I'm actually updating regularly! I'm proud of myself.
So we have only one more heavy chapter coming up then it will be smoothe sailing for a bit. This chapter is a little heavy too, so I hope I'm not crunching so much drama together.
I can't believe I keep forgetting the disclaimer half the time too. I really have to keep up on that.
I do do not own Naruto because if I did Akatsuki wouldn't be dead.
Chibi in a Box Chapter 14
What to do with with an older brother
3rd POV
Summer has ended and work started. June went back to being a nurse, Serenity went back to being a dance teacher and Ashton has been trying to find a job. June works double shifts to pay for all the food the Akatsuki and them eat. Serenity was given a raise, so this helped with the bills. Ashton is, well struggling with finding a job though.
"Ashton we need to talk," June said sitting down in the kitchen.
"What," Ashton said in annoyance rolling her eye.
"You need to find a job," June started out bluntly.
"This would be plenty usually, but now there's ten more people in this house Ashton. June might be able to bring in a little bit more money if she goes to school to become a doctor but the bills would go up," Serenity explained.
Ashton sighed and pulled her hat down over her eyes. She sat down and put her feet on the table. "Well I'm trying to work on my boxing career, if I can get into this year's boxing season I can rake in enough money for 20 people," she sighed.
"Ashton, logically we both know you can't. It would be a waste of time and money. The effort would go to waste. Why don't you try to get a job as a construction worker or work at a factory?" June suggested.
"Or we can use your inheritance money," Ashton mumbled.
"Ashton you know we can't use that, in the will the money was supposed to be given to Evergreen and even if it was for me I would have to wait till I turn 25," June growled.
"What about using Serenity's?" Ashton asked. "She used most of it up on you!" June shouted.
"All that money was used to bail you out of jail, pay off your debts, get you medicine so you'd stop taking drugs and pay gangs to get you out of the criminal community!" June shouted again.
"But there is still more! I checked Serenity's bank account!" Ashton shouted back. "I know there's more, but I hid that so you wouldn't use it all up!" June snapped.
"Then we should rob a bank or something," Ashton suggested. "No! You have to work for your money. My parents did and left me plenty," June snapped.
"Maybe I could be successful if I had an education!" Ashton shouted. "You got to go to high school and college! I didn't, the foster family didn't even help me pay for an education!"
"You didn't even care about school! You just gave up and dropped out!" June shouted. "You did go to high school, you just flunked a year."
Serenity covered her ears. "Please stop yelling," she pleaded.
"No, because you're also involved!" Ashton shouted. "You got an education too! June! Have you even considered getting Serenity new medicines? She spends most of our money on that. Antidepressants, ADHD meds, separation anxiety, shall I continue?" Ashton asked cheekily.
"It's not her fault! She can't help being depressed!" June yelled back. "Then I can't help being hooked on drug!" Ashton shouted.
"Stop!" Serenity yelled. "If it makes you happy I haven't took any pills for over a month!" Serenity yelled.
June and Ashton stopped yelling and looked at her. "Why?" June asked. "If I don't take anymore then I'll be fine. We can save the money for something else," Serenity admitted.
"You need to take your medicine," Ashton said sternly. "But I-" "Now!" Ashton screamed.
"No!" Serenity yelled. "Guys calm down," June soothed. "Stay out of it rich kid," Ashton snapped.
"I am not rich nor a child Ashton," June said sternly. "Well you're some rich kid. Your parents were successful unlike mine. They built an oil company, Serenity's mom was a dancer for the Milwaukee ballet and other dance studios. Her dad was a successful photographer. My parents built no company. My mom couldn't dance, she could box though, but her career failed. My dad was a foundry worker. He got minimum pay!" Ashton shouted.
"Ashton stop yelling," Serenity pleaded. "No!" Ashton shouted.
"Out," Serenity said darkly. "What?" Ashton asked.
"Out of my house! My parents owned it so I have the right to tell you to get out of my house! Get out of this house. You're an idiot who feels sorry for yourself! You can't even find a job without getting fired!" Serenity shouted.
"So, so, out!" Serenity shouted. June looked at Ashton. 'Don't you dare' June mouthed. Ashton glared at her and opened her mouth. "I will go and take what's mine! So you can have your gun," Ashton said.
