Chapter II

The night sky is all to becoming, and I look out admiring it, from my perch in a tree. I probably shouldn't be moving around so much. However after spending almost all of yesterday, and a good part of today in bed, my legs need to be stretched. Even If they do feel sore, the burning feeling is much less noticeable. The itching feeling of needing to move is stronger, and I obeyed it. Itachi, much to my amusement, is still in a very pathetic condition physically. He's reduced down to acting like a helpless child, even needing help to sit up straight. Though this doesn't stop him from attempting to do things on his own. He doesn't ask for my help, and I do let him attempt to move, it's entertaining. But in the end the sight of him trying to coordinate his movement becomes…sad, and I do come to his aid.

I have an almost intoxicating feeling of superiority over Itachi. I've come to think that this situation that first took me by surprise, is turning out to be delightful. All my years of simply wanting to avenge my clan by killing Itachi seem…not as satisfying now. Why shouldn't I let him suffer? Haven't I suffered all those years, with my memories, and my isolation? All those years I blindly followed behind Itachi like a puppy wishing to spend time with him..now he will follow me. Now I will be the prodigy the pride of our nearly extinct clan.

I jump down from the tree branch having grown tired of stargazing. Maybe I can get some sleep for the rest of the night. I enter the hotel room through the window that was left open by Juugo. I step softly into the dark room, until I notice bright red eyes that seem to glow, in a demonic fashion befitting Itachi. I stride over to my bed for the most part ignoring my brother's stare. Eventually his eyes close, but I notice he's sitting up in his bed.

"I see you've managed to pull yourself up into a sitting position. How very fine," I say with a hint of sarcasm. Itachi's head turns towards me but his eyes do not open.

"Is this something you cannot stand?" Itachi's monotone voice questions.

"Hardly," I say truthfully, "Even if you were to regain your strength, I doubt you would be able to escape from me."

"I have no desire to attempt to do so,' he says coolly. I eye my brother suspiciously. But his red orbs remain hidden behind his eyelids.

"Are you so ashamed you can't even look at me when you speak?" I tease, letting myself smirk. However I don't get a rise out of Itachi. But soon I know my words will sink into his skull and eat at him. He shall suffer, he will follow me, and eventually when I've reduced him to a pathetic shell of his former self I will make him beg for his death, and cut him down.

"If the sight of my eyes is pleasing to you, little brother, then I shall open them. It makes no difference either way," he explains in a dull tone.

I study him for a long time. And his eyes do open, however I notice they do not focus. So in this dark he can not see. I smirk at the fact that his sight is worsening.

"I wonder…Do you comprehend that you are becoming utterly weak?" I ask him. He doesn't respond, I shuffle down into my covers pulling them over myself. "Go to sleep, it's obvious your body still needs the rest," I command my bother, turning my back to him as I become comfortable within my sheets. I do not hear the sound of Itachi moving, still very stubborn. I shrug it off however, it doesn't matter if he wishes to be childish. I let myself drift into a deep sleep.

My eyes shoot open as I sense someone close by watching me. For a moment bright morning sunlight blinds me. Then I'm able to see, and there's no one there. However I do catch the sound of fabric. I look around, and find Itachi sitting in his bed, looking towards the window. I glare at him slightly, was he watching me while I slept? I get out from under my sheets spotting Juugo in the corner slowly waking from his slumber.

"I suppose I'll get us some breakfast," I muse out loud as I notice Juugo's eyes make contact with mine. "Ill only be a minute," I add almost silently. I go out into the little town, which seems to be wide-awake as people bustle around going about their business. I wander into a little restaurant obviously family owned. I look around and find the place to be empty save for the man behind a counter.

"Good morning," he greets me cheerfully I don't answer. I look around more, and my eyes land on a menu. As I scan over the food options I decide this place will do for breakfast.

"Do you have take out?" I ask in a dull voice.

"Sure thing. What'll you have." I point out the things I think would make a good breakfast, and the man assures me that it won't take long at all. He then offers for me to take a seat while he disappears into the kitchen. I lick my lips as my mind wanders to the though of food. I feel almost like a parent, providing for Itachi, and Juugo. Possibly I'll treat Itachi like father treated him; like an object. Except I will not give him any praise to encourage my hold and control over him. No he'll be trapped within my grasp, and I'll force him to stay, to submit.

