Title: Life Goes On
Author: nikki (nikkichan0829@yahoo.com)
Chapter: 3/?
Chapter Title: Death Comes to Call
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Enough said. The title was from the song, "Life Goes On" by Leanne Rhymes (is that the right spelling?).
Warning: YAOI. OOCness?
Author's notes: Erg... This chapter really isn't that good. I hope you guys don't mind. Some parts are confusing but they're confusing for a reason. You'll see that in the later chapters.
~Chapter 3: Death Comes to Call~
Although Itachi wasn't exactly happy with his promotion to ANBU captain months after the death of his two teammates, he contented himself with the fact that he would not make the same mistake again and that he had Kakashi with him. His clan didn't exactly approve of his relationship with the jounin but they kept their silence.
At least for now.
Right at the moment, the Chuunin was disturbed. No matter what he did, he couldn't stop things from happening. His clan still tell him about things that he didn't remember doing. Like breaking an elder's leg, dislocating someone's shoulder, killing a little boy's dog, mutilating the barn animals, setting fire to one of the houses, refusing to spend time with Sasuke...
Was it a darker side he that didn't know he unleashed?
It was a liability and it had been plaguing him for as long as he could remember. It had started back then...
//"He's dead, Itachi."//
//"How? Why? Where is he? I have to see -"//
//"We've already disposed of the body. You are not allowed to see his grave."//
He was startled out of his thoughts when he finally realized where he was. He had unconsciously come to the one place he had not been allowed into since he was five because someone was always watching his every move - the Uchiha cemetery.
Looking around, he checked if anyone was watching him. Finding none, he quickly went in and searched for a particular name, a name his clan had never mentioned for eight years even to Sasuke.
//Finally, I found you again.// Itachi thought as he looked down on one particular tombstone.
~~~~~
That night, Kakashi was washing the dishes as Itachi cleared the table. It had become a whole new routine for them to spend time in the jounin's apartment.
The jounin knew that Itachi wasn't ready for the sort of thing most would've assumed given the time they were spending alone together. They had this agreement that they wouldn't move fast and that they would take their time with their relationship. So now, they spent their time talking or sometimes not even talk at all and just sit there on the couch snuggling.
Yes, Itachi just loved to cuddle with him. It seemed that such close and intimate contact made the ANBU captain feel more secure.
Wiping the last of the dishes, Kakashi glanced up at the clock on the wall and noticed the lateness of the time. It was about time that he walked the raven-haired boy home.
"Ne, Kakashi?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Kakashi nearly fell over with a nosebleed from his overactive imagination. "Eh? Aren't you still too young for that?" He said, covering his nose.
This earned the jouning a whack at the back of his head. It least it wasn't hard. The boy had thrown him the pillow after all.
"Pervert! I-I didn't mean it that way!" Itachi said defensively, his cheeks blushing a bright red. They stared at each other for a few moments before the boy sobered a bit. "So... can I?"
"Aa."
~~~~~
Outside Kakashi's apartment, a shadow observed the interaction between the two. It was too bad that it was going to end soon.
//It's almost time. Enjoy it while it lasts, Itachi-kun.//
~~~~~
The kunai flew swiftly to its intended target. Yet said target easily evaded the sharp-edged weapon and snatchied it in mid-flight, twirling it in his hand before hiding it within his person.
Amused snake-like eyes met with glaring red.
"Ho... As expected of the Uchiha prodigy. Stories of you hardly do you any justice," the man said as he slowly raked his eys over the Chuunin's body.
"What do you want, Orochimaru?"
Itachi's stance was hardly menacing in appearance. It was that of one who was relaxed and having a casual conversation with an old acquaintance yet at the same time, hidden behind the facade was a very much guarded stance, a tiger ready to pounce, a sleeping dragon that would burn you to ashes with one wrong move.
Orochimaru knew that he had to tread carefully around this one. Itachi was a variable in his equation for power, an important pawn in a game of chess, one he could not afford to lost. One mistake and setbacks would be dire.
The sennin allow himself a small smirk. "What I want? My, I want a lot of things - wealth, fame, power and more importantly, an equal to help me accomplish my goals - namely... you."
Scarlet Sharingan eyes narrowed. But they seemed to convey that their bearer was contemplating and analyzing what the legendary nin had just said.
