Last chapter; but there'll be an epilogue, don't worry, so the story isn't quite over!
Sakura was busy cooking in the kitchen when there was suddenly a loud thud from unnervingly close to her face. She looked across and she let out a wild yell when she realised that two knives were suddenly embedded in the wall.
"Shikamaru!" She shrieked in horror, "Quit it!"
"Blossom, you know what happens when he's sick," Kisame reminded her from where he was sitting at the kitchen table reading the morning newspaper. Suddenly his glass of water was raised in the air and crashed down on top of his head. He rubbed his skull in vague annoyance. "…We just have to wait for him to get better. It's just a cold."
"Just a cold by ass…" Suigetsu grumbled; his voice sounding awful and congested as he stalked into the room; his body looking like the equivalent of a runny nose.
"Ew, Suigetsu! Stay out of the kitchen! You're melting everywhere!" Sakura snapped in irritation; flinging him a towel to wipe up the water he was trailing everywhere. He gave her a dry look, though the expression was lost slightly since his face was slightly melting into a puddle of water.
"I can't helb it!" he growled in irritation; giving a dramatic sniff and his sister glaring at him in disgust, "Just gib me some-fig for congestion…"
"Go back to your room, Suigetsu!" Sakura snapped; waving him away viciously, "I don't want to get sick too!" She tossed him something which he gratefully caught; though it was rather slippery in his melting hands. "That should help. I'm bringing up soup in a moment!"
There was another explosion from upstairs and Kisame sighed; setting aside his newspaper.
"…I'll go get the fire extinguisher," he muttered as Sasuke entered the kitchen wearily; looking as though he had just been in some sort of fight.
"Cabinet?" Sakura inquired.
"Cabinet," Sasuke replied flatly; rubbing his aching shoulder.
"Dad, I told you we should bolt that down," Sakura complained, "Whenever Shikamaru gets sick that thing always moves and someone almost dies."
"Second floor is a mess," Sasuke muttered; sitting down and gratefully accepting a bowlful of soup as Suigetsu departed; dragging his melting body with him. "Itachi's trying to clean up a bit but the last time I saw him he'd been pinned to the wall by a couple of knives."
"…Why are there so many knives?" Kisame muttered to himself as he departed to put out whatever fires Deidara had started. Most of his kids had just come down with a short bout of the flu and it couldn't have been at a worse time. Mikoto and Fugaku were scheduled to arrive anytime soon and when the kids were sick they didn't have the best control over their abilities.
" –Can I take a bowl of this up to Naruto?" Sasuke inquired; nodding approvingly at how good the chicken soup tasted. In response, Sakura pushed a ready-made bowl across the table towards him.
"Watch out for the pollen," she added warily, "Ino's effect on plants sort of…heightens when she's sick…and it's terrible for Naruto's hay-fever."
"I know," Sasuke muttered, rolling his eyes, "He apparently sneezed in his sleep and woke up in Venice."
"Oh, so you've been to see him already this morning?" Sakura remarked cheekily. The accusation made Sasuke blush slightly.
"And so what if I have?" he snapped irritably; slurping down some more of the soup, "…Deidara set me on fire this morning…"
" –Might not've been an accident," Sakura pointed out with a chuckle.
A few minutes later, Sasuke headed up to Naruto's room and found that it was empty. With a frown, he set down the soup. A split second before he was about to leave, there was a bright flash of light and a drenched Naruto appeared on the floor in a damp heap. Sasuke smirked down at the unimpressed face of the blonde.
"…Don't ask," Naruto muttered, tugging at his drenched shirt and dragging it off. Mid-undressing he noticed the soup sitting on his bedside table.
"…Did you bring me soup?" he exclaimed.
"Maybe…" Sasuke muttered; averting his eyes. Immediately he was glomped by the thankful Naruto. "Idiot! You're getting me all wet!" Naruto just chuckled to himself and beamed up at the raven.
"You do care!" he laughed, "I knew there was a reason I liked you!" Sasuke raised an eyebrow with a smirk at the confession, and Naruto blushed; realising what he'd said. Instead of mocking him, however, Sasuke just leaned forwards and kissed him gently on the mouth.
"…S-Sasuke; I'll get you sick!" Naruto squealed when he found himself being pushed down onto his bed with the raven hovering predatorily over him. Sasuke; without listening to him, kissed him hard and slyly ran a hand down his chest. As Naruto wrapped his arms around the raven's neck and began to kiss back, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Sasuke looked up in irritation to see that Shikamaru had poked his head through the wall.
"…Before you get too into what you're doing; Neji says your parents are going to be here soon," he informed them flatly, "And I'm glad to see that you two are finally accepting that you're into each other," he added with a knowing smirk as he disappeared back through the wall as nothing more than a shadow. Sasuke made an annoyed noise, leaning down and kissing Naruto one more time before getting up off the bed.
"Eat your soup," he advised; noting that he now had to change his clothes. "Oh…and Sasuke?" The raven looked over his shoulder as Naruto reached for his soup, "…The Sabaku kids; you know? Temari, Gaara and Kankuro? They don't have a family…and I thought it would be nice if they could stay here?"
"Why are you telling me?" Sasuke inquired flatly and Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well…you could tell Itachi…and if Itachi told dad…then he'd probably listen," he explained with a chuckle, "Dad really likes him." Sasuke just smirked. "And Sasuke? Do you really have to go?"