"Here you are," comes the overly happy voice of the restaurant owner. I get to my feet and take the bag I'm handed, paying him at the same time. Then silently I exit. Looking down the street I notice in the opposite direction of the hotel is a fruit and vegetable stand. I trot over, wondering if perhaps they have some tomatoes. When I do indeed spot them, I get out the few coins I have left. I'll have to think of a way to make some money. Though I hardly have the desire to do odd jobs, I will also not stoop down to stealing; it's beneath me. However I'm able to buy the red fruit, and a loaf of bread. Breakfast suddenly got more appetizing.

I re-enter my hotel room, to see a rather surprising thing. "Juugo!" I snap, putting down my bag, and heading towards the boy whose marks have reappeared along with his thirst for blood. I take his hand prying it off Itachi's neck. Itachi seems entirely to calm, and he doesn't gasp for air once I free him. Instead he breathes normally, calmly, as I try to bring the more peaceful side of Juugo back.

Once the boy regains his composure, I notice Itachi slides a kunai under his bed sheets. It's not surprise he has the weapon after all I didn't search for any. I hardly see him as a threat, so I don't mind if he holds on to the sharp piece of metal.

I go back to retrieve my bags. "I've brought food," I say in a monotone voice. Taking out some of the warped up food and handing it to Juugo. The package consists of rice balls. I also pull our two small cup like containers of miso soup. Not much but in my opinion a sufficient breakfast. Of course I hardly ever eat breakfast, and when I do I only eat small portions. Juugo takes the food nodding in gratitude. I turn my attention to Itachi, setting a cup of soup in his lap along with a plastic spoon.

"I'm sure you're capable of feeding yourself," I mutter out. I set another package of rice balls at his bedside as well. I unwrap the package, not for him but because I wish to have one myself. But first I'll prepare my tomato sandwich.

I watch Itachi out of the corner of my eyes as I slice the red fruit. He stares for a long time at the soup in his lap before finally taking off the top and grasping the spoon. Slowly he takes the spoon and brings the broth to his mouth. Just the tip of the spoon goes past his lips, as he tilts the utensil so that the soup runs into his mouth. He repeats this action again, still at the same slow pace. I turn and focus on eating myself.

Still for some odd reason I can't help but let myself watch Itachi as he eats. He seems to be elegant about it, almost like a woman. Taking small sips slowly, precisely, spilling nothing. Then suddenly he stops and puts the cup down, before once again looking at the window. I lean over to see how much he's consumed, and it seems to be only half.

"It would be better for me if you would recover and quiet being entirely pathetic. So eat," I explain plainly. He doesn't respond, only turns his eyes towards me. I put down my sandwich and reach out for a rice ball, holding it in front of him.

"Eat," I command with a slight hiss, really being feed up with how he seems to be so stubborn. Always ignoring me when I tell him what to do, even when my commands consist of good advice.

I inch over closer to him, "Stop being so childish. It's really unbecoming."

"I'm full," he says solemnly.

"I doubt that. You hardly ate at all," I say with a hint of annoyance. "I don't need you to be bed ridden once we start to travel," I tell him sternly. I take his hand and place the rice ball into his hand, noticing how very small they are, and how almost skeleton like his long fingers seem to be.

"If I'm such a burden to you…I wonder why not just kill me? Is that not what you've desired to do for so long? Or will you keep telling me bout how one day, you'll get rid of me?" Itachi's emotionless voice asks. Though his voice held no tone of superiority, the statement still annoys me.

I clam myself however, also taking on a cold demeanor. "You won't be speaking so confidently a month from now." I really do find that keeping Itachi alive and reducing him to a shell of his former self would be a much more satisfactory punishment. Just killing him, stabbing him in the gut. It would hardly make up for all the pain he's caused.

Itachi brings the rice ball to his lips, taking a small bite, and chewing slowly before swallowing. "Do my words bother you?" he questions almost innocently.

"Hardly, it's you that bothers me. But I suppose you know about my dislike for you."

"Dislike is a less intense emotion then hatred," he points out.

"Be assured my hate for you still runs deep. Just because you confessed your true intention to me, it makes you no less of a demon," I tell him coolly. Itachi stays silent, taking another bite of food. It becomes obvious as he chews that he's forcing himself to eat. I go back to my half-finished breakfast.

Eventually Itachi finishes the rice ball, and I see him attempt to get up. I also get to my feet intent on keeping him down. However he takes care of that for me, has his legs give out beneath him. He falls to the floor catching himself, his hair falling into his face.

