Chapter 7

"Nii-san." It was almost like he was having the same dream repeatedly, making him wish that he was waking up again. The only thing that was different from the previous dream he had, Itachi took in Sasuke. It looked like his brother had finally aged to be twenty-one if he didn't pass away.

"Sasuke?" His question didn't seem like it came from him, as if it was echoing around him from somewhere else.

"Of course. Who the hell do you think it is? No, you're not dead yet if you're wondering." Sasuke stated bluntly as he shook his head at his brother's reaction. Standing in front of the older Uchiha, he smiled. "How Oka-san?"

His body tensed at the topic his brother wanted to go on. He knew how the woman was since he was still walking on the earth. Shaking his head, Itachi stopped to look at his brother clearly. "Not so good. She's depressed. She has to take medication Otouto-san just to feel like her old self."

Nodding, the younger Uchiha looked to the ground where they stood. He didn't want to cause that pain to the woman that cared for him but yet he did. Sighing, he sat down and looked up at his brother with a small smile on his lips. "How about Dobe?"

"Still the same blond that you know."

"Did he give you the book yet? My journal I mean." Sasuke questioned as his gaze dipped to his lap but slowly went up to look at the man that was his brother. Biting his lip at the thought, he wasn't sure what to expect as an answer.

"Yeah. He did." Itachi stated as he met the ebony eyes of his brother. He swore this was a dream but deep down he knew that it wasn't. It was almost like he was actually talking to his deceased brother. He heard stories of people having this same experience but wasn't sure if they just had that person on their mind or not.

"How far along are you?"

"I finished the third entry. Why didn't you tell me that you were gay? Why didn't you tell me that Naruto was . . . infatuated with me?" Itachi looked for the right word so it didn't sound so childish to him but it all felt like that.

"Because, I didn't know how you would react to the news. It's in the same category of getting married, having a kid, etc. At least that's what it feels like to me. I was afraid that you would have thrown me away, like something vile. I had that constant fear that if I did tell you then you would have told Oto-san. I didn't want him knowing." Sasuke explained as he shook his head. He didn't want to cry because of the topic he brought up himself.

Walking over and bending down to embrace his deceased brother, he smiled a little. Pulling away, he had a feeling that his brother had been watching him since he had paused away. "Do you know what's been going on?"

"No. I hate watching everyone because I see the pain I caused. I wish I didn't do that to them. I wish I didn't do that stupid choice."

Nodding, the older Uchiha sat down in front of his brother. Smiling a little, he wished that he had a picture of Kisame to show him. "Naruto told me how he feels. I can't return them though."

"Why? Who's the lucky girl? She better be good because if not, I'll haunt her little ass." Sasuke exclaimed only to see his brother laughing like it was a joke. "Nii-san I mean it. I'll do it."

"Wrong gender goof. Sure I can't give up girls which is a hard thing to do but my body's leaning more toward gay. I met someone while I was in college. Believe it or not, he was an apprentice at the time."

"For what? Don't tell me he was learning how to strip. Please don't tell me you fell for someone like that." The ebony hair with a bluish tint to it shook as Sasuke shook his head while he whined.

"No. He does tattoos. He's pretty obsessed about them, at least that's what I think though. He's nice though. He said that if I'm ever willing, he'll do a memorial tattoo for you."

"You're scared of needles though." Sasuke commented as he looked into the ebony eyes that were slightly dulled because of his eyesight. He knew something was wrong with his brother but didn't want to ask.

"I know. If it comes down to it, then I'll do it. Oto-san got one. He got a cat that has a ribbon around its neck with your birth and passing date." Itachi chimed as he pointed to his forearm where his father had gotten it.

"Nii-san is there something you're not telling me."

Almost like that, the dream had ended. When he woke, he felt something wet on his face. It felt like his mother had been crying over him but he knew that wasn't the case when he felt a droplet of water fall from his eyes.

"Itachi you're awake." Naruto's chiming voice made the Uchiha look over to see the blond sitting with his parents around him. Kisame was on the side but it looked like he was trying not to glare at the blond.

"Yeah." The Uchiha croaked, as if something had been shoved down his throat to do whatever needed to be done. "What happened?"

"Fluid in the lungs." Mikoto answered before anyone else. Looking over at her husband, seeing him try not to cry over the fact that their only living son was dying slowly. "Your condition is getting worse."

Nodding, Itachi looked at Kisame, giving the older man a smile but didn't see one be returned. Sighing, he tried to sit up but couldn't. His back hurt, probably from where they had to stick the needle in to get the fluid out.

"You'll be here for a couple days." Fugaku finally spoke up, letting his son hear how conflicted he was over the fact that he won't have a son anymore. Meeting his gaze, he tried to force a smile onto his lips but couldn't.

Mikoto basically begged the known Gods and Goddesses of all the religions to spare her son but time could only tell. Before long – from what Tsunade told them – he'll be put on the transplant list for a new set of lungs. Then time would only tell if his body accepted them or not.

Getting up, she hugged her only child tightly, not wanting to let him go before walking out of the room.

Itachi knew that his mother was upset about the fact that he was dying but he never really saw his father near tears before. The older Uchiha tried to hide those things but it was hard not to miss now. Smiling at the man that he was raised by, he watched him leave before turning his attention to Naruto and Kisame.

"Itachi." Kisame's voice seemed solemn, as if he was trying to think things over without asking another's opinion.

"Naruto can you give us five minutes?" The Uchiha inquired and looked over at the Namikaze who was holding the journal his brother wrote in. Seeing him nod, he disappeared from his sight which focused on the Hoshigaki in front of him. He had a feeling he won't like what his lover had to say.

"I'm going to be going out of the country. I got a job in California to be an artist. I leave next week." Kisame stated. He didn't want to beat around the bush because of the Uchiha's health but he also knew that giving it to him straight forward could damage him also. "I wanted you to know."

"I guess you want to end the relationship then."

"No, I don't. I don't want that. I just wanted you to know now instead of finding it out later on when I'm packing or whatever." The blue haired artist insisted but saw the anger that was rising in the sable eyes.

"You know as well as I do that long distant relationships don't work. You've tried that once with that girl from high school. You told me that it didn't work because she moved to Kyoto. I guess we might as well end it because California and here are in two different time zones. We won't be able to talk." Itachi said, letting his head fall back into the pillow and his gaze turning to the window.

"But I don't want that."

"I know this, I don't want it either but it's better this way. You have your dreams to follow. I have mine. Go live it." The ebony haired man stated almost coldly. It seemed like he was saying everything in a cold tone but he wasn't sure how his lover was taking it.

Bowing his head, his stride taking him over to the bedside, his hands reached out to hold the paler one. He didn't want things to end. He wanted to be there for the Uchiha until he did pass away – which he didn't want – or got better. "Thanks for all the fun times."

Nodding, Itachi let his eyes fall close as he tried to get comfortable without the machines going crazy. Hearing the man walk away, he knew it was going to be hard. He didn't want a relationship yet since this one just ended. At times he wished that he didn't fall in love.

It's almost a little shorter than what the typical pages that it's been typed up in. Also, that dream! *points to the top* I've had one like that twice but with my grandfather. It was really weird but I loved it at the same time. Please give me feedback! :)