Sorry for the delay. But I did it!

Senseless

Sitting on the swing in the school yard, Aster kicked the dirt, relaxed and alone. The dappled rays of sunlight hit and splattered into the grass around her. Summer heat beat down on her, even in the shade. The warm weather was taking one last swing at them before it succumbed to the fading of fall. Aster swung lazily and closed her eyes.

When she reopened them, Ichigo and two of her friends were standing in front of her. Startled, she pressed her lips together and stayed quiet, as though maybe she would be invisible if she was silent.

"Well…" Ichigo crossed her arms and leaned in to her. Aster shrunk and pushed her heels to the dirt. "I've seen you around… Don't think we didn't notice." Ichigo grabbed her chin as she tried to look away. "You may think you're better than us now- Iruka-sensei's favorite and hanging around Uchiha Itachi. I have to admit, getting to him through his brother was clever."

Breaking the malicious spell, Aster pulled away, standing. "I don't know what you're talking about. I just help out at the academy and Itachi barely notices me."

"Sure."

Before Aster could react, the other girl swung and hit her in the stomach. She crumbled to her knees, clutching her abdomen. Ichigo raised her foot to stomp on her, but she rolled away. One of the other girls dove in, tackling her and pinning her to the ground. Aster kneed her in the obliques and crawled away. The third girl grabbed her ankles as the second girl recovered. In moments, one had her legs and the other had climbed on her back and grabbed her braid.

Moving to kneel in front of Aster, Ichigo frowned. "You're still weak. You should just drop out of the academy."

Aster spit in her face. Falling on her butt, Ichigo cried out and wiped her eyes. "I'll never quit."

The other girl growled. "Fine by me- I'll just take you out." Ichigo stood. Resting her foot on top of Aster's head, she ground her face into the dirt.

Cupping water from the faucet into her palms, Aster scooped it to her lips and splashed her face. Dirt washed into the sink as she swished the water in her mouth and spit. More dirt and bright red blood swirled down the drain. The girls had been careful not to leave marks; a good wash was all she truly seemed to need.

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she wished desperately for Hikaru. The house creaked with an errant breeze and she turned quickly to the open door behind her, hoping for a ghost. Instead, empty air and silence met her.

Frowning, she stared down her reflection in the oval of glass above the sink. "You don't belong here." The admission hung heavy, slipping from her tongue and thudding on the countertop. "You've never belonged here. And no matter what you do, you never will… You… You should just…" The last word stuck in her throat and she pictured the gates of Konoha under the stars. "Who would even miss you anyway?!" Before she could finish the question, Itachi and Sasuke's faces drifted across her vision.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Is that enough for you to stay?"

Fugaku sat at the head of the small, low table, opposite Mikoto. To his right was Itachi and to his left, Sasuke was cross-legged on a cushion. Purple light from the setting sun cast long shadows that melted into each other. Only the click of dutiful chopsticks penetrated the silence.

"F-father…" Sasuke's voice broke and he reddened with shame, trying to tame a trembling tongue. "Father…?"

"Don't stutter." The command was stern. Fugaku didn't look up from his plate, his face tight. "No son of mine stutters.

Sasuke swallowed his trepidation. "I'm learning a lot at the academy."

"Hmph." Their father finally gave his youngest son a once over. "Your brother was out of the academy by your age."

Disappointment whipped across Sasuke's cheeks and he held back tears, staring at his lap. Setting down his chopsticks, Itachi glared at Fugaku. Time was running out. The uprising was fast approaching and time with Sasuke was slipping through his fingers. He still had no solid plan to save him and it was a real possibility he would lose his brother and himself. His stomach burned as his father demonstrated how little the remaining time left meant to him.

"Itachi has brought this family honor," Fugaku continued, watching his shrinking wife. "All you've brought is slips of paper with marks-"

"Shut up."

His father halted. "What did you say to me?"

Itachi turned his scarlet gaze on his father, sharingan blazing with bottled rage. "I told you to shut up. Sasuke isn't me, and I'm not him. Leave him alone."

Standing slowly, Fugaku's presence filled the room. Sasuke ran to Mikoto and she clutched him to her chest. "Uchiha Itachi… You are my son. I am tired of your disrespect!"

Flying to his feet as well, Itachi took in the cowering forms of mother and brother. "What about Sasuke? Is he not your son too?!"

Never having laid hands on his children before, Fugaku hesitated before advancing on Itachi. "You are going to respect me and this clan… one way or another."

"To hell with the clan…" Itachi whispered, tightening his fists.

"What did you say?" His father grabbed his shoulders. "Go ahead- speak up!"

Looking him in the eye, his eldest son was rigid in his grip. "To hell with this clan."

Fugaku raised a hand to slap him, but Itachi was too quick. He slipped from his father's grip and dove into his arms. Before Fugaku could fight back, Itachi was gripping the front of his shirt and tightening his other hand around his throat. Sputtering and gasping for air, he tried to push the boy off, but found him surprisingly strong. They struggled a moment and Fugaku crumpled backwards into the wall, Itachi driving him to his knees.