Serenity froze. June shook her head. "Ashton, don't," June sighed. Ashton ignored her, "That's right, your gun. The gun that was used the night of the shooting. It belonged to your uncle so that means it's yours now. So go take it and ruin some kid's childhood you freak," Ashton sneered.
Serenity frowned and tears prickled in her eyes. "Well at least I'm not some bipolar, jerk who nobody likes! I can at least stand up for myself! Unlike you, you just lets Tate push you around because you're weak!" Serenity yelled.
"I'll show you, I'm not weak!" Ashton yelled. She marched up to Serenity and grabbed her shirt. Ashton was a tall person, she was 6'1 and Serenity was 5'9.
Serenity looked her in the eye and said, "At least I'm not from a useless family." Ashton looked at her. She cranked her fist back and hit her gut. Serenity coughed violently. Ashton dropped her to the ground. Serenity got up and ran to her room.
"What was that for!" June shouted. "You idiot!" June shouted. Ashton marched up to her. Ashton was the tallest out of the three girls, June being the shortest. She was 5'3.
Ashton grabbed her shirt and cranked her fist back. June was frightful at first but her eyes drained of emotion. Her arms went limp at her side and she didn't struggle in Ashton's grip.
"We both know you can't hit me," she stated. Ashton threw her first at June. "Stop," June commanded. Ashton stopped her hand mid-flight.
June stared at her with critical eyes. "You're weak Ashton, out of Serenity's house," June spoke lowering Ashton's hand from her own shirt.
Ashton look as if she was under some spell by June. "Ten minutes and forty five seconds of your crap. That's all you say," June spat.
June walked forward and Ashton backed up. "I'm sorry June," she muttered. "That doesn't fix it," June said walking away.
Serenity quietly went up to her room. Thinking about why she said all those terrible things. She slowly turned the knob to her room and walked in. She went to the nightstand, opened it, and took out a pill bottle.
Serenity hated taking her medicine, it made her feel like a freak, like Ashton said.
She grabbed a picture in her nightstand and hugged it. It was her family. A broken and messed up family, but a family none the less.
It was a picture of her mother, Sophie, her father, Archer, and brother Nico. Her eyes landed on Nico. Her brother was the spitting image of Itachi despite him having shorter hair and having no lines under his eyes.
Nico's hair was just long enough he could put it in a high ponytail. He wore thin glasses and casual outfits. Nico was average height and weight. His traits were cliche, the intelligent, funny, kind, and charming man.
She remembered her last days with him. He was in the hospital bed watching cartoons with her and playing with Legos.
Cancer ran in Serenity's family, Ashton's mom had it once, her grandparents, then her brother, but Serenity was at a cancer free risk the doctors said. Since she was adopted, her biological parents were cancer free.
A soft knock was heard at the door.
"Come in," Serenity said lazily. She turned around to see Itachi himself at the door.
"What do you want? I kinda wanna be alone," Serenity said.
"It's not like you Serenity to leave so suddenly from a conversation. Is everything alright?" he asked soothingly.
"Leave me alone," she snapped harshly slumping onto her bed turning away from him. Itachi's eyes landed on the picture she was holding. Was that a picture of him?
"Serenity, tell me what is the problem. I'm sure I can help the circumstance," he replied.
"I don't know," she mumbled quietly. "What was that?" he said.
"I don't know! I yelled at Ashton but I don't know whether to feel mad or sad or satisfied! I'm such an idiot! I'm so so confused!" she yelled looking red in the face. "Just leave me alone!" she yelled again.
Itachi gingerly sat on the bed next to her placing his hand on her shoulder. "Serenity you can tell me," he soothed looking at what was in her hand.
"What is that in your hand?" Itachi said. "Nothing you need to know."
Itachi placed his hand on her back and with the other hand snatched the bottle out of her hand. He quickly skimmed it over, then gave it back to her. "Why did you do that. Didn't your parents ever teach you to ask before you grab something?!" she yelled angrily.
"Serenity tell me what is the problem. Why do you have those?" he asked in his regular monotone voice but with a hint of anger.
"It's medicine I need. So-" she was cut off when Itachi said "You shouldn't need these, you are a very joyous girl. What is going on?" he asked looking Serenity dead in the eyes.
"I have- you know. That thing," Serenity whispered quietly avoiding his gaze.
"No I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," Itachi said calmly even though he knew what she meant. All he wanted was for her to say it. "The thing that makes you sad a lot. It's ..." she trailed off at the end of the sentence looking down at the bottle in her hand.
