in something akin to horror. It had been quite some time since the village had been leveled like this.

The streets were littered with people trying to clean the mess that had been made. The people were frightened, he could see it in their eyes, but that didn't stop civilian and ninja alike from binding together and putting the village back together, carting people off the hospital, and just surviving in general.

Kakashi watched as Saku lifted debris effortlessly in order to get to someone that was trapped beneath it. Her determination and dedication poured off her in waves and a part of him could do nothing but admit he was proud of her before going off to offer whatever help that he could.

:::

A frown graced Mikoto's lips once she stepped into her garden to see her youngest son. She truly expected him to be out in the village with everyone else helping to put Konoha back together again and yet here he was being irresponsible.

The frown turned into a scowl once he turned around and faced her fully. A crimson gaze greeted her before she arched a brow at his audacity to even look at her with the Sharingan. The eyes quickly changed to black and Mikoto nodded to herself satisfactorily.

"Really Sasuke, must you continue pulling every ridiculous stunt ever invented? Go change your clothes before your father sees you. And just who did you get to sew the Uchiha Clan symbol onto that ensemble? You've been spending a lot of time with Naruto again haven't you? Wait…Sasuke what is that behind you? Is than an...ass bow?"

Mikoto watched as Sasuke stalked closer. His footsteps went unheard on the ground beneath him. His stride was that of a predator soft, certain, sure, and dangerous. Suddenly Mikoto knew that this wasn't the child that she had raised since birth. This was not the gentle boy who smiled like the sun shone from his heart. This boy had an aura that was dark and cloying. This boy seemed to be the embodiment of… hatred. This was the other one. The one she asked Itachi to bring to her.

The Uchiha Matriarch stood up straighter, wanting to present a better picture. She smoothed her hands over her clothes and thereafter did something that startled the stoic expression off Sasuke's face. Slowly she stretched open her arms and said with a voice full of a love that only a woman could give, "Come here son."

Sasuke hesitated for only one second before he moved wrapping the older woman in his arms, lifting her off her feet and burying his face in her neck. Mikoto could tell he was trying to control the amount the shivers that wracked through his body. She didn't know whether or not what he was feeling was joy or grief, pain or happiness but she knew that this moment felt right to her. A smile stretched across the woman's lips. It had been so long since either of her other children let her wrap her arms around them like this. She found that she liked it.

It was a while before he released her, but when he did Mikoto took a step back and looked him over. Her lips pursed and her eyes looked him up and down. A smirk worked his way onto his lips that he fought to erase, not knowing that with her next words it would die with ease.

"So you're the infamous Uchiha that I've heard so much about."

"You know who I am." His eyes studied her cautiously and Mikoto suddenly knew that now he was ready to treat her like a threat. It was a shame since she kind of liked the love that oozed out of him before he could control it.

"Why wouldn't I? But first things first let's get you into the house and get you changed."

"There's nothing wrong with my clothes." Mikoto heard the irritation creeping into his voice but ignored it.

"Of course not if you're a rampaging psychotic homosexual, but something tells me that's not who you are…am I correct?"

Sasuke didn't reply and Mikoto quietly chuckled and turned away from him, walking into her home fully expecting him to follow. She wondered what he thought of it as he followed behind her silently. She was certain that his eyes flickered over everything, committing it all to memory.

"Where is…?" His voice trailed off briefly before he started once more. "Where is Father?"

"In a meeting with the Clan Elders. I should probably be with him to ensure they make no mischief but today…I'm tired. Besides, they're probably only discussing the earthquakes and I'm pretty sure I already know who's responsible for that."

Mikoto said nothing when instead of trailing behind her he took a few swift steps forward and grasped her elbow to help guide her along. She supposed he probably noticed it…the illness that her husband and children attributed to old age. But frankly, she wasn't that old. However, she supposed her family was that stupid. It worked to her advantage, though. She didn't have to deal with the harassment that was sure to follow if they knew her health wasn't as great as it once was.

"Have you had Sakura look you over?" His tone demanded an answer but at the name of the pink haired kunoichi Mikoto snapped. Her mind filled with images of the young girl who only pretended to love her son. The little girl that knew nothing of love and sacrifice and respect. The Sakura who had hurt her son so much.

"I'll die before I let her touch me."

Sasuke's grip tightened on her arm almost painfully. Mikoto realized belatedly that perhaps her word choice was poor given the person she was talking to. She found that there was no fear in her breast when those half-wild eyes landed upon her. In fact, he couldn't seem to stop looking at her. She attributed it to the fact that since he had been so long without them, his fear that blinking would make her disappear was normal. "I didn't travel to another world just to watch you die again."

Mikoto pulled away. "I'm not dying."

"Perhaps not, but I'm going to ensure that you don't." Before Mikoto could blink she was being dragged out of her home. She dug in her heels using a bit of chakra to stick herself to the floor but a sharp yank quelled that attempt. It seemed that while he wouldn't let her die, he would allow her to lose an arm. After all, one didn't necessarily need an arm to live.

"Wait," Mikoto said, realizing that her dignity as the Uchiha Matriarch was about to be compromised. "Stop." She yelled when Sasuke kept going, but when he still didn't listen she cried out, "At least take off the ass bow!"

:::

Sakura blinked, stunned when Uchiha Mikoto was dumped onto her sofa. She had been on her way out to help at the hospital when she heard her front door crash in. She thought for a moment that she was under attack but the appearance of her future mother-in-law halted that line of thinking slightly.

The older woman looked rather disheveled and borderline outraged. Sakura had to bite back a chuckle because of all the women of the world she never expected to see Uchiha Mikoto looking thus.

