Needless to say that I'm pretty slow at updating. I'll blame it on my lack of motivation. Seriously, it's a disease.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Naruto world, it belongs all to Kishimoto. If not I would own my dear Itachi.
Chapter 16 Memories: Until next time
-Outside, Itachi's POV-
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" Black widened eyes relaxed, gazing into my blood red ones.
"Itachi?" Came his surprised reply, tone softer than I expected. "I could ask you the same. What are you doing here?"
So this whole event led to Sasuke? That was unexpected. Now the question that remains is in which way could he be connected to that shadow thing I saw earlier?
I shook off my thoughts, realizing that I had to answer a question. "I noticed something suspicious in front of my window and followed it. It turned out that I meet you here in the rain and what is your reason?" He tilted his head to the side, debatting over whether to answer me or not. The rain trickled down his face. He didn't have a rain coat or something else that could shelter him from the water. Either way he must have forgotten it or just doesn't care as usual.
Sasuke sighed deeply. "I needed a walk." Without meeting my eyes he responsed bluntly to my question. I sighed out as well but not as audible as he did. Before I took my time to say something I closed our distance some more. He noticed my movement and met my stare. I was standing before him now with one hand on my frontside as he rose an eyebrow at this, silently questioning my intention.
The hold loosened and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. The next moment I found myself wrapping my coat around his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. He was a bit confused, not knowing how to react or what to say and before he could voice out any thoughts I was the one to begin first.
"You should go back to your friends but first come home and change your clothes." Takeru and Sasuke were left on the spot when I started to head back. My patron blinked a few times, trying to comprehend what has happened in the last three minutes while my brother followed me after a moment of hesitation.
"Hey! Wait for me Itachi-kun!" The Suna man called and ran up to our sides. I tried to avoid any eye contact with Sasuke, knowing that a talk would only result in an argument which I don't have the energy and motivation for. I never had it anyway.
-Uchiha house, Takeru's POV-
"When you're done you can go back to Naruto's place and announce the rest of our team that we will meet at 10 o'clock instead of 6. Make sure to get some sleep." Sasuke stopped at that the handle of the door between his grip.
"Don't tell me unnecessary things. I can't stand it having you babying me. I'm old enoughto decide what's best for me. Mind your own business instead I'm sure your 'precious' patron is waiting for you to do so." With that the younger Uchiha pushed the door open to close it behind him and I gave a heavy sigh afterwards.
"God, what a temper. Annoying puberty brat. I feel sorry for you to have such a bitchy brother." No response to this one. I sighed again. "How comes that you..." My voice came down to a whisper only for Itachi to hear. "...fell in love with him?" He turned towards me now, taking another intake of air before answering me.
"He has changed a lot. Ever since that day he's different than before."
"Since what day?"
Silence at first and I started to regret asking this but my tongue has a mind of its own sometimes. However, my thoughts were trailed off when he spoke up in his famous monotone voice.
"The day our Clan was slaughtered."
I gasped barely audible. I have forgotten that the Uchiha Clan was wiped out. Itachi-kun and Sasuke are the only survivors. Yeah, an incident like that would change me too and most of all when I'm at a young age. Just like my brother was back then. It must have hurt. That day must have hurt greatly.
"Is this the reason why your bond has been broken?"
Another question that was better left unspoken. Stupid mind of mine.
Itachi closed his eyes, trying to find the most suitable answer. "Most likely..."
I couldn't figure out what he was thinking or feeling when he said this. His voice was as calm and collected as usual but why was he closing his eyes then? There must be something that he is trying to block out, to hide from. What could that be? And why am I thinking so much about it?
Normal POV
Itachi and Takeru never noticed that the said brother they were talking about was overhearing the conversation. His back was leaned against his bedroom door, bangs covering his eyes, hiding his expression.
"But why would that change what he is feeling towards you? He still has you. Shouldn't he be happy with that? Is that not enough?"
"No.." Sasuke mumbled to himself as an unheard answer.
"No." With that single word Takeru stared at the Uchiha in question, hazel eyes facing obsidian ones. The other sibling rose his head at this, curious about what his brother would say now. For the first time he was interested in how Itachi was seeing this whole situation.