"Depression" she said with tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"When did it start?" Itachi asked slowly.
Serenity looked down at the picture of her smiling brother. She pointed to him gingerly.
"Nico was his name. He was my older brother. I really loved him. He was just like you, but three times more hyper. He died of cancer a year before my parents died. He was my everything. My first friend that stayed. When I was adopted he was the first to walk through the door and looked me in the eye with happy eyes. He said, "Her, she looks lonely. And ever since, we were siblings," Serenity explained.
Itachi looked at the picture closer. They looked exactly alike.
"But when he left me, I was broken and three years later I started taking these stupid pills!" Serenity yelled slamming the pill bottle to the floor.
"Why does it hurt!" she cried loudly. Itachi turned her around so they faced. "I'll be there for you," he whispered, "I'll be your brother."
Serenity broke.
She hugged Itachi fiercely, crying loudly.
"Shh," Itachi shushed rocking her back and forth the way Nico would hold her. Itachi pet her hair the way Nico would and for once it felt like he was there.
After a few minutes of crying (four minutes and 16 seconds according to June) Serenity finally calmed down. The childish woman finally fell asleep in Itachi's arms. He laid down with her on his chest sleeping away peacefully.
"Thank you," Serenity whispered, "I love you."
Itachi's POV 3rd
Itachi didn't know why he cared for her. Maybe it was because she reminded him of a younger Sasuke. Maybe it was because she so kind and gentle with everything. It was a change for him to see a human care deeply for everyone, she realized, just like him everyone had a life, a story. She cared.
Itachi also felt obligated to take care of her. The man in the picture looked just like him, he felt like he had to take care of her. The way she described him was like him but more hyper active.
He laid on the bed for 30 minutes feeling her steadily breathing on his chest. Her breathing like a steady lullaby.
He looked down at her, she looked so peaceful resting. Itachi never thought a girl like her would be so sad. He never expected her to be taking those awful pills.
Personally, Itachi never wanted her take those anymore. He laid there a little longer until Ashton came up.
"Hey Itachi-" Ashton was cut of when he hushed her. "Shh, Ashton, Serenity needs her rest," he hushed.
Ashton frowned and pulled her hat over her eyes. "It's my fault she had an episode," Ashton said.
Itachi raised an eyebrow at her and coughed. "And why would that be?" he asked brushing a loose strand of hair behind Serenity's ear.
"I said some hurtful things and punched her in the gut after that," Ashton spoke truthfully.
"Serenity can't handle guilt. It eats her up," Ashton explained.
"And she would be guilty, why?" Itachi asked. "She said some pretty hurtful things," Ashton admitted.
"Did you know she takes these?" Itachi asked holding up a pill bottle.
"Yeah, I did. Those are her anti-depressants. There should also be some ADHD medicines in there with some anxiety pills," Ashton said pointing to the drawer.
"Do you take any medicines?" Itachi asked. Ashton kicked the ground lightly and rubbed her neck.
"I do, I take medicine to help with my bipolar problems and June takes a high dose of anxiety and muscle relaxers."
"Anyways when she wakes up, umm, send her down stairs," Ashton directed awkwardly heading out of the room.
"Will do," Itachi answered.
Ashton headed out of the room. Itachi waited quietly for Serenity to wake up. She stirred in her sleep, mumbling quietly to herself.
"You're comfy," she mumbled. "I suppose I am," Itachi replied.
"Like you're comfier than my pillow. My pillow should be jealous of you," she mumbled burying her face in his cloak.
Itachi chuckled, then smiled looking down at Serenity. Yes, she would certainly make an interesting sibling.
_Time skip no jutsu_
"Itachi! I'm going to the store! Wanna come with?" Serenity asked from down the stairs.
Currently Itachi was on the recliner reading one of Ashton's books. Serenity came racing down the stairs to him.
"I would be delighted to," he replied. "Yes!" she said. "Come on," she whined pulling Itachi off the soft, comfortable, and relaxing chair.
"We can also get some sweets at the store," she said in a taunting tone.
Itachi immediately started picking up his pace to the door. She threw his jacket at him and put hers on.
"Car or motorcycle?" Serenity asked her brother. "Whatever you would like," the Uchiha replied.
"Motorcycle it is," she replied with a grin.
Itachi didn't say it but he didn't really take joy in riding the automobile. He found it... dangerous. She put on her biker jacket and helmet. She then tossed a helmet to Itachi.
