Hello loyal readers! It's Tara again, with the newest chapter of MIB: D! So school is a bummer; it's so boring! …And hard! Chemistry blows, World history sucks, English II bites, and Algebra II is a fail. I'm just glad I'm working hard enough to pass, but it's taking a lot of time out of my writing. I wish it was still summer time, really I do. Nonetheless, I must continue updating! I've promised all of you that I would! So onwards, replies to your reviews!

Sarah: Well, I think it's because Orochimaru is just that creepy science teacher that like to look at innocent creatures' insides. I guess I can't really picture Asuma or Tsunade being the biology teach. None of the normal Sensei are as creepy as Orochimaru, and I personally find Snake-kun extremely bio-teacher creepy. And as a plus, no other classes would really involve snakes, now would they? C:

Celestial Moon Goddess: Awe, thanks! I love the reviews. They make me happy. C:

A few author notes: Chapter 8! Whoop! I won't be delving further into the death of the Uchiha elders in this chapter; that would make the story go way too quickly. However, I will be digging deeper into Itachi's psychological problems and effects of alcohol on his and Sasuke's people. On with the crazy! DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL ON MY PROFILE!

Chapter 8: Depression

(Itachi Centric)

I padded around the house. Today is Friday and I didn't feel like going to school. I was drinking all night, and now I have a major hangover. My head is throbbing, and with every heartbeat my world pounds as if it had a heartbeat of its own. It was almost dizzying.

"Ugh, my head is killing me." I complained as I slumped into our plush suede sofa. I had promised Sasuke I wouldn't do this. I promised him I wouldn't be like Father.

Our likeness was uncanny. And yet, we were so different.

I have always had a sweet tooth. I was nearly infatuated with sweets and pastries when I was younger, around Sasuke's age. Mother would take me to the bakery shop and the man behind the counter, I believe his name was Juugo, would give me his special sweet of the day. Father never did like sweets…

Wait…

How'd I get on this topic?

Oh yes… my headache. I glanced lazily around the room, so not to disturb my aching head. Everything was completely normal. Oh, wait, there's a note on the television. I pulled myself off of the couch.

My head spun as I stood up. I ignored it and wobbled towards the note. I picked it up.

Dear Itachi,

You were sleeping so well I didn't wake you. Something must be wrong if you didn't get me up this morning. I made another futile attempt at breakfast. Failure. So I just went and got you some breakfast from that Whataburger a few blocks from here. It's in the microwave. See you later

Love, Sasuke

My frown eased as I read the letter. I sat it down gingerly and wobbled into the kitchen. I could eat a horse, I was so hungry. I pulled the food Sasuke had bought me out of the microwave and sat down at the kitchen island to eat it. As I munched on the breakfast burrito, my mind wandered to the drinks in the humidifier we kept in the basement. I tried to shake the thoughts away. I already had a raging hangover, and that stuff isn't good for me anyway.

But it was so damned addicting.

I gulped down the food and chugged a glass of water. Full and satisfied, I shuffled back into the den and slumped into my spot on the sofa. I turned on the TV. and started watching some old cartoons. That was pretty much the only thing I could watch.

Boredom is a bitch.

My mind continued to wander to the strong nectar that lay in wait for me. I decided to get up and find some sweets to bring my mind away from it. I wobbled back into the kitchen, slowing only when I tripped over the threshold. Thank God Sasuke wasn't here to see me so off balance. I looked through our cabinets. The only sweets we had was a box of cake mix.

"Hmm." I pulled the box from the shelf and looked at the required ingredients: eggs, water, and 1/3 cup of softened butter. I licked my lips in anticipation and quickly pulled out my mother's old box of recipe cards. I scanned through them.

Peanut Butter.

Peanut Butter bars, peanut butter cookies, Peanut butter CAKE! Yes!

I yanked out the card and pulled out some peanut butter and chocolate chips. I stirred the cake mix and eggs with water, then heated the peanut butter in the microwave. I poured about a quarter cup's worth into the batter and nearly emptied the half full bag of chocolate chips into it. I was brimming with excitement. I hadn't had these cakes in years… I poured the batter up into a lined cupcake pan and shoved them into the oven.

I could hardly wait as they baked. I wanted one now. I sat in front of the oven staring at the cakes as they baked, my stomach growling. The evil substance in the basement had been long forgotten.

The oven timer beeped, and I nearly ripped the door off of its hinges getting it open. I was patient though, I knew the cakes had to cool before they could be iced and eaten. My stomach moaned at that. I really wanted one. I broke a piece of cake off of one and popped it into my mouth. I groaned in happiness. It was so good. I could feel the creamy peanut butter rolling against my tongue, and the cake sticking to my teeth. I didn't get in chocolate chips in that piece, but I would have as much as I wanted when they cooled.

These cupcakes reminded me so much of my mother. She would always bake them for me when I won a big game. I know they're human food, but they're just so yummy.

Did I just say yummy?

My mind wandered to fond memories of mother. When she taught me to ride a bike, or when she raised hell with my teacher for taking my cell phone, mother was always there for me. She was my rock. Until she died. Then it was just me and Sasuke.

My mind suddenly wandered to her death. That gruesome day was posted in nearly every newspaper in Germany.

Fatal Hot Air Balloon Kills Twelve and Joyful Air Ride Gone Awry! They were all just bitter memories I had cut out and put into the old shoebox I kept under my bed. I frowned at that. I began to focus on mixing the icing for my cupcakes.

Fatal Hot Air Balloon Kills Twelve

On a lovely autumn evening filled with the traditional beer and cheers, a seemingly normal hot air balloon caused devastation in the west block of the Oktoberfest celebrations of Munich. Twenty people had already been on the balloon, and a couple, aged 40 and 42, boarded the balloon to deem if it was safe for their two young sons to ride. The balloon lifted in the air with no problems. There were no technical difficulties.