"What are you trying to do?" he doesn't answer me. Instead he covers himself with the blanket again, staying in a sitting position. "What did you want?" I ask in a bored tone. I get no response.

"Answer me," I say calmly.

After a short pause Itachi mumbles out, "Water…"

I get up and go to the rest room to get him some water to drink. I walk back and stand in front of him. Looking down at him, one hand on my hip, while I hold on to the top of the cup filled with water. I lower it down to his level, and he takes it from me.

I walk towards the window, wondering how long it'll take Karin and Suigetsu to find a base and come back. I don't want to waste time in this town. However I should probably gather some funds.

"Juugo." I say softly.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"We should find work. We're running out of money," I mummer, and the boy gives me a nod.

"We should attempt to work in the same place. So that I may keep an eye on you."

"That's all right by me. I could go out and look. I would enjoy the fresh air." I nod, and turn to my brother.

"Try not to make trouble, we'll be back," I say coldly. Itachi doesn't even look at me, instead only sips from his glass of water. I ignore his lack of response, and simply gesture for Juugo to follow me as I head for the door yet again. We head out into the small village. Really I have no hope in finding real work here. This place seems only a bad harvest away from poverty. We walk threw the zigzagging roads, and all seem happy content, and in no need of help.

"Do you think we'll find anything?" Juugo inquires softly.

"We have to, we need the money, we're running out of funds," I state solemnly.

"You need funds?" A suspicious voice asks. I turn to see a man coming out of the alley.

"A boy like you, " he smiles. "Getting money would come easy."

I push the man up against the wall and trap him, staring up into his brown eyes. "And what exactly do you mean by that?" I ask almost bored. However I didn't appreciate the underlying tone of the man's voice. I'm no idiot, and most defiantly not a whore.

"W-what I mean…is-is that you look strong. There are plenty of things you could help people with," he stutters out fearfully.

"Do you have any idea perhaps were I could find someone who needs help?" I question him. Since I already have him trembling, I might as well try and get some information to help me out in the current situation.

"On-on the ed-edge of town. There's an elderly couple that owns a farm…maybe they would.." I don't pay attention to any other words. I simply push myself from the wall and turn to Juugo. He nods and we head in the direction of the outer limits of the town. Indeed the man wasn't lying and the old couple seems grateful and willing to pay for our help. It's meager pay, but it is better then nothing at all; a step below our skills but still work none the less. We finish every task rather quickly. Finding the work that the old man though was to hard form him to do, rather easy. Juugo stays steady in his moods, and gives me no problems; doing a fair amount of the work given to us.


I look out the window the sun is setting, and Juugo seems to say goodnight to the birds as they sing in his palms. I push myself off the window seal, no longer having to keep an eye on the boy outside as he's coming towards the building to enter it and return to the room. Instead I walk over the Itachi's quiet and stoic form. His eyes look at he bathroom door. He's protested before when I've helped him get to the bathroom, being pathetically too weak to handle the simply task of walking correctly.

"Do you need help getting to the bathroom?" I ask him towering over him. He doesn't respond. I ignore him since he seems to want to ignore me. Juugo walks into the room.

"Juugo if you'd like to sleep in a bed tonight, you could take mine," I offer the boy.

"I'm fine," he says I nod, and take a sit on the bed I've been occupying. I let myself study Itachi as his eyes continue to look at the bathroom. Finely he shifts in his bed, just a little. I don't do anything, because he's hardly moved. He shifts again, this time slowly slipping out from under his covers. He then attempts to get to his feet. I watch him wanting him to fail so he'll stop acting so stubborn, and ask for my help. However he doesn't and his wobbly legs take him a few inches towards his destination. I get up to my feet, but make no move towards him. I simply stand and watch him continue to inch along.

Then suddenly he falls to his knees, not having the energy to carry himself any further. I see blood trailing down from under his shirt. I walk towards him.

"See what you've done, you've reopened your wounds," I scold him like a child, belittling him. I lean down to take his arm and put it around my neck. I then wrap my arm around his hip, not wanting to touch his back because he's reopened that wound. I pick him up and guide him to the bathroom. He stubbornly attempts to walk on his own again, but I hold him close to me. He turns his head as far away from me as possible. I smirk a little, to myself. We enter the bathroom, and Itachi shifts so that I stop in front of the bathtub. I lower him down to the ground, and make to leave the bathroom when I start hearing running water.