"Come on Tachi!" she cheered dragging him out the door. "Be home in a few hours!" Serenity yelled through the door to notify the others.
The ride was relatively safe. Except for her speeding. The two unofficial adoptive sibling entered the store and she grabbed a cart.
She led Itachi down a few aisle. Occasionally he would throw items he desired into the metal cart. She would simply smile every time and say "Well this ain't my money."
After they got their items they went to a small cafe. The two sat down and ordered. The waiter was a male with shaggy, black hair and green eyes.
"Hey babe what'll it be," he said looking at Serenity.
Itachi cleared his throat hoping to get the waiter's attention. "Excuse me," Itachi said getting up from the table.
'Maybe that is just how people talk in this world. Yes that's what it is. The boy was giving a simple salutations to Serenity, my little sister. And since she is my little sister, I am extremely protective of her,' Itachi thought shaking his head.
The boy was not saying his greeting. Or was he? Was he flirting with Itachi's little sister?
He walked into the bathroom to get his head cleared. 'It was a simple salutation,' he convinced himself.
He walked out of the bathroom only to see to his horror the boy sitting in his seat trying to hold Serenity's hand. Itachi breathed slowly in and out and came over to him.
"So are you single?" the waiter asked. "Excuse me sir," Itachi said.
He turned around and sighed. "Yes sir?" he said sarcastically. Serenity giggled and turned pink.
Itachi's anger was slightly rising. "I see you're in my seat," Itachi said.
"Yes I am sir." The boy went back to flirting with his sister.
He scooted his chair towards her wrapping an arm around Serenity's waist.
"Excuse me sir," Itachi said more sternly.
"What?" he asked.
"Get away from her," Itachi threatened through gritted teeth.
"I'm talking to her," he said playing with her hair.
Nobody touches her like that. Especially. No! Stranger! "I would advise you not to touch her," I said louder attracting some unwanted attention.
"Excuse me sir. I would like you to back away," Serenity said politely.
His smirked widened and he tightened his grip around her. "Why would I let such a beautiful lady slip through my grasp?" Serenity blushed and giggled.
Serenity asked him to let go of her yet he tightens his grip. "Sharingan," Itachi whispered.
Itachi looked into his eyes and he fell to the ground. "Oh my god!" Serenity gasped.
"Someone help him!" she yelled. The cafe went into a small uproar and medics came in. The two left and went back home.
The second they came home Serenity ran into the house. Serenity giggled and went on the couch. She pulled out a small paper and her phone.
"What is that?" Itachi asked.
"His number," she giggled twirling her hair.
Itachi looked over the number memorizing it and took the paper from her. "Amaterasu!" he yelled. The paper went into black flames and burnt to a crisp.
"Tachi," she whined. He took her phone and replied "You will not be contacting him." Itachi walked out of the room to cool down.
Ashton's POV
"Excuse me Ashton but do you mind keeping an eye on Serenity's phone?" Itachi asked.
"Sure," I said taking it from him.
"Could I borrow your phone then?" he asked.
"Sure?" I handed him my phone and he furiously started dialing numbers.
He walked out of the room hastily and I heard some yells. Lots and lots and lots of yelling. Along with some occasional death threats and profanities. Then everything went silent. He walked back in the room and handed me my phone.
"Excuse my language Ashton. I did not want for you to hear such foul things," he said with a slight bow.
"Oh also do you know where Serenity hid the gun and where the nearest hospital is?" he asked.
1 week later
3rd POV
"What you reading?" Ashton asked Itachi.
"Just the newspaper," he replied. Ashton leaned over him and read the headline.
'Figure Attacks, Man in a Hospital'.
She read a little further and read "20 year old Lars fainted in a cafe suddenly. That night in the hospital a figure came in and attacked the man leaving him in the hospital for another three months, "
"That's terrible!" Ashton gasped.
"I wonder who did it?" she pondered. She saw the slightest smirk form on Itachi's lips. "I wonder as well Ashton. I wonder."
Only one more heavy chapter, I swear, and I won't have them for a while then. So what did you think of it?
Yes, I know, Serenity is a little mentally unstable. Yes, Ashton is a little violent but hay, at least you have a semi normal June, despite her habit of counting time she's pretty normal. Also besides her abnormal intelligence, yeah, she's normal.
Till next time.