Time slowed for Itachi and he watched fear creep into his father's onyx eyes. Death was moments away if Itachi didn't let go.

Screams shattered the spell over Itachi. He broke off the stare with his father and turned back. Mikoto was shrieking and Sasuke was huddled against her, crying. Suddenly, the deafening reality of what he was doing settled over him. Stumbling backwards, he released his father. Fugaku fell to all fours, coughing and wheezing. His mother and brother looked at him with new, fearful eyes.

Shame drained his color and feeling. Itachi couldn't bear the sight of them any longer. Dashing out the back door and through the yard, he leapt the fence and disappeared into the night. The darkness swallowed him as fresh tears crawled down his cheeks.

Swinging the front door wide, Aster let the cold night air hit her. Her face was pale in the moonlight; small hands gripped the handle and she pulled the door shut behind her as she entered the night. She slipped into the twilight like the ghosts she so desperately sought.

Lost in purposelessness and knowing he couldn't go back home, Itachi found himself at the edge of the training grounds. He gave silent thanks that they were empty. Unable to scream or weep, he pulled his fist back and hit the nearest post as hard as he could. The skin on his knuckles cracked and the wood splintered. Blood ran down his wrist and he breathed heavily.

The crunch of sandals in the grass caught him off guard. Eyes wide and body tense for battle, he turned around. A small form came from the tree line. Aster's braid swung behind her and her blue eyes were bright from her earlier tears. A pink tinge still glowed in her cheeks and on the tip of her nose.

"Hey!" She waved and stopped next to him. "Training at this hour?"

An unexpected calm settled over him. Safety in her presence wrapped itself around him. "Um… Yeah."

She frowned. "You're bleeding…"

"Oh," he held up his hand as if seeing it for the first time. "Yeah."

A knowing look crossed her face and she pulled a roll of gauze from her hip pack. "I can take care of that for you. Give me your hand."

Obediently, Itachi let her take his injured hand. Carefully, she began to wrap it. "Thanks…"

Aster nodded. "So… what happened anyway?"

Her even tone surprised him. "Just… Just some family problems." He sighed.

She stretched her mouth into a grim, knowing smile. "Wow, don't I know that one…" Sadness sparkled in the corners of her eyes, but she grinned. "Don't worry though. It always turns out okay."

Gipping his now bandaged hand, his heart sank. "That's not what I'd expect to hear from you."

"Well," she shrugged and looked up at the twinkling sky. "Better that you go now and deal with it." Aster frowned. "Putting it off will just make it worse. I promise."

Itachi nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."

Brushing his arm with hers as she passed, shadows overtook her features. "Have a safe night."

Settling into a tree branch, Itachi looked down into the carefully manicured backyard. Moonlight puddled inside it and everything lay still, waiting for the next errant breeze. No breeze came. Grinding his teeth, he knew the family was long asleep now. All he had to do was be silent, something he was skilled with. Breathing deeply, he gathered his nerve.

"Itachi," a voice beside him almost knocked him from his perch. Shisui squatted next to him, as though he had materialized out of thin air. "I heard what happened."

Eyes wide, Itachi spun around. "How?"

"Your father was looking for you." Ever relaxed, he crossed his arms. "Guess he hasn't found you. Yet."

"Shit…" Itachi put his face in his hand. "My cover is blown."

Shisui shook his head. "No. He just thinks you're grieving already." He put a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "Look, I've got something important to tell you."

"Can't it wait?"

"No." He sighed. "I have a way to protect Sasuke from Akatsuki."

Gasping, Itachi grabbed his shirt. "How?"

"I just need you to keep training and trust me."

Back against the wooden door, Sasuke let tears stream down his face. His heart was breaking and there had been nowhere to turn when he had heard his mother and father. He had been foolish to think Itachi was part of his father's plot. Suddenly a light broke through the storm for him.

With one hand, Itachi slid the door noiselessly. The empty hallway gaped back at him. With silent footsteps, he made his way to his room. Slowly, he opened the door. A lump under his blanket waited for him. Startled, he froze before entering hesitantly.

"Sasuke?" The question caused the lump to tremble. Soft crying reached him. "Sasuke?" he was more urgent now and pulled the covers back. His brother's body was curled tightly and shook with fresh, quiet tears. "Sasuke- what are you doing here?"

"Nii-san…" He breathed, sitting up. "Who are Akatsuki?"

Shutting the door quickly, Itachi glanced down the hall, praying no one had heard. "How do you know about Akatsuki?" He knelt beside the bed, holding Sasuke's thin arms.

He sniffled. "I heard you and Shisui. And… mother and father are fighting." He bit his lip, holding in sobs. "Why doesn't Dad love me? What did I do that I have to be a sacrifice?"

Itachi gripped him close as he shook. "You aren't something to be sacrificed. I'll never let them." Fear bubbled in his chest. How could all of us be so careless? How could he have found out? "You're safe with me."

"C-can I stay with you tonight?" Sasuke's round eyes were pleading.