"So what do you say, Itachi-kun?"
~~~~~
Kakashi was leaning against a post, looking at the moon. It'll be full moon in a few days. But looking at its reddish tinge sent shivers down the jounin's spine. A bad omen. Like something terrible was about to unfold. He would rather that it would happen now so he wouldn't be looking out for something he knew nothing about or watching over his back.
Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to jump.
A raven-haired boy smiled at him, giving him a small wave. "Yo."
Kakashi nearly fell over with relief when he realized who it was.
Kakashi grinned. "You're late." He took the boy's hand and started to walk with no particular direction in mind..
"I must be taking up all your bad habits," Itachi said with a smirk.
"Oi, oi, now. Your clan would probably kill me for that," Kakashi said jokingly.
The boy beside him fell silent and stopped. Kakashi looked at him worriedly upon seeing the ANBU captain's agonized expression.
"Don't say that. You don't know what they're truly capable of." Itachi looked away. "Everytime they see you with me... I get so afraid that... taht they'd take you away from me!" His head jerked as he looked at the jounin with eyes wide, tears threatening to fall down his pale cheeks.
"Itachi..."
The raven-haired boy tried to wipe his tears away with the back of his hands.
Unsure of what to say, Kakashi drew the distraught boy into his arms. The Chuunin clutched at his shirt, staining the front with his tears. Knowing they were within public view should anyone come upon them, Kakashi swept the boy off his feet and carried him into the woods.
It had taken a while before Itachi calmed down and contented himself with leaning onto the jounin, who sat leaning against a tree.
"Itachi..."
"Hmm...?"
"What would you say to moving in with me?"
~~~~~
"I've been watching you for some time now. I'm sure you've known all along."
A raven-haired boy looked back at his unexpected visitor. "Oh? You must have the wrong person. The person you're looking for is -"
"You. Just you."
"..."
"My companions and I have a proposition for you."
"And who might you people be?" was the disinterested retort.
"We are Akatsuki. Care to listen to what we have to offer, Uchiha-san?"
~~~~~
Uchiha Sasuke adored his big brother. He thought Uchiha Itachi was the best ninja there ever was. That was why today, he was going to ask his brother to train him in shuriken no jutsu.
His brother looked like he was about to go out as he was taking his time slipping his shoes on. It was strange really that he hadn't seen Itachi these past few days.
"Big brother..."
Itachi looked back at him, his face expressionless, giving nothing away.
"Teach me Shuriken no Jutsu today..."
"... I'm busy. Ask father to teach you."
Sasuke frowned. "Compared to father's jutsu... yours it better... Even I can see that."
"..."
"Brother, why do you always see me as a bother?"
The older Uchiha sighed. Then he gestured for his little brother to come closer. The younger Uchiha took hesitant steps towards his brother and found himself being poked on the forehead with two fingers.
"Sasuke, please forgive me... I'll teach you next time......"
Sasuke tilted his head to the side when Itachi looked away. There was a far away look in his brother's eyes that the younger sibling couldn't decipher. Then the older one turned away from him.
"I don't... have time for you today."
Sasuke pouted. "You always tell me 'Sasuke, please forgive me' then you poke my forehead... Then you tell me 'today' when you don't really want to spend time with me."
The older Uchiha didn't look back as he silently walked out the door.
~~~~~
Itachi chewed at the end of his pencil as he sat behind a desk and stared into nothingness. The growing stack of papers in front of him seemed inconsequential at the moment. These past few days with Kakashi were the happiest he had been in a long time.
He sighed. "If only it could last forever..."
"Yeah, work would definitely last forever at the snail's pace you're doing it," someone commented behind him.
Itachi jerked out of his daydream. His pencil dropped on table top with a light thunk. He looked up behind him and raised a brow.
"You shouldn't really sneak up on people just like that, Gemma-san."
Shiranui Gemma was one of the first people who started getting along with him after Kakashi. Itachi smiled inwardly. Kakashi sure had changed his life.
"Well, it looks as if you got stuck with the desk job for today. Must be boring as hell." The older man smirked at him. "You better get your head out of the clouds for a while. You should try and finish your work early. Heard that Kakashi's taking you out on a date."
The chuunin blushed beet red. "Eh? H-How did you know that?"