"What are you doing?" I ask seeing Itachi turn on the bath water. He doesn't answer me. "You don't intend to take a both do you? After reopening one of your wounds." I lean against the sink watching him as he continues to block me out.

"Leave," he finally speaks.

"No, you can't take a bath. You can hardly walk, how do you intend to climb into the bathtub?" Itachi ignores me again, and takes of his black shirt with the triangular fishnet patch on the front. I shift, and turn my gaze away.

"Fine, but don't ask me for help," I say walking out of the bathroom and closing the door. However I can't compel myself to leave the door. I lean against the wall next to the door frame. Only because I know Itachi is going to need help, and when he finally calls for me, I'll gladly come to his aid, and revel in the fact that he's so very weak.

The sound of running water stops, and there is silence for a while, then a splash. I don't' move from my spot, I want him to call for my help. However the call doesn't come, and there is the sound of water being moved around. Was he able to get himself into the bathtub? I push myself off the wall and look for new gauze to put on Itachi. Or rather I'll let him tend to his own wounds, seeing as he wishes to be so very stubborn and independent. That independence will not last long though, I'll make sure of that. I no longer want Itachi to be the genius, to be above me. I will take his title, and no longer will he be perfect. I find the bandages and I lay them on Itachi's futon. I sit on the ground my eyes watching the bathroom door, then I turn my gaze towards the window. Thinking about Karin and Suigetsu, and hoping they've found some place for us to stay; and haven't killed one another.

Time passes seemingly slowly. But he sky outside is now very dark and some stares are appearing. I look towards the bathroom door yet again. Itachi has been in there for a long time now. I smirk thinking that maybe he's stuck or something has happened. I get up and walk towards the door. I knock on it lightly.

"Have you not soaked long enough?" I ask in a monotone voice. I get no response, and I let out a sigh of slight annoyance. I opt to open the door, and reach for the doorknob. After all if Itachi has committed Suicide or hurt himself in any way I'll be rather angry. After all he doesn't deserve to take his own life. His life now belongs to me, and I will end it once I've found that he's suffered enough. I step into the rest room closing the door behind me, and I take in another step so that I may see around the wall and into the bathing area.

Itachi holds a wash cloth over his head and wrings it out, letting the water run over his face, trailing down his long wet strands of hair.

"You're clean enough. Get out and re-dress you wounds,' I tell him coldly. He doesn't move, only lowers his arms down into the water.

"You'll listen to me. I've let you pretend to have some sort of control over yourself long enough now". I say, and yet again I get no response.

I step towards the bathtub, and reach for his arm. He doesn't move away from me, or even looks at me. I pull on his arm, but still he doesn't make any move to get out. When I look at his face I see the water running down from his forehead, and dripping of his chin, some drops decide to drip of his nose as well. There are drops running down his cheek, almost making it appear as if he's crying. Had he drenched himself with the water from the wash cloth to hide the fact that he was crying? I look at he droplets on his cheek closely. I also gaze at his eyes, which seem emotionless and not watery at all. I let out a sigh seeing as he doesn't seem to want to get out of the tub. I turn around to get a towel form underneath the sink.

I pull out the plug and the water within he bathtub drains. Still my brother makes no move to get up. He simply gathers up his hair and wrings out all the water; ignoring me completely. Once all the water is drained, and throw the towel at him. He removes the towel from his face and holds it to his chest. The material trails down cover in his stomach and upper thigh.

"Leave," he tells me emotionlessly.

"The last time I left, you sat in the bathtub for an hour. Get up and get out, go redress your wounds," I say sternly. I look at the cut surrounded by bruises on his back. It's not bleeding anymore, he probably washed it out. I fold my arm and lean against the sink waiting. Again Itachi does nothing.

"It's not like you need privacy, we're both men," I tell him plainly. Again I get nothing, and finally I become tired of waiting. I have to take control of the situation I can't make Itachi believe that he has any control over me, or that I have any patience for him. After all he should think of himself as my prisoner, and I should treat him as such.

I take another larger towel and use it to scoop my brother up out of the tub. He doesn't make eye contact with me as I pick him up. I see the beads of water glimmering off his skin. Skin which looks almost snow white. I let Itachi down onto the floor and pick up the clothes he was wearing. Which he has folded into a neat pile next to the bathtub. I hand the cloths to him and he takes them from he. He takes his underwear and slips both his legs into them, pulling them up. Never getting up off the floor, and not letting the towel covering his private area slip away until he is covered up by his undergarment. Then he takes his pants and once again slips both his feet in. this time though his hand reaches out to the wall and he pulls himself up. Pulling his pants up to his waist with one hand. Then he shakily bends down to get his shirt.