A heavy weight settled onto Itachi's shoulders. There was no option. "Yes, of course, otouto." Swallowing a growing tumor of fear, Itachi sat on the bed as Sasuke laid down. "Otouto… I need you to do something for me." Innocence framed the boy's face and he nodded. "It's going to hurt. A lot. But I need you to stay quiet and not move… Can you do that for me?"

Sasuke nodded again.

Stilling his trembling hands, he formed a short series of hand signs. Slipping his fingers under Sasuke's bangs and into his thick hair, he pressed his palm to his forehead. The boy's lips were white and tight. Chakra flowed down Itachi's arm, through his fingertips, and directly into Sasuke's fragile mind. A white, hot knife of pain hit Sasuke between the eyes. Carefully and as quickly as he could, Itachi manipulated the chakra. With precision, he formed blockages, burying the offending memories. Sasuke shuddered, but didn't move. Slowly, Itachi pulled back, the job done in seconds.

Panting and sweating, Sasuke let his body relax and he tumbled into a dreamless darkness.

Sunlight crawled in the window, over the wooden floors, and up into the sheets. Itachi lay awake, Sasuke in the crook of his arm. The younger boy stirred and blinked his eyes open. Suddenly he yelped and gripped his neck. Curling around him protectively, Itachi felt up the base of his neck. Sure enough, there was a palpable lump from a misplaced blockage. Pressing into it, he massaged it and fed chakra through it. It dissipated and Sasuke relaxed.

"Nii-san…." He looked embarrassed. "Did I have a bad dream?"

Itachi nodded. "Yeah, just a bad dream."

Books open around her, Aster busied herself scratching notes on the paper in her lap. Another exam was fast approaching. If her performance wasn't stellar, she would get kicked out of the academy. She'd been flirting with failure for far too long; it was time to succeed, no matter the cost.

A knock at the front door startled her and she jumped. Leaping up and scattering her notes over the floor, she ran to answer the next tap on the wood. Breathless, she opened the door. Itachi looked up from his feet, cradling his bandaged hand.

"Hi," she mumbled, surprised. "Things better?"

He sighed and lied. "Yes. You gave me good advice."

She blushed. "I'm glad." Shifting her feet, her gaze drifted behind her to the mess of books. "I'm sorry… I'm actually busy. Did you need anything?"

"Oh," he leaned in, seeing the scattered papers on her empty floor. "No, I'm sorry. I just… I just wanted to thank you."

Aster smiled. "Well, that's sweet of you. I appreciate it."

Heat rising to his cheeks, he let the butterflies float in his stomach. She inspired a curious feeling in him. "I guess I'll let you get back to it then. Have a good day."

Pausing, she pondered inviting him in. But he was already backing down the steps and wandering up the walk. Waving to his back, she shut the door, letting loneliness rest in her stomach.

Days had been passing and bleeding into each other. Shisui thumbed the old text in his lap. The moon lit his sparse dining room. There was only one way, and he couldn't let Itachi know. Itachi would refuse if he knew what was required. It was possible mangekyou sharingan was just a legend, but the description of it was too detailed. Time was running out. But he couldn't grasp it fully, lest he tip off Itachi. It was a long shot, but something about the book inspired his trust in its promises. The time would come too soon when he had to lay down his life.

"It's real," a low, gravelly voice came from the shadows.

Startled, Shisui jumped up, letting the book clatter to the floor. "Come out!"

A tall, slim figure slipped from the darkness. "The mangekyou is real." An orange, spiraled mask caught the blue light. Only one eye was visible in a single hollow in the mask. Inside it, a blood red mangekyou sharingan spun.

Shisui blinked and the figure was gone. Running his hands through his hair, he breathed heavily. Gingerly, he picked up the book and gently set it on the table. Have I gone mad?

Candle melting onto the table, Itachi propped his chin in his hand. The light flickered and he frowned, barely noting it. Sighing, he sunk into a heap on the desk. So far, Sasuke appeared happy and healthy. However, there was no telling how well the seal would hold and if any unintended consequences were present. His stomach churned. How much time did I really buy?

A knock at his door startled him. Standing quickly, he slid it open. Itachi kept a straight face masterfully, hiding his surprise at seeing Fugaku. The man looked uncomfortable and distracted. Wear showed in the lines of his face.

"Itachi…" He began quietly. "Come sit with me a moment."

Obedient as ever, Itachi followed his father into his study. Fugaku closed the door behind them and put out the candle. Gray shafts of moonlight touched the floors and table top. His father settled behind the desk and motioned for Itachi to seat himself as well.

"I must speak to you." Fugaku's voice was brittle and hard with tension. "I know you didn't mean what you said." He paused, looking out the window furtively. "I know you have to maintain the appearance of loyalty to Konoha, as a member of anbu."

Itachi swallowed a growing unease.

Crossing his arms, he continued. "I need you to do something for me- for us."

Seeing an opportunity and remembering the Hokage's words, he nodded. "Anything."

"I need to know," he held the boy's stare, "I need to know if Konoha suspects anything. You're the highest ranking anbu officer in the clan. I need you to let me know."

Bowing and touching his forehead to the floor, Itachi responded. "Yes, Father."

"Guren" by Yasuharu Takanashi

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