The jounin wryly replied, "With the way you two have been going sweet on each other, it's hard not to notice. Geez, you two should get a room."
"... Gemma-san..."
"Hmm?"
"BAKA!" A powerful whack was delivered. Whack one hundred percent successful. Mission completed.
"AAHH!"
"Gemma! Itachi! Stop fooling around and get back to work!"
~~~~~
"Papa, why doesn't brother want to spend time with me? I'm his little brother..."
Sasuke's father looked up from his tea.
"...... He's changed a bit...... He doesn't want to stay around people......"
"Why is that?"
"I don't know... As his father... even I can't understand him..." The older man retreated into himself as if thinking of dark thoughts.
"Sasuke-kun! Here's your lunch!" Sasuke's mother said cheerfully to lighten the gloom that had suddenly descended into the room. "If you want to practice your jutsus, when you come home, I'll accompany you."
Sasuke frowned. "It's not practice. It's training!"
"I'm going out!" The young Uchiha shouted as he made his way out of the house.
//Big brother was seven when he graduated from the academy at the top of his class. At eight, he could already use the Sharingan......//
//At ten, he was promoted to chuunin...//
//My age now is the same as his age when he graduated, but I...//
"But... He and I are both have the blood of the Uchiha clan running through our veins. I won't lose to him!"
~~~~~
It was already late by the time Itachi finished his work. He sighed in relief. Gemma was closing the office for him so now he could go.
He stopped and looked up at the full moon. It was tinged red. It reminded him of blood. His clan...
Maybe he should go and pay them a little visit.
~~~~~
Sasuke panted as he rushed home. He hadn't really noticed the time. Then at one point, he felt as if someone was watching him. He looked up and saw two red eyes glaring at him from the top of one of the electric posts. The red moon served as an eerie backdrop.
He stopped to take a good look at the person but the man was gone.
//What was that? I could've sworn there was someone...//
His eyes widened in shock as he looked down. He saw them, the corpses... Corpses were littered everywhere, on the pavement, hanging by the window, impaled on a pole... Blood... So much blood... Men, women, even children!
"What... what happened here?"
//What the hell happened?!//
Worried about his parents, he rushed home. As soon as he reached his family's residence, he ran to the kitchen where his parents would most likely be.
"Papa! Mama!" Before he could open the door his father shouted back, "Sasuke... Don't come in here!"
"!!"
There were strange slicing and gushing sounds that sent shivers down the boy's spine and made his whole body tremble in fright. He forced his hand to move towards the door handle.
//Move! Quick... Move!//
His hand reached the handle and he pushed the door open. He was greeted with the sight of his parents lying dead on the floor, his father lying cross his mother.
"Papa! Mama!
He looked up and it was only then that he truly noticed the man standing over his parents' bodies. Frightening Sharingan eyes stared at him.
"Brother! Brother! Mother and father... Why? What happened? Who did this..."
A shuriken flew past him, grazing his shoulder. "!!"
Sasuke moaned at the slight pain.
His brother sighed, closing his eyes. "Such a stupid little brother......"
Sasuke's eyes widened in fear. "......!?"
The older Uchiha's eyes slowly opened. Mange Sharingan!
The eyes of the younger Uchiha dilated as he was sucked into his brother's technique.
"IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
~~~~~
Kakashi sighed and looked at the clock. He knew that Itachi was going to be late but he didn't think that he would be this late.
He looked out the window and sighed. He hoped that the young ANBU captain wasn't in any trouble.
But the knock on his door said otherwise.
~~~~~
//"You're not even worth killing... foolish little brother... If you want to kill me, loathe me! Hate me! Continue your meaningless existence! Run, run and live pathetically!"//
Sasuke sobbed onto the man's shoulder as the memory of his brother's betrayal repeated over and over in his young mind. The man who held him was a jounin with silver-gray hair and a gray eye. The man was trying to soothe him by rubbing circled onto his back.
"It's alright... Everything's going to be alright..." the man said but it sounded like it was meant more for himself than anyone else.
~~~~~
Bloody and dirty, Itachi leaned back on a tree from one of the branches. The one he had been looking for was nowhere to be found. The trail he had been following since the massacre seemed endless.
He hadn't had a decent rest in nights. Well, how could one sleep when sleeping would mean getting your throat slit by an hunter nin?
He closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to catch his breath.
