Sorry for the slow update. I got surprised with a second dog and life has been a little crazy because of it.
Okay
Eyes wide, Sasuke watched a bird dart by overhead. His father paid it no attention, his focus somewhere else entirely. Swallowing trembling nerves, Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. The sun had returned full force, reminding them this was the hottest time of year. A breeze drifted in from the lake, making the day bearable. They walked to edge of the dock, looking out over the water.
Staring into the clear, blue waters, Sasuke took his stance. This time the hand signs came fluidly. Inhaling as he strung them together, he raised a fist to his mouth, and then he blew as hard as he could. A fireball three times the boy's size erupted from his closed hand and hurtled over the lake. As quickly as it had formed, it dispersed. The only evidence left was the steam rising from the water.
Turning back, Sasuke watched his father put his hands on hips. "You have earned the crest on your clothes, finally."
The boy's heart soared with the praised and dropped with the backhanded comment. Not sure if his father was proud or relieved, he only nodded. Confused by the rising of achievement and sinking of disappointment simultaneously, Sasuke watched in turmoil as Fugaku turned away and headed back towards his office.
The undergrowth covered the narrow trail. Only Itachi's eyes were skilled enough to keep track of it. Aster and Sasuke stepped lightly close behind him. Pushing a slender branch away from her face, Aster sighed. The Uchiha brothers seemed unphased by their hike, as though maybe they did this all the time.
"What is this place anyway?" Aster huffed, still picking her way forward. "Why the secrecy?"
"It's a surprise!" Chided Sasuke.
Itachi nodded ahead of them. "You'll both like this one. I promise."
Suddenly the dense brush broke into a wide clearing at the base of a hill. Before them was the entrance to a cave. The sun was bright, but the cave was just as startling dark. All three came to a stop and Itachi crossed his arms.
"A cave?" Frowning, Aster picked debris out of her bangs. "What's so great about a cave?"
Even Sasuke seemed disappointed. He looked to his brother, hoping he would have something more to impress them.
"Not just any cave…" Itachi looked over his shoulder at them. "One of the sannin used to stay here and do research and experiments…. Forbidden research and experiments."
"What?!" Scampering towards the entrance, Sasuke peered inside. "Really? Is there something super creepy inside?"
Shrugging, Itachi replied, "Probably not. I'm sure anbu cleaned it out long ago. But it would be fun to look inside anyway."
Smiling slightly, Aster stepped up beside Itachi. "Sounds like we should go in and see what anbu missed."
Moving forward, Itachi grabbed a torch that the others hadn't seen. With a gentle breath, it was lit, throwing dancing light and shadows all around him. The tap of their feet echoed on stone walls. Pressing his palm to one wall, Sasuke looked up at the trail of carved scales. Snake motifs were shallowly engraved and spiraled together down the tunnel.
Venturing deeper inside, eventually the light of the torch was all they had to see by. Reaching up, Sasuke gripped Aster's hand. Startled, she looked at him and then squeezed back. Itachi continued to lead the way.
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound. All three froze, watching the surrounding cave shake. Cracks stretched up the walls and their eyes followed them to the source. There was another quake and loud crash as the floor beneath Aster and Sasuke gave way. Both screamed in fright as they fell.
"Sasuke- Aster!" Itachi cried back, kneeling down as the dust settled. "Can you hear me?" Guilt filled his stomach, making him sick. Please be okay!
Landing on top of Aster, Sasuke braced himself with his forearms, barely protecting his face as he fell on his belly. Dazed from landing on her back, Aster didn't sit up immediately. The dark room spun, wavering light trickling in from Itachi's torch above them. Itachi's question echoed and finally she pulled herself up, Sasuke still in her lap.
Both coughed with the dust from old dirt and long standing stones. "We," Aster coughed into her hand again, "We're okay."
"I'll come get you," Itachi stood, less of the torch light raining down on them now. "Just stay there. I can find my way around and I'll lead you out." Fighting the urge to wretch at his careless, he stepped away from the hole, turning towards the depths of the caverns. How could I be so stupid as to take them here? Of course it wasn't safe!
