Home sick and making the most of it.

Complications

Lying back over the covers, Aster laced her fingers behind her head. Sunlight streamed in her window on the second story, meeting the treetops. Her eyes burned and her temples throbbed. Studying to this extent was taking a toll on her. She closed her eyes, steadying her breathing and trying desperately to think of nothing.

Instead, Itachi's bloody hand was projected on the back of her eyelids. Sitting up quickly, she rubbed her eyes. Frowning, she looked out the window at the cloudless sky. She wondered about him with her hands curled in her lap, one leg hanging off the bedside. Her stomach clenched and she recalled the feel of hand in hers. Warmth spread through her.

A knock echoed through the house before her daydream could begin. Startled, Aster leapt to her feet. Quickly, she came down the stairs. She was too short to see out the peephole and decided to open the door anyway.

It swung inward and she stepped back to see Itachi and Sasuke standing on her porch. Eyes wide with surprise, she froze.

"Hi!" Sasuke blurted as his brother waved. "Can we come in?"

Aster's heart stopped as Itachi ruffled Sasuke's hair. "That's rude to ask, otouto," the older chided. "I'm sorry... Do you mind though? It's a little warm out here."

"Oh," she glanced behind her. The blood stains were almost invisible and her furniture was non-existent. Most of the windows were closed and the house was dark and cool. "Well, I mean, I don't know-"

Pushing past her, Sasuke barrelled inside. "Where's all your stuff?" he asked loudly.

Embarrassed, Itachi growled and motioned for him to come back. His brother was oblivious. "Sasuke…"

"Do you have any snacks?" was the next question. Promptly, he wandered into the kitchen.

"Sasuke…!" Itachi stepped past her and suddenly her home felt full. Aster shut the door, overcome.

Opening her cabinets, Sasuke grimaced. "There's only a bag of rice in here. Don't you get hungry?"

Itachi grabbed the back of his shirt. "You're being so rude- let's go."

"No- no," Aster found her voice. "I mean… I don't have any snacks, but it's okay. If you want to stay, you can."

Faces lighting up, both brothers smiled and Itachi released Sasuke. "Really, nee-chan?"

Blushing, she nodded. "Sure."

"Your cabinets are pretty bare…" Itachi stroked his chin. "I don't think we can stay unless we go to the store and get some snacks." Noticing her red embarrassment, he winked. "My treats- as long as you don't mind mostly sweets."

Cabinets full to Sasuke's standards, Itachi stashed the bags inside each other and stowed them under the sink. Hastily, Aster opened her curtains and windows. A breeze drifted in and fresh light washed over the house. The smell of green leaves and heat snaked through the rooms.

"I say," Itachi rifled through the groceries he'd just put away for her, "We bake some cookies."

"Ewww," Sasuke gave a double thumbs down. "Why do you like that stuff so much?"

Smiling at the boy's disgust, she pulled a tomato from the crisper in her icebox. "Here. We'll have cookies and you can have your favorite…"

Sasuke's eyes went wide. "I didn't see you guys buy that!"" He scrambled over and snatched it her hand. "Cool!"

Turning around, Aster noticed Itachi had already laid out cookie ingredients. He was busy measuring sugar into a bowl. "Don't you need a recipe?" She asked.

He tapped his temple. "Secret Uchiha recipe. No need for a card here."

"Oh boy," Aster crossed her arms. "I'm scared. Do you even want me to help?"

"You can start mixing while I measure out the rest."

Coming up beside him, they stood close together over the bowl. "Brown and white sugar? And semi-sweet chocolate?" Aster used a wooden spoon to stir the dry, stubborn mess. "No wet ingredients?"

He smiled back, making her feel warm again. "Room temperature butter. Go wash your hands. They will work better than a spoon."

After a quick scrub she came back. "You're serious… Just knead it with my bare hands?"

"The personal touch is what makes them good." He gripped the bowl and she sunk her small fingers into gooey butter and powdery flour. "Perfect. Just go for it. You can't really mess this up."