The rustling of leaves alerted him to another's presence. So soon? His eyes snapped open as he fixed his Sharingan at the intruder. His gaze faltered as he stared in shock.
"You... It can't be... You're dead..."
~~~~~
TBC
Author's notes: Well, this isn't exactly that long. I'm still trying to get used to writing longer chapters. I usually judge the length by looking at how many KBs my file is taking up. I'm only using text files...
Anyway, please review! Flamers can go to hell and kiss Zabuza's ass! (=.=;;; If they can get through Haku though...)
Replies to the following readers:
firedraygon97 - Well I'm updating now. I'm glad you like it.^^
Anime-Ali - I don't really think that I'm good at writing angst. I'm a sappy person actually (the happy ending kind of writer...)... But thanks.^^ I'm glad that I could write angst well enough for you.^^
Spencerblaze - Glad you think the NaruSasu scene was cute.^^ Please update your fics soon!^^
Zenegami - Err... Memories of Blood was supposed to show parts of Itachi's past before the actual timeline of Life Goes On.
Uchiha-Raine - Hehehe. I'm glad you like it. Hope you'll still continue to read the fic as it progresses.
Lady Gackt - New chapters after lurking for so long... *sigh* I hope you don't kill me.
evafreak - Well, I was thinking KakaIta unless I'm convinced otherwise.;D
Pyro Dragon - I'm not really a mind reader (like some one-eyed sephiroth look-alike that I know of)... =.=;;; Well, the reason may be or may not be that. It'll become clear in the later chapters. Err... You aren't going to sic Yami Yugi on me are you? ^^;;;
kkoganei - Well, yeah, hmmm... I was supposed to use a plot almost the same as that of "The Eye of the Beholder" by The SOC Puppet but since he/she got it first, I edited most of the later chapters to fit the new plot.
Okashi-chan - Heh... XD You sound like Eiji from Prince of Tennis. We can always dream about Itachi-kun ne? =.=;;; That is before Kakashi finds out and kill us... Sshhh...
Erm... If I repeated my other replies, I'm really sorry. Things have been so hectic lately. I've been really out of it.
Started: March 12, 2004
Ended: March 14, 2004
Author: nikki (nikkichan0829@yahoo.com)
Chapter: 3/?
Chapter Title: Death Comes to Call
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Enough said. The title was from the song, "Life Goes On" by Leanne Rhymes (is that the right spelling?).
Warning: YAOI. OOCness?
Author's notes: Erg... This chapter really isn't that good. I hope you guys don't mind. Some parts are confusing but they're confusing for a reason. You'll see that in the later chapters.
~Chapter 3: Death Comes to Call~
Although Itachi wasn't exactly happy with his promotion to ANBU captain months after the death of his two teammates, he contented himself with the fact that he would not make the same mistake again and that he had Kakashi with him. His clan didn't exactly approve of his relationship with the jounin but they kept their silence.
At least for now.
Right at the moment, the Chuunin was disturbed. No matter what he did, he couldn't stop things from happening. His clan still tell him about things that he didn't remember doing. Like breaking an elder's leg, dislocating someone's shoulder, killing a little boy's dog, mutilating the barn animals, setting fire to one of the houses, refusing to spend time with Sasuke...
Was it a darker side he that didn't know he unleashed?
It was a liability and it had been plaguing him for as long as he could remember. It had started back then...
//"He's dead, Itachi."//
//"How? Why? Where is he? I have to see -"//
//"We've already disposed of the body. You are not allowed to see his grave."//
He was startled out of his thoughts when he finally realized where he was. He had unconsciously come to the one place he had not been allowed into since he was five because someone was always watching his every move - the Uchiha cemetery.
Looking around, he checked if anyone was watching him. Finding none, he quickly went in and searched for a particular name, a name his clan had never mentioned for eight years even to Sasuke.
//Finally, I found you again.// Itachi thought as he looked down on one particular tombstone.
~~~~~
That night, Kakashi was washing the dishes as Itachi cleared the table. It had become a whole new routine for them to spend time in the jounin's apartment.
The jounin knew that Itachi wasn't ready for the sort of thing most would've assumed given the time they were spending alone together. They had this agreement that they wouldn't move fast and that they would take their time with their relationship. So now, they spent their time talking or sometimes not even talk at all and just sit there on the couch snuggling.