Then she took a moment to look at the man who had brought her. It only took a split second for her to see that this Sasuke was from her world. She could see it in his cold, arrogant, aristocratic features, the expectant look in his eyes and the slightly raised brow, the vicious, roiling aura of death and the crazy bright Sharingan eyes. It all made her heart stop and then suddenly race with a feeling of hope. If only he could heal here. If only there was a way...

"Sasuke," Sakura said blinking slowly. "Sasuke!" She cried out and launched herself at him, not at all surprised when he didn't wrap his arms around her in return but entirely pleased by it. This is what home was. This was reality and she savored it like one would wine. She heard him grunt a bit and she slowly pulled away. "Sasuke what are you doing here? What's going on? Is everyone ok? Oh, I'm so glad to see you!" Sakura paused and thought on that for a moment for realizing that the statement was entirely true. She missed the emo egotistical bastard. She was tempted to hug him again but she knew he probably wouldn't tolerate it a second time around.

"Sakura." Sakura grinned at him and then hugged him again, not at all noticing two figures entering the room. Not at all putting together that the violent quake had everything to do with the man standing before her. "It's time for you to come home."

Sakura blinked. "What?"

"But before you do that you need to heal her." Sakura's eyes looked up into Sasuke's only to find that he wasn't looking at her at all. Rather, his gaze settled upon the woman that she would soon call mother-in-law.

"Mother, are you ill?" Sakura's head swung around to see Itachi and the other Sasuke standing in the room, moving slowly towards their mother. There was caution in their steps and both Uchiha men looked like they were ready for battle. Sakura briefly wondered why.

Mikoto waved them off and began to rise. "No, I'm fine. In fact, I was just leav-"

"Sit." Sasuke commanded and Sakura secretly thought that the woman had better sit. She knew that tone of voice and ignoring would be nothing but trouble-if not suicide.

A battle of wills was silently being waged and Sakura suddenly wondered if Sasuke's immense stubbornness had not come from his father as she originally assumed but rather from his mother. It was obvious who lost when Mikoto folded her arms across her chest and avoided looking at everyone. Sakura supposed under normal circumstances the woman would have won. But Sasuke had always been quite the stubborn one-and like with his training he practiced it religiously.

"Sakura, evaluate her." The curt tone cut through her thoughts causing her to move over to Mikoto who had sat down once more and began to shift awkwardly.

Her hands glowed green as she searched for whatever it was that Sasuke thought was there. It didn't take long for her to find it. Sakura's face took on neutrality.

"Yes, Sasuke, she is ill." Sakura confirmed.

"Mother," Itachi said and Mikoto waved her hand dismissingly.

"It's nothing serious Itachi."

Sakura bit her lip, hoping her Sasuke didn't question her on the validity of that statement. The woman's lungs were a mess. She had never seen anything like it. It was going to take a considerable amount of healing to…well, even ensure the woman survived. She had to be living on sheer willpower alone. Why hadn't the woman coughed up a lung yet?

Sakura lowered her hands. "That is it for today, Uchiha-sama. I will be by tomorrow to continue."

Mikoto rose regally to her feet. She smoothed her hands over her clothes and looked directly at Sakura's Sasuke. "I will be expecting you later." Sasuke said nothing in reply but Sakura knew that he would go to her-and nothing and no one would be able to stop him. Still, Sakura knew she had to at least try and reason with him.

The four people in the room stood in silence and Sakura knew that she would have to be the one to break it. Her Sasuke could go days without speaking and she suspected the other Uchiha were just too shocked to say anything at all.

"How did you know she was ill?" Sakura asked and Sasuke flashed his Sharingan at her. Sakura somehow sensed that Itachi had moved closer to her perceiving him to be a threat but that wasn't something she was worried about-at least not at the moment. Sakura nodded her head at Sasuke's answer. "It will take several weeks for me to heal her, Sasuke. It's not going to be an easy thing."

"Aa."

Sakura nodded. "You're not going to be able to stay here while I do it. This world is already breaking apart at the seams. It would be foolish to put the Uchiha Clan in danger once more."

"Tch."

"Yes, I'm well aware that nothing much has happened as of yet-if you consider the disastrous earthquake that signaled your arrival as nothing, but do you really want to take that chance?"

Sasuke arched a brow at her and Sakura ran a frustrated hand through her hair.

:::

Itachi stood with his brother watching the duo interact. He found it amazing the ease with which they communicated. It was otherworldly but more than that it made him uncomfortable. He wanted to interrupt them for no other reason than to stop the harmony that rang between them.

Was this the man that she thought that she wouldn't be able to live with peacefully? It seemed to him that she understood no one better than the one before her. Or maybe it was him that had decided that this Sasuke would be no fit for her. Itachi's train of thought was broken by his brother who whispered.

"That is one freaky conversation." Itachi turned his head slightly and looked at Sasuke questioningly. "He hasn't said a single word and yet she understands everything he's conveying. That's abnormal." Itachi looked back at the two and realized that Sasuke was right. The other Sasuke hadn't said a word. Because they were Uchiha, Itachi and his brother had understood the dark Sasuke's grunts and body language. It was as simple as breathing to decipher his every movement. However, for a non Uchiha to read their language as easily as Sakura was doing was disturbing for the Uchiha heir, especially since she was able to communicate so well with an Uchiha who was not Itachi himself.

:::

"Kakashi doesn't know you're here does he?" Sasuke smirked and Sakura just shook head. "Sasuke, one of us has to go back now. If I go back who will heal your mother? Or would you rather Saku heal her?"

"No. You do it." Sakura nodded.

"Sasuke what if I can't-" The look Sasuke gave her silenced her words and sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed her question about what she should do if she couldn't heal her because Sasuke clearly told her that she'd better. She controlled the urge to roll her eyes and nodded her head in acknowledgment.

"I will be back in three days."

And with those words he was gone.