Her fingers and arms tired quickly and the dough was something like sticky bread dough when she finished. He adjusted the bowl, watching for her reaction. Looking at her hand curiously, she decided to give the dough a try.

Licking some off her coated hand, she giggled. "Okay, wow. That's the best."

Taking a spoon, Itachi sampled it as well. "I told you, secret Uchiha recipe. The key is to let them chill an hour or two."

Washing her hands again, she frowned. "Can we just eat the dough?"

For the first time, Itachi laughed. "Yes, but the cookies are worth the wait." Setting a towel over the bowl, he slipped it into the icebox.

Ears turning pink, Aster memorized his wide smile and the easiness of his laugh. It was almost unnatural that such a relaxed sound could come from the sternest person she knew. Unconsciously, she approached him.

Rooted to the floor, Itachi took in Aster's flushed face and hands clasped against her stomach. Her eyes were a wildly bright blue with depths he usually didn't get to see. Her round face was framed by unkempt bangs that were a barely natural red.

There was silence except for the occasional chirp of an outside bird. Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Hesitating just a moment, he brushed her cheek with his knuckles. Her skin was soft and her lips full around a slightly open mouth. The distance between them evaporated in the heat, only an inch separating them. Itachi watched her eyes drift closed and he leaned into her.

Suddenly his heart stopped. Here he was, baking cookies with Aster, living a double life as a secret agent for both Konoha and the Uchiha, and an impending war on the horizon. What he wanted to do was foolish. Another moment, another inch, he would have dragged her into the hell he quietly living in. If he did this, there was no going back. He hadn't dared to acknowledge what had been brewing inside him, and now he had no choice. A terrible pain ripped through his chest and he stepped back.

"I can't…" He whispered.

Aster opened her eyes.

"I want to," he continued, a little louder now. "I can't do this to you. Please… forgive me."

A storm was brewing her eyes and her mouth was a hard line. "I think maybe you should just..."

He shook his head. "Sasuke!" He called out. The boy came clamoring down the stairs. "We're leaving."

Unable to look at either of them, she stood, silent. Grabbing his brother's wrist, Itachi dragged him out the door, despite protests. The front door slammed behind them, jarring tears from her eyes. Hot and salty, they rolled down her cheeks. Her stomach burned as she remembered the cookie dough waiting in her icebox.

Final exams for the semester began and quietly as they ended. Exiting the building, Aster twirled a pencil in her hand. Other students filtered out, confident in their performances and with little truly on the line. She paused in the courtyard, looking over the building, wondering if she had succeeded and would get through another semester and then graduate. Or maybe this is the end of the road...

Shaking her head to clear it, she turned away and left the academy grounds. Sunlight pulled her shadow long from her feet and stretched it over the dirt pathway. She had been side tracked by the Uchiha brothers. There was only one goal for her. It wasn't cookies and happiness; only cold revenge for her brother waited at the end of her road. Hoshigaki Kisame's days were numbered.

Itachi wasn't sure anymore where each day began and the next ended. Konoha had given him a steady stream of false information to provide his father. There were kernels of truth in each lie, just enough to be believable. Fugaku was on the edge of his seat with each meeting he held with Itachi. When not working, Itachi was training. No one seemed to suspect anything; he was the clan prodigy and it was expected he trained hard.

Taking a rare moment of rest for himself, Itachi slumped into the exposed roots of a nearby tree. The heat no longer had a sharp edge to it. Fall was coming quickly. Clouds gathered on the edge of the sky.

His mind wandered back to Aster's kitchen. A now familiar balmy, glow filled him. And then his stomach took a steep drop. He'd been so close to ruining everything. Kissing her would have just created complication and put her in danger. It would be ideal if he never saw her again.

"Hey," Shisui's voice broke his train of thought and he looked up. "You look… I'm never sure with you. Are you upset?"

Itachi shrugged. "It's nothing."