Yes, Itachi just loved to cuddle with him. It seemed that such close and intimate contact made the ANBU captain feel more secure.
Wiping the last of the dishes, Kakashi glanced up at the clock on the wall and noticed the lateness of the time. It was about time that he walked the raven-haired boy home.
"Ne, Kakashi?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Kakashi nearly fell over with a nosebleed from his overactive imagination. "Eh? Aren't you still too young for that?" He said, covering his nose.
This earned the jouning a whack at the back of his head. It least it wasn't hard. The boy had thrown him the pillow after all.
"Pervert! I-I didn't mean it that way!" Itachi said defensively, his cheeks blushing a bright red. They stared at each other for a few moments before the boy sobered a bit. "So... can I?"
"Aa."
~~~~~
Outside Kakashi's apartment, a shadow observed the interaction between the two. It was too bad that it was going to end soon.
//It's almost time. Enjoy it while it lasts, Itachi-kun.//
~~~~~
The kunai flew swiftly to its intended target. Yet said target easily evaded the sharp-edged weapon and snatchied it in mid-flight, twirling it in his hand before hiding it within his person.
Amused snake-like eyes met with glaring red.
"Ho... As expected of the Uchiha prodigy. Stories of you hardly do you any justice," the man said as he slowly raked his eys over the Chuunin's body.
"What do you want, Orochimaru?"
Itachi's stance was hardly menacing in appearance. It was that of one who was relaxed and having a casual conversation with an old acquaintance yet at the same time, hidden behind the facade was a very much guarded stance, a tiger ready to pounce, a sleeping dragon that would burn you to ashes with one wrong move.
Orochimaru knew that he had to tread carefully around this one. Itachi was a variable in his equation for power, an important pawn in a game of chess, one he could not afford to lost. One mistake and setbacks would be dire.
The sennin allow himself a small smirk. "What I want? My, I want a lot of things - wealth, fame, power and more importantly, an equal to help me accomplish my goals - namely... you."
Scarlet Sharingan eyes narrowed. But they seemed to convey that their bearer was contemplating and analyzing what the legendary nin had just said.
"So what do you say, Itachi-kun?"
~~~~~
Kakashi was leaning against a post, looking at the moon. It'll be full moon in a few days. But looking at its reddish tinge sent shivers down the jounin's spine. A bad omen. Like something terrible was about to unfold. He would rather that it would happen now so he wouldn't be looking out for something he knew nothing about or watching over his back.
Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to jump.
A raven-haired boy smiled at him, giving him a small wave. "Yo."
Kakashi nearly fell over with relief when he realized who it was.
Kakashi grinned. "You're late." He took the boy's hand and started to walk with no particular direction in mind..
"I must be taking up all your bad habits," Itachi said with a smirk.
"Oi, oi, now. Your clan would probably kill me for that," Kakashi said jokingly.
The boy beside him fell silent and stopped. Kakashi looked at him worriedly upon seeing the ANBU captain's agonized expression.
"Don't say that. You don't know what they're truly capable of." Itachi looked away. "Everytime they see you with me... I get so afraid that... taht they'd take you away from me!" His head jerked as he looked at the jounin with eyes wide, tears threatening to fall down his pale cheeks.
"Itachi..."
The raven-haired boy tried to wipe his tears away with the back of his hands.
Unsure of what to say, Kakashi drew the distraught boy into his arms. The Chuunin clutched at his shirt, staining the front with his tears. Knowing they were within public view should anyone come upon them, Kakashi swept the boy off his feet and carried him into the woods.
It had taken a while before Itachi calmed down and contented himself with leaning onto the jounin, who sat leaning against a tree.
"Itachi..."
"Hmm...?"
"What would you say to moving in with me?"
~~~~~
"I've been watching you for some time now. I'm sure you've known all along."
A raven-haired boy looked back at his unexpected visitor. "Oh? You must have the wrong person. The person you're looking for is -"
"You. Just you."
"..."
"My companions and I have a proposition for you."
"And who might you people be?" was the disinterested retort.
"We are Akatsuki. Care to listen to what we have to offer, Uchiha-san?"
~~~~~
Uchiha Sasuke adored his big brother. He thought Uchiha Itachi was the best ninja there ever was. That was why today, he was going to ask his brother to train him in shuriken no jutsu.