"How would you feel when all of your relatives have been torn away from you?"
Those were exactly my thoughts. Not just my parents but also my aunt, my uncle and all the other Uchihas.
"You are still alive! You are his aniki! Compared to him I have nothing left!"
"But it's not enough to fill the hole that day created."
"Why? I thought he liked you. Was that picture of you and Sasuke just forced then? A lie? An illusion?"
No, it was real...
"No, I don't think so. That wouldn't make any sense."
Let's say something good about Itachi for once: it wasn't forced. I was really happy back then. I admired him, I idolized him, I craved for his attention. He was everything to me when I was little. I loved it being with him but now it's the opposite around. Why so? Maybe because...
"Then why?" Confusion in Takeru's voice when he met the elder Uchiha's eyes, waiting for a reasonable answer.
"I made a big mistake that day. I wasn't able to prevent it from happening. I wasn't able to save our parents. They were killed in the same room I was. I was too late and ended up being pierced from behind." Itachi explained, gripping his shirt and lifting it up to show the scar on his abdomen.
"This scar is the punishment I got for being too weak and I deserve it to be honest."
You do. You deserve everything for being too weak to save our parents. I trusted you Itachi. Why did you disappoint me this much?
Takeru eyed the said reminder for a moment, trying to imagine that day but failed. They fell then in silence and neither of them seemed to mind it. Time went on and suddenly the door was being opened, revealing the younger Uchiha in a new yet same set of clothes. He glanced first at Takeru and then at Itachi before lowering his gaze, bangs covering his eyes.
"I'm going back." Spoken in unusual calmness Sasuke walked past them, avoiding any eye contact. Itachi felt his breath caught in his throat when he realized that his brother must have heard them. That would explain his sudden mood swing. He hated it being reminded of that day.
It had always changed his mood into something more... defeated.
The elder sighed out quietly after the front door closed. It hurt to see his little brother sad. His own heart was aching everytime he would look into the younger's eyes after speaking of that day.
"Itachi-kun?" Said person was pulled out of his thoughts.
"Are you alright?" A pointless question because the answer will always stay the same.
"I'm fine." Even though it's obviously a lie Takeru nodded in return, acknowledging his answer.
The rest of the day was spent in the bedroom and neither of the two could sleep. Itachi wasn't allowed to and the other man was too busy with thinking about the story of the two Uchiha brothers.
-Next day, training field number three-
It was ten in the morning when the three Genin had finally gathered at the meeting point with their ANBU Sensei already there. He departed from the memorial stone and walked up to them.
"Morning team 7." Two tired greetings were mumbled in response and the third one wasn't expected so it didn't matter.
-Flashback-
After Sasuke came back into the apartment he immediately claimed the little couch as his own, flopping down and putting his hands behind his head. Naruto and Sakura stepped in, asking him if everything was okay. He gave a grunt as response. The pink haired girl was worried if her crush would catch a cold lying in wet clothes on the couch but before she could make any kind offer she noticed the still dry outfit.
"So you went home and changed your clothes after you noticed that it was raining? And you say I'm the idiot." Naruto said with the usual mocking tone towards his rival.
Sasuke remained silent, not even looking at his team mates but instead burning holes into the ceiling with his stare. "You still are and if you interrogate me any further I will beat said idea out of you."
"Someone's touchy today. I wonder if it's because of the game earlier which you fled quite shortly after."
"Shut up!" Black eyes changed quickly into blazing blood red ones.
The blonde snorted only at this display.
"Fine, be a bitch then." With that he left the room. Sakura wanted to say something to calm this situation down but a hard Sharingan glare was all she needed to decide against it. Sadly she hung her head low and followed her other comrade into his room.
"I'll never understand him." Naruto mumbled pissed off about Sasuke's behavior.
The two Genin laid down, Sakura on the bed that the blonde offered her while he made himself comfortable on a futon. Night washed over them and neither of them could sleep but didn't talk to each other either. Sasuke wasn't far from their problem. He was constantly staring at the ceiling lost in a storm of words that were spoken that day. Needless to say that the three Genin didn't get enough sleep.
-Flashback end-
"Itachi-kun?" Upon hearing that now typical "name" said person turned around with a questioning sound, no need for being verbal.