Darkness cloaked Sasuke and Aster as Itachi retreated before they could argue. A sudden chill filled the room and she pulled the Uchiha boy close. There breath would have been visible if there was any light to see. Biting back tears, the boy stayed calm, curling into her arms. She wiped her eyes, only to find them damp.
"We'll be okay, Sasuke." Her voice was unexpectedly steady and strong, exuding a calm confidence she didn't feel. "Itachi will be here in no time."
His head was spinning. Activating his sharingan allowed Itachi to better discern his dim surroundings. The only sound was was his sandals on grimy stone floors. Kicking himself again, he wondered how he could have thought this was a good idea. I just wanted her to … to what? He glared in the empty halls. It wasn't clear how much time had passed since he'd started looking for a staircase down. It hadn't occurred to him that there would be multiple levels. He felt naive and guilty.
His hands shook and became sweaty as he wondered if they were truly okay, alone in the dark. The torch slipped from his grip and rolled away before he could react. The fire twirled away and then hit a set a steps. It clattered as it began to descend, and the light receded with it. Itachi froze, his heart stopped with anticipation.
Abruptly, there was silence again. That was a short flight of steps… Pulling the kunai from the holster he always wore, he began to doubt the caves were truly abandoned. There was the tap of footsteps and Itachi held his breath. Who the hell is down here?!
"Well," the word was soft, but it reverberated in the enclosed space. "I never expected you to come to me." Dancing light returned from the tunnel ahead.
A deathly white hand held the torch. As the speaker entered the room, Itachi took in their appearance. An ivory skinned man with long, jet black hair held the light. His body was hidden in a black cloak with red, embroidered clouds. Purple eye markings looped yellow eyes and came down the sides of his nose.
Itachi recognized the face from his booklet of S-rank, exiled nin. "Orochimaru…" Surprise covered the Uchiha's face, but his tone was accusatory.
The snake sannin chuckled. "I'm impressed that even you know my name, despite the fact we've never met."
They circled each other, moving languidly, ready to strike. "Don't be. Everyone knows your name. What do you want here?"
Orochimaru paused, tilting his head. "I should be asking that question. This was my home and you have intruded."
"You've been exiled. You aren't welcome in Konoha." Itachi gripped his weapon tighter.
"I know that," smiling, he extended a hand. "But I come bearing a gift for you."
Distrust filled Itachi's chest, and panicked he was reminded that Aster and Sasuke were still alone. "Leave and take your 'gift' with you… Or there will be trouble."
"I'm afraid you have no choice but to accept my gift, Itachi-kun." Orochimaru's jaw dropped, revealing fangs that dripped in the tangled lights.
Without warning, he lunged for Itachi. Dodging the attack with the aid of his sharingan, Itachi countered with a spin and dug the kunai into the sannin's neck. Laughter filled the cavern and the earth clone melted into sludge.
"Impressive. Then, until next time, my little Uchiha…"
Shaken, Itachi grabbed the torch and turned to run towards the stairwell. His footsteps echoed and the light was thrown wildly around him. Skidding to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, the torch washed over the gargantuan room. The light couldn't even reach the opposite wall. Shattered glass glittered on the floor. Itachi looked around, noting the broken, human-sized test tubes. Sick bastard…. He pictured the victims floating, helpless and sedated. Next his mind presented the image of Aster and Sasuke each in their own glowing tube. A fresh wave of terror flushed him.
"Itachi?" Sasuke and Aster's voices rang out simultaneously.
Rushing in, he called back, "I'm here, come to my light!"
Both of them burst into the dome of wobbly light. Relief washed over Itachi, Both were bruised and had small cuts from the glass littering the ground, but appeared unharmed.
"Nii-san!" Sasuke hugged his waist and Aster twined her arms around his chest.
Itachi wrapped his free arm around Sasuke's shoulders. "Let's hurry and leave." Moving quickly, but more alertly than before the ascended the stairs and wove down the halls. As they passed through the room at the top of the stairs, Itachi reactivated his sharingan, ready to fight again. His kunai was on the ground, but no other evidence was left. Picking it up quickly, they moved on.