The tragedy happens when a drunken archer shoots his bow. He is located 20 yards from the landing site of the balloon, just far enough for his arrow to fly askew and hit the balloon directly in the engine that emits the fire to ascend the balloon. The engine exploded into fire and the basket catches fire, with the couple and driver still inside. The captain tries frantically to land the balloon, and almost does, but a gust of wind blows the fire into the material of the balloon itself, sending it crashing down.

The balloon landed in the Beer Tasting tent just before the judges and guests arrive. Ten workers inside the tent were preparing tables for the event. Only one, Gunther Verndslich, lived to tell the tale:

"It was horrible!" he told us, "One second we were setting tables, the next a huge balloon comes crashing in the roof. I thank God today that I was at the far end of the tent bringing in chairs for our important guests. The others weren't so lucky though. Nobody got hit, but the balloon completely blocked the exit I was coming in from, AND it was on fire! They all burned to death, God bless their souls."

The captain of the balloon was a widow, and the couple in the balloon left behind two young boys, aged 11 and 7, behind. None of the workers were married, but one, a woman named Madeline Von Dench had a 17 year old son.

With Sasuke

"I'm getting pretty worried about Itachi. I saw him drinking yesterday and now he's too sick to come to school." Sasuke was carrying his brother's classwork that had been so graciously provided. "This isn't like him at all."

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Sasuke. Maybe he just had a little too much to drink. You'll see him again this afternoon, right?" Sakura chirped.

"I hope so." He said.

"I know so." She replied. He grinned at her and they walked down the hall to their next class together.

With Naruto

I was super worried about Itachi Bastard. I hadn't seen him on the bus ride, and when I asked his dorky brother he told me the skank was sick. What, did he have AIDS or something? If it's just a little bug I'm kicking his ass. He's got me all worried.

I rounded the corner into the math hall. Genma teaches this class, and he's too interested in the boobs in class to pay attention to me. Now will be the prime time for me to text Itachi and see what's up with him. Genma's class was the fifth door on the left. I went in.

The entire place was a rowdy mess! Looked like my kind of party, too. People throwin' paper balls, Lee and Shikamaru arm wrestling, and Genma staring at Ino. Jeez, this guy was like Orochimaru, 'cept he likes little girls, not little boys. Even though I wanted in on this party, I decided my friend was more important, and I took a seat behind Lee to text Itachi.

Bling da Ding!

From: Dumb Blonde

Yo, man. You ddnt cum 2 school. Whts the deal?

Blung dum dee dee Dum, Blun-

From: Bigger Bastard

I had a hangover.

Blung dum dee dee Dum, Blun-

From: Dumb Blonde

Ah. Im comin over to see you after skl.

Bling da Ding!

From: Bigger Bastard

Fine.

I put my phone back into my pocket. I was worried about that whore, and itwasn't normal for him to have a hangover. He's just gonna have to deal with me this afternoon.

Back at the Uchiha Mansion

I was still on the couch munching on peanut butter cupcakes when Naruto and Sasuke walked in. Naruto stopped right in front of me and placed his hands on his knees to look me square in the eyes. I blinked at him.

"What?"

He just stared.

"Naruto, you're being stupid again."

"What's this about a hangover? I didn't know you drink." He squinted his eyes at me as if trying to spot a lie forming in my brain.

"I had some drinks. A few too many. No big deal."

He frowned at me. "It IS a big deal when your best friend's brother is going down the same path as his crazy ass dad."

I scowled at him.

He scowled back.

Sasuke plopped down on the couch next to me. "You told me you were only going to have just enough to drink." He gave me a side glance that dripped disappointment.

"I did. I only had about two drinks."

Naruto wasn't buying it. "Oh really? Two drinks? I've seen you get wasted before and it takes at least twelve. You expect me to believe that two little drinks put you away?"

"Alright, alright!" I sighed. "So I had a lot of drinks. I couldn't help myself. It was Amontillado!"

Sasuke stood abruptly. "You said you wouldn't do it! You said you wouldn't drink!" He turned to face me, anger boiling in his face. "You said you wouldn't be like Father! You promised, and yet you lied! I trusted you wouldn't do it, and you did!" He tried to calm himself, putting his face into his hands and pacing. He stopped and looked at me, and snapped. He flipped over the coffee table.

"YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T!" I was speechless. "YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T!"

He stormed up the stairs, leaving me and Naruto alone together. The blonde stared at me.

"So you promised Sasuke you wouldn't drink, right? What's pressuring you to do it?"

I looked down at the palms on my lap. "I-I don't know… I drink the wine to better my health, but then I just can't stop." I looked up at him. "It's like I don't off switch, you know?"

He stared at me for a long time. "People say you're the smart one, eh? If you know you have a problem, why didn't you get help?" He turned walk out the door into the kitchen before looking back and calling out, "If I were you, I'd see the counselor or something." And then he left.

The problem was, though, that I can't go to the counselor. She wouldn't understand. No human could understand, but at least Naruto could try.

Well there you go, Chapter Eight! It's nice to reach out to Itachi a bit in this story; he's going to play a very large role in later chapters. Also, we learned some more about the Uchiha elders' deaths. Well, now, that was an interesting chapter! Well at this very moment, Hurricane Isaac is passing through (August 29, 2012 3:53 pm) so what better time to update? Read and Review, and don't forget to

VOTE IN THE POLL ON MY PROFILE. I CAN'T START A NEW STORY WITHOUT YOUR HELP!

Also, more reviews would help; it would make it easier to write for you guys. Thanks for the support! Love, Tara.