"Isn't it time?" He asked and the other nodded.
"What 'time'? Time to leave again?" An annoyed tone accompanied with the usual hard stare but even Takeru was used to it now. "You want to go again Itachi?" It wasn't really a question but rather a command to answer right away. Sasuke was already pissed and the lack of sleep was definitely one factor besides the fact of being this way when it comes to his elder brother.
Itachi sighed at first reaction. It was afternoon and his head already ached from the side effect of the soldier pill he took last night after refreshing the one when he left Suna. He was defintely in no mood to argue with his sometimes troublesome brother now.
"My mission isn't done yet. I have to escort Takeru-san back to Suna-Gakure but I'll return in 6 six days."
"Six days 'ttebayo? What are we gonna do in that time?"
"I'll already asked Kakashi-san to help me out."
"No! Not him again!" The blonde whined, refusing to accept it. "All he does is reading his book, laughing like a pervert while we clean the city!"
Another sigh from the elder Uchiha. "Naruto is right, Sensei." Sakura pointed out, feeling like she had to say something to this situation as well. "You can't call this training but rather..."
"Waste of time." Sasuke finished. "You are our 'Sensei' so it's your duty to stay here and teach us your 'skills'."
Itachi glanced at Takeru then back at Sasuke. "But it's also my duty to finish my missions."
"It's okay Itachi." The Suna guy said but this time without the typical suffix 'kun'. The only scene in which he addressed the Uchiha like this was when they made the promise about him and Sasuke. A scene in which he was serious for the first time. So it could only mean that the man was serious again.
"Stay here with your team."
"I'm afraid but I can't do that. It's my order."
"Then your orders have changed now. I'll go to the Hokage and ask her to give me five ANBU to escort me back. And don't worry about the deal with Kazekage-sama either. I will tell him that you carried out your mission perfectly and to my fullest contentment. Nothing will happen to the contract, nothing but only good things." Takeru said with certainty, smiling at the Uchiha to prove his assurance.
He then stepped up to the said person and laid a hand on his shoulder, leaning in so that he was the only one who could hear what he was going to say. Sasuke growled in unseen anger at this, feeling his hand clenching into a fist.
There was definitely something wrong with me and it wasn't the lack of sleep as Itachi would have put it. What was going on in my body but most of all in my mind? No, it wasn't my mind. If it was I would be in full control over myself but I wasn't in that moment. So it could only mean, after thinking about every part that has control over actions... my heart? Ridiculous. Why would that react now? But why can't I explain my own actions then? Why is it that I feel like I have two different bodies? One I thought I would own and the other one that was reacting on his own? There is something deep in me I try to forget but it's always coming back to life under certain circumstances. I still have to find out what that could be.
"I feel guilty for having to pull you away from them. Stay here, stay with your team and with your otouto. Do it for me okay?" A nod and Takeru drew back but only slowly, enjoying the contact as long as possible.
"Thank you for giving me the chance of being a part of your world for a short time. I really enjoyed it and I'm glad that destiny decided to give me that honor. And by the way... your skin is really soft. It was kind of hard for me to part from you." He whispered before turning back and being met by angry Sharingan eyes. The man smirked at this.
Jealous aren't we? Why don't you admit it then? Itachi is desperately waiting for any sign that you care. Boy, this kid is really difficult to understand.
"Bye, Itachi-kun. Drop by when you are near Suna I'll be waiting for you. And you don't need to walk me to the Hokage I can do it myself. Use the time to train your troublesome team instead."
"Troublesome?" Sasuke and Naruto exclaimed at the same time, fists shaking. Sakura's eye twitching was the only visible reaction to that.
"Bye blonde!" Takeru waved at Naruto. "You are blonde too you idiot!"
"Bye girl!" He waved at Sakura. Bye troublesome baka!
"Bye annoying puberty brat!" Hope you will get some sense knocked into your brain one day. He added quietly to himself while waving at Sasuke with a grin.
Another little brother I parted from in anger. Oh well, at least Itachi-kun is making sure that he will survive.
With a last glance at the four shinobis and a grin plastered on his face he let his back facing them and left. But before he was out of sight someone called after him, someone that he now recognized right away.