"I haven't seen you around that cute girl." He winked. "Did you blow it?"

"Kind of," he responded before thinking. Embarrassment flooded his features. "Look, it's not like that. She just got the wrong idea maybe."

The humor left the older boy and he became serious suddenly. "You ought to fix whatever you did."

"No," Itachi stood. "There's nothing to fix. I did the right thing."

Shisui crossed his arms. "Don't even bother trying to explain to me. You need her."

Grimacing, he folded his arms as well. "That's crazy. I don't need to be hanging out with the academy flunkie."

"It's not who she is… It's who she's important to." He grasped Itachi's shoulder. "What kind of life do you want for Sasuke after this? Do you think it'll all blow over and you'll get to there for him?" Confused, Itachi met his bitter stare. "Someone will need to take care of Sasuke when you can't. Just let her believe what she wants and position her. The rest will fall into place."

"You mean," he hesitated, "Toy with the emotions of an innocent girl?"

"Just… Do what you need to. It's okay to let her be a means to an end… Unless…?"

"No." He removed Shisui's hand from his shoulder. " You're right. She's a means to an end. Nothing more."

Genuine sympathy showed in his cousin's eyes. "I'm sorry she can't be more for you."

Classes continued as normal for her classmates and underclassmen. Aster had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for her exam results. The after school class had been going well. There was a marked improvement and she was sure Iruka saw it as well. Another afternoon had come and gone; she busied herself cleaning up shuriken from target practice. Holstering the last one, she noticed a child waiting on the benches in front of the courtyard.

Approaching quietly, she realized it was Sasuke, his legs drawn to his chest and his face buried in his knees. A soft sniffle reached her ears. Gingerly, she tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, he looked up, rubbing away tears and then averting his gaze.

"Sasuke, why are you still here?" Aster asked, concerned. He refused to meet her eyes. "It's not that I don't enjoy having you here, you're just usually gone by now."

There was a long silence between them, shattered occasionally by low whimpers. Finally, the boy spoke. "Itachi said he'd walk me home."

"Well-" Aster started.

Sasuke cut her off and looked at her with such an injured expression she was left speechless,"He promised! He promised to be here!"

"Something probably came up. He is an anbu after all. They report directly to the Hokage, you know." Aster hoped that explanation would calm him.

"Then he shouldn't make promises he can't keep!" Sasuke yelled angrily.

"Sasuke… He probably didn't know he wouldn't be able to keep it!" she cried. Then ashamed at raising her voice at him, "I'm sorry. It's just... How would you feel if he let other innocent people get hurt to walk you home? He protects this village and everyone in it. It's not without its sacrifices."

Sasuke put his head back under his arms and on his knees,"I don't care. He shouldn't have told me he'd be here if he couldn't. This isn't the first time either." Sasuke paused as Aster watched him piteously. Continuing, he said,"I hate him. This isn't fair."

She gaped at his words. "You can't hate him because he has responsibilities!"

He curled in on himself and tears started afresh as she scolded him.

Aster felt awful as she watched him. "Sasuke..." she whispered rubbing his shoulders. He peered up at her. With her other hand, she took one of his smaller ones in hers. "Promise me something.." He nodded at her with such trust in his eyes that it tore at her heart. "Don't ever hate him. Itachi is your brother... You must never lose your faith and love for him. Treasure every second you can spend with him. You are lucky; he is a wonderful person to have as an older brother. Hating him is the worst mistake you can make. You'll regret it for the rest of your days. Promise me you'll never say you hate him again."

He nodded at her slowly and looked away. Abruptly, she pulled his hand roughly toward her and took hold of his jaw gently, forcing him to look her in the eye.

"To promise me, you have to mean it."

He gasped and looked at her, puzzled. But after a seconds indecision, he squeezed her hand and nodded seriously,"I promise."

Aster smiled at him, "How 'bout I walk you home. It's late."

Sasuke scowled at her sullenly, "I'm going to be a ninja. I can take care of myself. I don't really need you or nii-san to walk me home."