A new feeling of relief washed over all three of them when light from the cave entrance was visible. Hoisting Sasuke on his back, Itachi and Aster broke into a sprint. They burst back into fading daylight, the chirping forest surrounding them. The ambient noise replaced an oppressive silence.
Aster looked back, uneasiness filling her. "Anbu didn't do a good job. That place should have been demolished completely."
Nodding, Itachi refused to glance back. "You're right. I'm sorry I took you here…"
Placing her hand on his upper arm, Aster frowned, still dusty and bloody. "You didn't know. None of us did. But we're all okay. That's all that matters."
He sighed, dissatisfied with her gesture of empathy. "I should have known," he replied gruffly, before disappearing into the treeline with Sasuke. Feeling unwelcome, she let him get a head start before she followed.
Curling his hands in his lap, Itachi stared at his folded legs. Behind him, his father shut the door to his office with the quiet grind of wood on wood. Fugaku's foot falls were soft as he paced and settled behind the desk, facing his eldest son.
"Itachi." The addressed didn't look up and Fugaku crossed his arms. "I wonder if you understand what you've done."
Silence settled between them before Itachi spoke. "I disobeyed you. I could have injured Sasuke."
"Yes," he sighed heavily. "And you have endangered our negotiations."
"Negotiations?" Itachi looked up.
Nodding, he gripped the edge of the table. "Yes, with Akatsuki, whom Orochimaru currently serves." The words fell like stones in the rushing river of Itachi's mind. "I've been meaning to discuss with you, but I doubted your readiness to serve the clan. Now I have no choice."
Teetering on a precipice, Itachi chose to step back instead of jumping. Carefully, he crafted a look of innocent surprise. "Discuss what?"
"The coup." Fugaku stared hard at his son, waiting and hoping for understanding. "Konoha is done taking the Uchiha for granted. We will run this village soon."
Coldness crept into Itachi's bones. He failed to hide his disdain. "Father… is this…" some kind of joke? A terrible lie? Your true plan?
"We need you now, Itachi." His father was almost pleading. "Your position is anbu is perfect to give us warning. The village trusts you like no other Uchiha before you. You're in a unique position to further the clan's cause. The Uchiha need you. Do think it's right that they discriminate against us and relegate us to this compound?"
"They… They discriminate against us?"
Fugaku frowned. "They have isolated us and they plan on… thinning the herd." He reached across the table to take his son's shoulder. "I don't know how aware you are, being so young. But now I have to trust you can see Saratobi's truth. Uchiha have been strategically removed and blocked from positions of power and now backed into a corner. We have no choice, even if you don't yet see it."
His min racing, Itachi gently removed his father's hand. "So you made a deal with Akatsuki to overthrow Konoha…"
Swallowing hard, he met his child's dark eyes. "Yes, Itachi. We are in negotiations now. Your stunt with Orochimaru has put tension on these talks."
Itachi hung his head, not sure what to say.
"We can't have you acting rebelliously anymore. I need you to obey me so we can succeed."
Standing suddenly, he clenched his fists. "So you plan to start a war… How many innocent people will die?"
Frustrated, Fugaku stood as well. "No one is truly innocent. Those complacent are just as guilty for what has happened."
"You feel this way about the common folk and children as well?"
"War is an ugly thing. You should understand this and realize that even destruction has its place." He moved to approach.
Not sure what he might say next, Itachi burst out the doors into the hall. Dashing towards the front of the house, he passed Mikoto wrapping Sasuke's ankle in the kitchen. Fugaku gave chase, close behind. To Itachi's surprise, he caught him by the wrist in the front entryway.
"You betray this family…" Danger flashed in Fugaku's eyes, "You're dead to all of us."
Shielding her eyes from the setting sun, Aster patted Sasuke's shoulder. They stood in the gateway at the entrance to the schoolyard, shadows dangling from their feet. Sasuke looked up at her, his frown stretching his face. She didn't meet his eyes at first, desperately scanning the pathways leading to the academy.
"He's not coming." Sasuke kicked the dirt. "Not today- or ever again."
Shaking her head as if to clear it, Aster patted him again. "Maybe not today. Maybe Itachi is busy with a mission. But he always comes eventually." She flashed him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "I can always take you home. It's okay."