"I heard the part with the 'sense getting knocked into my brain'! To your information the Sharingan can read lip movements! Don't you dare come back again!"
It was Sasuke. He had called through the whole field just to get this sorted out. Takeru smiled inwardly. The younger Uchiha reminded him of his own brother only in a different way - his otouto was a bit more quiet though.
"I will miss you too! Just don't get too much on Itachi-kun nerves until I come back! That would seriously ruin the mood then!" Takeru called back, waving and grinning at the same time.
"If you set another foot in this village again I'll beat the living daylights out of you as a 'welcome back' greeting!" Now the man smiled happily.
People say that jealousy makes ugly but in this case it's the other way around Sasuke. Someday you will find out about your true feelings. I just hope you will admit them then.
And he was gone. Just as promised he went to the Hokage building and told Tsunade his reasons. She was irritated at first but agreed and offered him five of her ANBU to escort him back safely.
"Are sure about this?" She asked with a serious tone.
"Sure. I trust your village and of course you Hokage-sama. I appreciate it that Uchiha Itachi is willing to finish his mission and that he would do whatever is neccessary to assure my safity but I don't want to waste more of his precious time. He has to train his team and protect the ones close to him and not me when other shinobis can do that as well. Of course Kazekage-sama wanted him to be the one to escort me but I will convince him that this is not required. I was proven the loyalty of this village and that's all I and therefore Kazekage-sama needed to be proven. Our contract will be successfully signed when I return back." Takeru explained and Tsunade stood up, shaking hands with the man before her.
"Thank you Kageyoshi-san."
"No need for that Hokage-sama. I should be the one thanking instead. Thank you for giving me the chance of meeting such wonderful shinobis here."
She smiled at him and he gave one in response. Yes, the village was really worth the travelling: he made the last step for the soon to be signed contract and met interesting people: a new friend and a new little brother. Takeru was happy for experiencing this but the thought of leaving made him sad. He didn't want to have to let go of those people who were already close to him. He didn't want to leave the two brothers who reminded him so much of himself and his otouto. It was sad but he knew it wasn't a goodbye forever. This thought let the fire of hope bloom once again.
I will miss Itachi-kun and Sasuke too. One day I will meet them again and hopefully I will survive my promised 'welcome back greeting'.
...
"A new mission?" Itachi asked, slightly surprised to get another mission this fast.
"Exactly and this time you have to gather some information for us. Like a spy you can say." Tsunade explained and put her folded hands on her desk, leaning her face against them. "I know you just had a mission and you want to train your team but this is important. There is a rumor about a riot going on in this city."
A riot? Information gathering? Me being a spy? This sounds so awful familiar. I never thought I had to do this ever again. But it's for the sake of the village and I promised myself at the age of four that I will do whatever it takes to stabilize the safety of my hometown.
Did I just hear your heart beating faster dear brother? See your breath stuck in your throat? Feel your mind racing? Was something just woken up inside of you? Something coming back to light? Something you tried to hide? Something no one but you knows about? Isn't it, Itachi?
Itachi rose his head, facing the amber eyes of the woman before him. Their gazes locked for a few moments and with that soundless agreement it was decided. "Where are my team mates?"
A small smirk came in response. "They are already waiting for you. Your team mates are this time... team 7."
Eyes widened for a second in surprise, face becoming even more blank.
"I know you are worried about them but this is only a C-rank mission. There won't be any fights so you can consider it a good opportunity to bring them into the life of a real shinobi. I trust you Itachi. You won't let anything happen to them and you won't disappoint me. You can go now." She finished and the Uchiha bowed once more his head and left. The moment the door closed and footsteps disappeared from range she sighed out.
"Don't worry about it. As long as you are with them nothing can happen. We both know that you would never let anyone get hurt and especially not your little brother."
You've proven that many times before...
AN: Not really eventful this chapter but I was rushing things a bit to go on with the plot. By the way, I learned something interesting in my pharmacy school: schizophrenia is not two personalities in one. When you have two or more personalities it's called "dissociative identity disorder" or in a more understandable way "split personality". I called it schizophrenia until I learned better. Wow, school can be useful for once (sarcasm). Well enough with the education crap, see ya next time! - BlackBeta