"Re-dress your wounds first." Finally he makes eye contact with me, but he says nothing. His hand stays on the wall and he slowly turns around and starts to walk. He reaches out for the doorknob, and turns it. I watch him leave on shaky legs, but somehow he makes the action look dignified. He keeps his back straight and head up taking steps slowly and ignoring the fact that his legs are probable to weak to carry his weight.

I follow him as he walks towards his futon, never faltering, never lowering his head or slumping his back. His hand holds on to his shirt, while the other stays at his said, not sticking out in any way to keep his balance. The only way you could tell he's having a hard time walking is the slow and shaky steps, which he takes at a steady and constant pace.

He lowers himself down in front of his futon. Not dropping down out of exhausting, and he shows no sign of relief as he sits. He picks up the gauze and starts to wrap it around his middle. Indeed re-dressing his own wounds. I walk over to my bed, seeing as Itachi seems to be doing fine on his own. It doesn't matter, it only means I have to keep an eye on him, so he will not attempt to escape. I watch him as he continues to wrap the bandages around himself.

"Are you upset, because I'm taking away your nursing position," comes Itachi's monotone voice. I sneer at him.

"Less trouble for me, however this doesn't change the fact that you're dead weight. Weaker then me. Do I hold enough hatred now? Am I strong enough for you know?" I question my brother.

"Yes," he simply replies, as if the words didn't effect him.

"Good, then you recognize your life is in my hands," I mutter out, not wanting him to have the last word. Itachi says nothing as he finishes tending to his wounds. He slips under the covers of his bed. I watch him as he lies down and closes his eye. Yes still weak, all that movement has tired him out.

I turn my head to find Juugo also in the land of slumber. I turn to stare at my brother again. His long and dark eyelashes touch his cheeks, and I notice how his eyelids are a slightly darker in color then the rest of his skin. Mainly because the blue blood vessels shine through. I think about all the times I was over looked in favor of Itachi. How he always came up with excuses when he had no time for me. How he treated me like a burden. But know he needs me. After all were could he go? He's dishonored, he was defeated—not kill but still defeated—by his little brother. And he proclaimed he did not trust Madara, and that he had followed him. So Madara is most likely the mastermind behind Akastuki. So he can not go back to join that group. After all he would look pretty useless, and why would he go back if he doesn't trust the man that leads the organization. Yes now he has to stay with me, and eventually I will take my revenge…my proper revenge.

I will not live in his shadow anymore.

"We are unlike any other brothers…"

I will overcome him, and I will not live in his shadow anymore. Even if my father cannot see me now, I don't need his approval. I did when I was younger, just like I needed Itachi's attention. However, I do not anymore. I'll make him pay for what he did…no matter the fact that it seems somewhat…empty. That no one would acknowledge his death, because I am the last Uchiha. All that I'm doing in a way…I am doing it for myself. Yes I want his death to be in the name of all the people he's killed, and the pain he's caused me. But then again…maybe death isn't such a fitting end. It would make me the last Uchiha. Some how, for some reason, that thought doesn't sit well with me. My clan will die out, and this legacy that they've built will be forgotten in time. All the power they gained… gained threw murder and killing, will be for nothing. Possibly by killing my brother I am no better then him. Then I might as well have killed Naruto at the waterfall. No…maybe the chain of killing among the Uchiha, should stop. But..how can there be justice if I do not avenge them? How can I go on knowing that my goal will not be reached, simply because I did not kill Itachi. Not because I was weaker then him, not because I couldn't take his last breath, but simply because I came to the conclusion that the killing should stop. However…the information that has settled into my mind…that speech Itachi gave me explain everything, confessing everything. No, I have to follow through with my vengeance. It is all that I've work for. But after I kill him, will I feel hollow? If I kill him, will the legacy of the Uchiha be that they were a clan of murders, curse with greed, and wretched blood. No I do not want my clan to be remembering that way. I do not want this to become a tragedy. Another death of the Uchiha. I have to protect my family name…don't I?

A/N: I' m so damn tired. And I don't know if the tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, I don't think anyone agrees on it.