"No," Sasuke started off without her. "Father and Mother forbade him to come. He's too busy now."
Dashing after him, she caught up quickly. "That doesn't make sense. Why would your parents not want him here?"
"I'm a distraction to him…" Halting suddenly, Aster skittered to a stop behind him. "They want him to focus." Sasuke clenched his fists, biting his lip. "I'm not important anyway."
"That's not true!" Aster exclaimed. "You're important to me, and your whole family- I'm sure."
"I hate them!" Sasuke turned the full force of his gaze on her, tears in his eyes. "No one cares about me!"
"What?!" Freezing, Aster's fingers lost their feeling. "Don't say things like that!"
"Why not?!"
"Because," she knelt down in front of him, "You can't take strong words like that back and you may regret them. I understand you're hurting, even if I don't know why. But you have to trust me."
Sobs bursting from him, he dove into her open arms. "I don't know what's happening- Itachi isn't allowed to play or train with me anymore! He must be in trouble for taking us to the cave."
"I am in trouble for that," Itachi's voice broke the spell holding them. Sasuke released Aster and ran to embrace his brother. "I'll always come back for you though. You know that."
Standing slowly, Aster smiled as she watched them. "I think you'll be okay, Sasuke."
Tears still in the corners of his eyes, Sasuke nodded, face in Itachi's stomach. "Yeah… You're right, nee-chan."
Eyes wide, Sasuke laid on his back under a thin sheet in the warm night. Raising a finger, he watched his hand trace patterns on the ceiling. Heart in his throat, the last couple of days replayed in his mind. The chill of the dark cave crept into his skin again. Sasuke hadn't missed the spark of menace in his father when he had grabbed Itachi. He had never doubted Aster before, but it clear there was something clandestine occuring. It was unclear if it would be okay.
Turning to his side, he squeezed his eyes shut, hoping for dreamless sleep. Instead he could feel the prick of glass on the cave's stone floor again. A pit of terror opened in his belly. Gasping for air, suddenly he opened his eyes to the black room. He wasn't safe in Aster's arms anymore and Itachi wasn't looking for him.
Swinging his feet off the bed, Sasuke stood. As though possessed, he noiselessly slid his door open and peered down the long, inky hallway. Hesitant, he shuffled into the corridor. If Itachi couldn't come to him, he would go to Itachi. Even without being able to see, his feet knew the way. Gently, he pushed open Itachi's door. It made a terrible scuff and creak.
Always alert, Itachi sat up, hair standing at odd angles and pajamas wrinkled. Relieved, Sasuke rushed to him and snuggled into his embrace. Bewildered, Itachi stroked his back, feeling the heave of his brother's chest in his arms.
"What is it, Sasuke?" Itachi's voice was soft.
"I had…" the boy paused, chewing his lip, "a nightmare." It wasn't entirely true, but the last couple of days were an ordeal he couldn't wake from.
Tilting his head, Itachi's long hair cascaded over his shoulder. "What's troubling you?"
"I-I… I don't know," he stumbled over his tongue. "Can I sleep in here with you?"
Itachi sighed. "No, but don't worry. I can help you sleep."
Relaxing, Sasuke let Itachi touch his neck. Tenderly, his fingers found the pressure point where he could feel his younger brother's pulse. One decisive movement, and Sasuke was unconscious. He crumpled into Itachi's grasp, and he cradled the boy to his chest. Walking with silent feet, he brought Sasuke back to his room. Carefully, Itachi laid him on his side and tucked him in.
Standing over the bed, a mild breeze from the open window ruffled Itachi's hair. He decided not to close it. Sasuke's sleeping form and the rise and fall of his chest brought Itachi an inner calm he seldom he had. That's all I can do for him…. Leaving, Itachi shut the door behind him. As he made his way back to his room, he wondered what had troubled his brother enough to seek his comfort. Sasuke was a strong, unnaturally independent boy. His behavior was unusual and worried Itachi. Deciding the mystery would have to wait, he crawled into bed and forced sleep.
"Colorful Mist" by Yasuharu Takanashi
PlEaSe R&R