His brother looked like he was about to go out as he was taking his time slipping his shoes on. It was strange really that he hadn't seen Itachi these past few days.
"Big brother..."
Itachi looked back at him, his face expressionless, giving nothing away.
"Teach me Shuriken no Jutsu today..."
"... I'm busy. Ask father to teach you."
Sasuke frowned. "Compared to father's jutsu... yours it better... Even I can see that."
"..."
"Brother, why do you always see me as a bother?"
The older Uchiha sighed. Then he gestured for his little brother to come closer. The younger Uchiha took hesitant steps towards his brother and found himself being poked on the forehead with two fingers.
"Sasuke, please forgive me... I'll teach you next time......"
Sasuke tilted his head to the side when Itachi looked away. There was a far away look in his brother's eyes that the younger sibling couldn't decipher. Then the older one turned away from him.
"I don't... have time for you today."
Sasuke pouted. "You always tell me 'Sasuke, please forgive me' then you poke my forehead... Then you tell me 'today' when you don't really want to spend time with me."
The older Uchiha didn't look back as he silently walked out the door.
~~~~~
Itachi chewed at the end of his pencil as he sat behind a desk and stared into nothingness. The growing stack of papers in front of him seemed inconsequential at the moment. These past few days with Kakashi were the happiest he had been in a long time.
He sighed. "If only it could last forever..."
"Yeah, work would definitely last forever at the snail's pace you're doing it," someone commented behind him.
Itachi jerked out of his daydream. His pencil dropped on table top with a light thunk. He looked up behind him and raised a brow.
"You shouldn't really sneak up on people just like that, Gemma-san."
Shiranui Gemma was one of the first people who started getting along with him after Kakashi. Itachi smiled inwardly. Kakashi sure had changed his life.
"Well, it looks as if you got stuck with the desk job for today. Must be boring as hell." The older man smirked at him. "You better get your head out of the clouds for a while. You should try and finish your work early. Heard that Kakashi's taking you out on a date."
The chuunin blushed beet red. "Eh? H-How did you know that?"
The jounin wryly replied, "With the way you two have been going sweet on each other, it's hard not to notice. Geez, you two should get a room."
"... Gemma-san..."
"Hmm?"
"BAKA!" A powerful whack was delivered. Whack one hundred percent successful. Mission completed.
"AAHH!"
"Gemma! Itachi! Stop fooling around and get back to work!"
~~~~~
"Papa, why doesn't brother want to spend time with me? I'm his little brother..."
Sasuke's father looked up from his tea.
"...... He's changed a bit...... He doesn't want to stay around people......"
"Why is that?"
"I don't know... As his father... even I can't understand him..." The older man retreated into himself as if thinking of dark thoughts.
"Sasuke-kun! Here's your lunch!" Sasuke's mother said cheerfully to lighten the gloom that had suddenly descended into the room. "If you want to practice your jutsus, when you come home, I'll accompany you."
Sasuke frowned. "It's not practice. It's training!"
"I'm going out!" The young Uchiha shouted as he made his way out of the house.
//Big brother was seven when he graduated from the academy at the top of his class. At eight, he could already use the Sharingan......//
//At ten, he was promoted to chuunin...//
//My age now is the same as his age when he graduated, but I...//
"But... He and I are both have the blood of the Uchiha clan running through our veins. I won't lose to him!"
~~~~~
It was already late by the time Itachi finished his work. He sighed in relief. Gemma was closing the office for him so now he could go.
He stopped and looked up at the full moon. It was tinged red. It reminded him of blood. His clan...
Maybe he should go and pay them a little visit.
~~~~~
Sasuke panted as he rushed home. He hadn't really noticed the time. Then at one point, he felt as if someone was watching him. He looked up and saw two red eyes glaring at him from the top of one of the electric posts. The red moon served as an eerie backdrop.
He stopped to take a good look at the person but the man was gone.
//What was that? I could've sworn there was someone...//
His eyes widened in shock as he looked down. He saw them, the corpses... Corpses were littered everywhere, on the pavement, hanging by the window, impaled on a pole... Blood... So much blood... Men, women, even children!
"What... what happened here?"
//What the hell happened?!//
Worried about his parents, he rushed home. As soon as he reached his family's residence, he ran to the kitchen where his parents would most likely be.
