Three: Final Peace

So the story heads towards it's ending. Itachi met Sasuke in a final, desperate battle. He was already sick, already dying. Part of him had been dead a long time.

Itachi had done all he could to spare his little brother. He'd saved him from Orochimaru, given him the power that would kill Madara. Sasuke would never learn the truth. It hurt Itachi that he'd die a villain in his brother's eyes, in the eyes of the world, but that was his fate. He couldn't change it.

"Sorry, Sasuke, this is it." He said, gently, tapping his brother on the forehead like he'd done so many times in their childhood.

He died with a smile on his face.

And as he slipped away from the world, as the world went dark, his brother's confused, stunned, frightened stare was the last thing he saw.

He didn't catch a glimpse of his angel after all.

...

Itachi awakened in the cold world his spirit had been sent to when he died. He hadn't faced Judgement yet, but he was certain that when he did he would be sent to Hell.

"No." A woman's voice said, echoing through the emptiness. Itachi jumped, surprised, and tried to locate the source. "You will not see me if I do not want you to see me." A shrouded figure suddenly formed out of thin air. "But... Since I am about to give you your Judgement... I think you deserve to see me."

"You said "no" a moment ago. Why?" Itachi asked.

"You were thinking I would send you to Hell." The figure smiled. "Tell me why I should, when you have already lived there for the past nine years?"

"I deserve Hell." Itachi said coldly.

The woman's smile vanished. "Perhaps." She mused. "Perhaps not."

"Only a fool would send me to Heaven." Itachi said.

The woman shook her head. "Did I ever say I would send you to Heaven?"

"Well?" Itachi asked. "What then?"

"Life." She said. "That is your punishment."

"Life?" Itachi asked.

"Yes... Life. It can be like Hell, if you make it so. But it can be like Heaven, too. It is up to you. So Life is your punishment... And also your reward."

"I... I do not understand."

"Then perhaps you should speak to one who does." Another figure appeared at her bidding, also a woman. When Itachi saw her, he started.

"Mi... Minori?"

Minori smiled sadly. "Hello, Itachi."

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

Minori looked at the shrouded figure, who smiled coldly. "This woman has also committed an unforgivable sin."

Itachi's brow wrinkled, and Minori sighed. "Suicide, love. I killed myself, remember?"

Of course Itachi remembered. The memory was burned into his mind. It had haunted his dreams more than once over the years...

"Life is her punishment, too." The figure said, simply. "That which she threw away so thoughtlessly for you. Do not take this lightly. Now go. Live. Do not think I am letting you off easy..."

"What do you mean?" Itachi asked.

"There is one alive out there who deserves Hell much more than you, who are only his victims." She smiled cruelly. "Send him to me."

And with that, she sent them away.

…

As Itachi started to wake up again, alive, he felt arms wrapping around him, felt the feather-light touch of something, someone. He didn't have to guess who it was, didn't have to worry.

"Minori..." He breathed.

"Itachi." She whispered, breath on his neck, in his ear.

He felt tears welling up in his eyes. Was it right that he could be so happy at last?

"It's okay." She muttered. "We can be together now. Be at peace, love, be at peace."

Itachi settled into her embrace, rolled over, looked her in the eyes. Her deep, black eyes. They were as full of joy and love as he felt.

"You're right." He said. "It is okay."

The sky was clear, the sun was shining. Maybe heaven wasn't overcast after all.

"Let's not think about tomorrow." Itachi said. "Let's live for today, Mi-chan."

"Let's always live for today." Minori smiled, leaning in close.

Itachi shook his head, smiling.

And at last, he gave in.

...

"What now, Itachi?" Minori asked, laying happily in his embrace. "Do we go home?"

He shrugged. "We could try, anyway." He supposed.

"Maybe we should look for Sasuke first... That kid needs help."

Itachi had to laugh at that.

"Yeah. Let's go get Sasuke and head back to Hidden Leaf. I'm sure they'll take us back without second thought."

"Well... We can try." She sighed, burying her face in his hair. "I want to go home, Tachi-kun."

Itachi smiled, kissing her gently.

"Welcome home, Minori. Be at peace, love. We're together, be at peace."

At home, at peace.

So Itachi thought.

So it was.