Alrighty I figured I'd make the most of the roll while I was on it. Two separate POVs in this one. Enjoy.


Their laughter is the first thing I hear when I open my eyes. The room is dark and cold I realize as I push the covers off me. It's an effort to sit up but one I'm willing to exert to get out of this room. Every day I've been here I've felt claustrophobic. Each room holds a little shattered piece of my past. I step out into the hallway and peer into Sakura's - my parents' room. The door is partially open framing an unmade bed, paper strewn desk, and clothe covered floor. I don't know why, but it gives me some sort of satisfaction to know she isn't as put together as she leads on.

I tread carefully downstairs; a guard follows closely behind me. I round the corner towards the backyard. In some ways, it's a relief to see Naruto like this. We're not meeting on a battlefield with Orochimaru breathing down my neck or the weight of a mission settling on my shoulders. He's here sitting on the back porch of my old house slurping ramen like nothing's wrong. It's a relief, it's comforting to know that some things haven't changed.

"Hey, teme," he faces me with that familiar teasing grin.

"Dobe," the thought of leaning down to sit beside him is too exhausting so I settle for leaning up against the side of the house.

"There's some soup in the kitchen for you, if you're hungry," Sakura eyes me warily, like a nurse would when their patient shouldn't be out of bed.

"I'm fine, Sakura," I snap; she knows I'm not talking about the food. I look away, to the edge of the backyard because I can't stand it when she looks at me that way, like she cares. She would do it all the time when we were younger.

"Well, I think you two have a lot to talk about and it's about time I head home," Naruto stands, dusting himself off. He regards me with a smile, "Teme."

"Dobe," is my reply as he hugs me, "Are you coming back?"

"Why? You miss me already?" he grins once more; it's a wonder his face hasn't split in two yet. When I don't say anything he continues, "I'll try and come again this week, but I do have a wife now. Teme, you're no longer the number one woman in my life."

I can't help but chuckle, especially when he and Sakura burst into a fit of laughter.

"But I really should go," he says finally and proceeds to walk back through the house. I follow him to the door, casting a glance over my shoulder to make sure Sakura isn't following us.

"Please come again soon," I hate that I'm pleading, that I've been reduced to this, "It's hell when it's just the two of us."

"It's funny," he's laughing, "She said the same thing about you."

"Hn."

"I think you two just need to understand each other better, respect each other and your differences. How do you think you and I became friends? We sure as shit didn't bond over our favorite movies," his expression turns bitter, "Or stupid crap our parents caught us doing. But you two have more in common than you think and as soon as you both get over yourselves things are going to run a lot smoother here."

"It's not that simple."

"No, it's not, and it'll probably be the hardest thing you ever do, to start thinking about how your actions affect the people that care about you and to start trusting us with your burdens."

"I don't know why I'm listening to this."

"Because deep down you care what we think, you care about us," he clasps a hand on my shoulder softly, "You did once and I refuse to believe that any amount of time or degree of hardship will change that. You're not weak, and caring doesn't make you weak; letting your pain control you does. I know that better than anyone."

On some level there was factuality to his words; we had grown up in similiar situations yet ended up on opposite sides of the same spectrum. The truth is on the tip of my tongue, but I stop myself. If I tell him now, I'll have to explain everything that happened over the last ten years. He wouldn't let it go until he knew everything. I'm not ready for that. Naruto waits almost expectantly; he knows there's something. Then, he leaves. As I turn towards the stairs, I see Sakura standing by the door to the backyard, watching me.


Naruto's right. When did that start happening? I trudge upstairs, a thrice heated bowl of soup in my hands. After grabbing my medical supplies, I nudge Sasuke's door open with my foot. He's sitting upright, against the pillows propped to the wall.

"Here," I hand him the bowl, then turn towards the soldier by the door, "Would you mind giving us the room while I administer the sedative?"

He nods; by now this is routine. Sasuke takes two bites and sets the bowl down.

"You have to eat more than that."

"I'm not hungry."

"I don't care."

"Isn't that your job?"

"You're my job," I shove the bowl at him, "You can't nurse a fever on an empty stomach."

"I told you I feel fine."

"You're not fine," I place the back of my free hand on his forehead. He's a little warm but his skin isn't clammy anymore. He takes the bowl and I drop my hand. I watch him eat carefully, "I'm sorry about what I said - everything I said, not just today."

He pauses and eyes me cautiously. Guilt has flowered in the pit of my stomach ever since Naruto and I spoke. I try to refrain from dropping my gaze like a condescended child, or a scorned admirer.

"I've been blaming you for the situation I'm in and that's not right, but I've been - it's just hard to explain."

"Try."

His response shocks me. Is he mocking me?

"Are you - "

"Yes, I'm serious. You heard what Naruto said. We may as well stop trying to make our lives miserable," he sets the finished bowl aside.

"Okay, well," I struggle for the words, "I know I've been glorifying everything we used to be, as a team, but I haven't been treating you like an old friend. I think some part of me wanted you to know what it felt like to be neglected like I was by you or how Naruto and I felt after you left. But that's selfish; you've had enough of that. And I was making a life for myself, I was kicking ass at my job and then this happened," I gestured around me, "It feels like I've been ripped away from everything that makes me happy, from my mom, my job, my apartment. I feel disconnected. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I can't go anywhere, but I think part of that has to do with you; I don't know you anymore."

Sasuke and I settle into silence but we don't look away from each other. I'm not watching him expectantly, as though I'm awaiting a response; I know it's a lot to process. I shouldn't have come into this expecting him to come back after ten years and be as receptive to everything as he was before he left. I shouldn't have expected anything of him. I don't know what he saw. I don't know what he did.

"I killed Itachi."