Two weeks later Itachi was released from the hospital, much to Sasukes displeasure.
Don't get him wrong, he was glad that his brothers health was stable enough now.
The problem was that he couldn't live on his own yet as Tsunade had predicted and needed help for many, in normal life, trivial things. Normally there are people specialized in taking care of such persons. Not in this case though.
That task had been burdened onto Sasuke. His dear uncle had decided this to be the best way, since he neither had the time to take care of Itachi himself nor the will to pay for someone to do it. He actually told Sasuke to go pay someone for the task himself. As if he had the money to do that. So in short, this was one way of punishing him for the events that happened.
For the next weeks he was going to play housewife for his brother. Cook for him, wash for him, make sure he takes his medications, accompany him for various checkups and muscle training, help him around the house and train with him.
Because of his still weak legs and the damage done to his spine Itachi couldn't walk and has to use a wheelchair.
Having Itachi living with him also meant he wouldn't have to go to school, which he really didn't mind. Some classmate would bring his homework and other things. But it also meant no meeting friends, no partying, no one visiting for too long and no chance to work and gain some money for the payments he still had to do.
He wasn't very eager to be stuck up with his amnesiac brother and his annoying questions.
So as Madara was driving them home, Sasuke was looking out the window with a sour look on his face, ignoring his uncle and brother.
Itachi himself, who was sitting in the back, wasn't too sure if Madara was right with his decision of having him stay with his little brother.
He had noticed very soon that Sasuke seemed to dislike him, even if he tried to hide it. Due to the guilty look Sasuke had every time he came to the hospital while his bandages were renewed, Itachi guessed that it was his little brothers fault that he was in this state, at least partly. He had only been told that he was in a car accident, nothing more. His brother had actually left the room hurriedly during that time. It couldn't be more obvious.
Still he didn't felt like he could be angry at him. Instead he felt rather attached to his little brother, even if he can't remember him at all. The way he stared out the window right now pouting, it was rather cute.
Silly
Itachi shook his head in wonder. He was burning to know why his little brother hated him so much, while on the opposite he himself seemed to love him even more. Yesterday he unconsciously had done the mistake of asking Sasuke for their parents. He noticed his mistake the moment Sasukes face darkened in anger. He had jumped out of the chair, told Itachi that he had no right of even knowing their names and gone he was. Madara had stammered some apologies, but Itachi just waved them off saying that he should have known not to ask something like that, even if Sasukes outbreak made him shed some tears. Madara reassured him that of course he couldn't have known and wanted to tell him about his parents, but Itachi told him not to. He would get to know in time. It was obvious now, that whatever made his brother hate him like that had something to do with their parents. Which were either dead, lost or didn't care for them, since they never came to visit.
Which of those was right he didn't feel ready to know. Sasukes words had hit him harder than he imagined. His heart was racing and he actually had problems getting his tears under control. He wondered then if he always had had such problems holding in his emotions.
He definitely didn't want to be a burden to his little brother. He even had discussed with Madara, that he would pay for his care taking of his own accounts, which seemed to be quite big. But the man simply refused him. Since Madara has been given custody of him because of his mental state he couldn't do much about it. But at least he tried.
Well, he would just have to do as many things as possible on his own. Cooking noodles and operating a washing machine shouldn't be too hard. And if he tried hard enough he was able to get in and out of that damned wheelchair without help and soon he would be able to walk again. He just needed to train hard enough.
Madara, who was driving the car, was having his own set of troublesome thoughts. Setting Sasuke up to take care of his brother probably wasn't the best solution. But if Itachi was to remember anything he needed to have his family around him as much as possible. He didn't have enough free time for that, not that he and Itachi had much to do with each other in the first place, and Sasuke would not do it if not forced to. So force him he did, but if it really was the best for Itachis health he couldn't say. Perhaps he should pay his secretary extra for her taking a look at the situation for at least once a day. She could make dinner for the boys. Sasuke was a good enough cook for only himself, if he wanted to be, but Itachi needed to be careful with what he eats, being in rehab.
Madara already started getting a headache from simply thinking of the weeks to come.
But it had to be like this. It is the perfect chance for Sasuke to get over his grudge against his brother and make up with him. Well, perhaps setting an amnesiac, emotional Itachi with a rather weak heart, together with an easily angered Sasuke who can't think clear during those times, both as stubborn as a herd of mules together 24/7 for the next weeks really wasn't the best option. He definitely should get them some sort of part time babysitter.
At least Itachi didn't seem to have damaged any of his brain parts which are responsible for his calculative thinking. After the incident of asking about their parents he stopped asking questions that might upset Sasuke. Perhaps he was giving too many thoughts into this and everything was going to work out just fine.
And here too: finally an update.
And again I'm so sorry for making everyone reading this wait so long. I hope I can manage to update more regulary now.