"Papa! Mama!" Before he could open the door his father shouted back, "Sasuke... Don't come in here!"
"!!"
There were strange slicing and gushing sounds that sent shivers down the boy's spine and made his whole body tremble in fright. He forced his hand to move towards the door handle.
//Move! Quick... Move!//
His hand reached the handle and he pushed the door open. He was greeted with the sight of his parents lying dead on the floor, his father lying cross his mother.
"Papa! Mama!
He looked up and it was only then that he truly noticed the man standing over his parents' bodies. Frightening Sharingan eyes stared at him.
"Brother! Brother! Mother and father... Why? What happened? Who did this..."
A shuriken flew past him, grazing his shoulder. "!!"
Sasuke moaned at the slight pain.
His brother sighed, closing his eyes. "Such a stupid little brother......"
Sasuke's eyes widened in fear. "......!?"
The older Uchiha's eyes slowly opened. Mange Sharingan!
The eyes of the younger Uchiha dilated as he was sucked into his brother's technique.
"IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
~~~~~
Kakashi sighed and looked at the clock. He knew that Itachi was going to be late but he didn't think that he would be this late.
He looked out the window and sighed. He hoped that the young ANBU captain wasn't in any trouble.
But the knock on his door said otherwise.
~~~~~
//"You're not even worth killing... foolish little brother... If you want to kill me, loathe me! Hate me! Continue your meaningless existence! Run, run and live pathetically!"//
Sasuke sobbed onto the man's shoulder as the memory of his brother's betrayal repeated over and over in his young mind. The man who held him was a jounin with silver-gray hair and a gray eye. The man was trying to soothe him by rubbing circled onto his back.
"It's alright... Everything's going to be alright..." the man said but it sounded like it was meant more for himself than anyone else.
~~~~~
Bloody and dirty, Itachi leaned back on a tree from one of the branches. The one he had been looking for was nowhere to be found. The trail he had been following since the massacre seemed endless.
He hadn't had a decent rest in nights. Well, how could one sleep when sleeping would mean getting your throat slit by an hunter nin?
He closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to catch his breath.
The rustling of leaves alerted him to another's presence. So soon? His eyes snapped open as he fixed his Sharingan at the intruder. His gaze faltered as he stared in shock.
"You... It can't be... You're dead..."
~~~~~
TBC
Author's notes: Well, this isn't exactly that long. I'm still trying to get used to writing longer chapters. I usually judge the length by looking at how many KBs my file is taking up. I'm only using text files...
Anyway, please review! Flamers can go to hell and kiss Zabuza's ass! (=.=;;; If they can get through Haku though...)
Replies to the following readers:
firedraygon97 - Well I'm updating now. I'm glad you like it.^^
Anime-Ali - I don't really think that I'm good at writing angst. I'm a sappy person actually (the happy ending kind of writer...)... But thanks.^^ I'm glad that I could write angst well enough for you.^^
Spencerblaze - Glad you think the NaruSasu scene was cute.^^ Please update your fics soon!^^
Zenegami - Err... Memories of Blood was supposed to show parts of Itachi's past before the actual timeline of Life Goes On.
Uchiha-Raine - Hehehe. I'm glad you like it. Hope you'll still continue to read the fic as it progresses.
Lady Gackt - New chapters after lurking for so long... *sigh* I hope you don't kill me.
evafreak - Well, I was thinking KakaIta unless I'm convinced otherwise.;D
Pyro Dragon - I'm not really a mind reader (like some one-eyed sephiroth look-alike that I know of)... =.=;;; Well, the reason may be or may not be that. It'll become clear in the later chapters. Err... You aren't going to sic Yami Yugi on me are you? ^^;;;
kkoganei - Well, yeah, hmmm... I was supposed to use a plot almost the same as that of "The Eye of the Beholder" by The SOC Puppet but since he/she got it first, I edited most of the later chapters to fit the new plot.
Okashi-chan - Heh... XD You sound like Eiji from Prince of Tennis. We can always dream about Itachi-kun ne? =.=;;; That is before Kakashi finds out and kill us... Sshhh...
Erm... If I repeated my other replies, I'm really sorry. Things have been so hectic lately. I've been really out of it.
Started: March 12, 2004
Ended: March 14, 2004