Aster looked at him in a sly, condescending way, "Like I said, it's late."

He glared at her once more, "Fine.."

Lonely days and nights had washed over her like the tides her homeland was known for. Aster settled onto her knees in the grass. The familiar grave markers stared back her like an audience. Unsure what performance they expected, she bowed her head, dry eyed. Her tears had run out long ago. A pit formed in her stomach. The sun was resting in the clouds and a gentle heat caressed her back.

"Hello," she jumped at the sound of a man's voice. "I hope you don't mind that I'm here." A dark eyed man was standing behind her, his black hair tousled and slightly too long.

She gasped. "Uchiha-san…"

"Please, call me Shisui." He knelt beside her. "I'm terribly sorry for your loss."

Nodding, she looked away. Words escaped her.

"Look, I've come to talk to you about Itachi." Tilting his head, he studied her reaction.

Face burning, Aster could almost feel the back of Itachi's hand brushing her cheek. It isn't fair. "I don't have anything to say about him. I barely know him."

Shisui smiled. "That's what a lot of people say, except you're the liar. He's quite fond of you- I can tell."

Shaking her head, she continued to avoid his gaze. "No, I promise, he's not."

His hand settled on her shoulder and she flinched. "He's not close with many people. I don't know what he did to make you so upset… But please, try to forgive him."

"There's nothing to forgive," she blurted. Gathering her scattered thoughts, she continued, "It's just a misunderstanding. I'm sure he doesn't want anything to do with me anyway though. I'm not upset."

Sadness tugged the corners of Shisui's eyes. "I know who you are…" Panic filling her, she finally looked at him. "You're the very last of the Yuki bloodline. The very last hypoten user in this world. And I know why too." Tears brimming, she bit her lip. "I didn't tell him, I promise. You can, when you're ready."

"T-there's no reason… No reason for anyone to know," she stuttered.

"That's true enough and that's okay. I just want you to know, Itachi wouldn't hold you in disdain for things you couldn't control. Maybe you can give him a chance." He pulled back and stood. "Just think about it?"

Frowning, she turned back to the graves. "I can think about it."

"Nii-san!" Sasuke crossed his arms and stamped his foot on the packed dirt. "Why aren't you talking to nee-chan anymore?"

Itachi stopped in his tracks, turning on his heel to face his brother. "It's not like that. I'm just too busy."

"Liar!"

He sighed. "Look, think whatever you want. If she's so important to you, just go hang out with her. You don't need me around all the time."

Pouting, Sasuke stomped again. "I thought you liked her- like liked her."

"What?" Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What made you think that?"

"You're always really nice to her. Usually you don't even play with me and you always come have adventures with us!" The boy grinned in triumph and his brother blushed angrily.

"Well now I'm too busy for 'adventures'," he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Do you want me to train you for a little while or not?"

"Aha!" Sasuke pointed at him. "You're not too busy! Let's go find Aster!"

Gripping the boy's shoulder, Itachi's face was stern. "No. You can play games with her if you want, but I'm not coming."

"But-!"

"No," he closed his eyes. "I can't. Even if I did like like her."

"Why not?" Sasuke threw off his hand.

Sighing again, he replied as he began to walk away. "You'll understand when you're older. Just let me be."

"Wait a second!"

Irritation mounting, he stopped again.

"Is she your girlfriend and you guys had a fight?!"

"No, Sasuke. Aster is not my girlfriend. I'm too busy for a girlfriend." He glared down at him.

"But if you weren't so busy, she would be, right?" Sasuke exclaimed.

"Why do you even care?"

"Well… I love nee-chan. I want her to be my sister." Itachi froze, surprised at Sasuke's admission. "Can't you just marry her?"

"It doesn't work like that." He made an effort to sound angry, but all he felt was a pain in his chest when he thought about her. "It just doesn't work that way."

"Afterglow" by Yasuharu Takanashi

PlEaSe R&R