Sasuke didn't answer.
"It's so good to see you again, Kisame!" Mikoto exclaimed in delight as they entered into the house, "Sakura; looking beautiful as usual!"
"Thank you, Mrs Uchiha," Sakura replied politely, "I apologise for my siblings lack of appearance; they're mostly sick in bed; Sasuke's been helping to take care of them."
"What a shame; though that is wonderful news about Sasuke! It used to be so unlike him to help others," she sighed, "There is a nasty flu going around at the moment though –oh there you are Itachi! What a nice turtle-neck sweater; is it new?"
"Yes," Itachi remarked with a twitching eyebrow as he saw Sasuke and Kisame sniggering quietly at his expense. It wasn't his fault that Kisame liked kissing his neck so much. And he definitely couldn't have his mother and father knowing about them…It was hard enough disguising his slight limp. "Mother; father, what was this trip about?"
"There's time for that later," Mikoto assured him with a bright smile, "Lunch first?"
"Of course," Itachi replied, "Kisame? Will you come help me serve lunch?" Kisame nodded; flashing him a small smile as Sasuke and Sakura began leading the pair of them to the dining room where the places had already been set for lunch.
"How have you enjoyed having Sasuke and Itachi here, Sakura?" Mikoto inquired curiously, "It must have been difficult to have two strangers wander into your life?"
"It was…interesting," Sakura replied cryptically, "But we got used to it. We like having them around. Actually…" She paused a moment; not sure what she should say, "…It's good to have them around. Itachi's been a really big help to dad."
" –I can see that," Mikoto admitted, "And it looks like my baby boy has a bit of life in his eyes now! What did you find here, Sasuke; that made you so happy?" Sasuke didn't reply; just averted his eyes awkwardly; musing over what Naruto had said. Now that he thought about it; he didn't really want to leave the blonde. He liked living with him; liked hanging out with him…it was a little painful to admit…but it was fun living here. They didn't tiptoe around him; didn't care how rich or well-known he was; they just treated him like another guy; just another one of them.
Lunch had been made by Itachi; as Kisame was quick to point out, as they started lunch. Kiba and Neji joined them as well, since they weren't sick either, and Mikoto was anxious to hear about their plans for college the following year and how they'd found having Sasuke and Itachi in the house.
All of a sudden, there was a loud crash from one end of the table as Naruto suddenly appeared in a flash of light. He stared in horror at the faces of their guests, before making a surprised squealing noise and vanishing again. Itachi's shocked face turned to his mother and father; desperately trying to figure out some sort of explanation.
But Mikoto simply took a sip of her water and inquired, "So Neji; you mentioned before that you wanted to go to Law School –will you be going to the University nearby?"
" –Mother…" Itachi coughed; knowing for certain that she had seen. She just rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh please, Itachi," she scoffed, "Your boyfriend is a giant, blue shark-man. You really think I'm surprised that there's a teleporting boy in the house?" Itachi made a spluttering noise.
" –He…he's not my boyfriend!" he exclaimed hotly and his father merely rolled his eyes.
" –Oh sweetie; that's what your words say, but your limp says otherwise," Mikoto commented knowingly, "And no one wears turtle-necks unless they have something to hide." She sipped at her water again, "Itachi, you really do have to stop thinking that you can hide anything from your mother."
" –Don't we know it," Kiba grumbled automatically, "Itachi always knows when I sneak snacks before dinner…" This made Mikoto laugh loudly; and Itachi immediately scolded Kiba for referring to him as a mother.
"…So you really weren't surprised by Naruto?" Sakura inquired curiously.
"We see some strange things in the business world," Fugaku sighed with a slight shrug, "A vanishing boy isn't the craziest."
"…What about someone who could turn into an animal?" Kiba asked slyly.
"No; I haven't seen that one," Mikoto admitted, "Though Fu-dear, remember that man who could turn himself into a clock?"
"Ahh; nasty piece of work," Fugaku muttered, "Made everyone late."
"Kiba; behave yourself," Kisame reminded him as Kiba suddenly leapt out of his chair and transformed into the shaggy mutt that he was. Mikoto let out a little clap of delight as Kiba wandered over to her and allowed her to pet his head.
"Oh aren't you adorable?" she crooned with a kind smile, "Kisame; are all your children…"
"Special?" Kisame chuckled, "Yes; yes they are. Would you like to meet –" All of a sudden, there was a hideous amount of swearing from somewhere in the foyer, and the door clanged open as Akamaru sprinted in; followed by a once-again headless body.
The body froze when it realised that there were strangers in the house. Hidan's head, held clamped in Akamaru's jaws; swallowed nervously.
"Oh, hello Hidan," Mikoto remarked, "Would you care to join us for lunch?"
" –Mikoto; couldn't Kakuzu do something similar?" Fugaku remarked conversationally as the two of them continued eating their meal.
"Ahh; his limbs actually remained attached though," she replied simply. Hidan's jaw dropped open. No one really seemed to know what was going on.
"Oh, and Kisame?" Mikoto commented brightly, "I'd love to see what they can all do. But first; I'd like to have a word with my boys privately?"
"What are you talking about, father?" Itachi growled crossly; folding his arms in irritation, "Shikamaru; I know you're listening; go back to your room!" There was a muted, 'yes, mom', followed by silence echoing through the living room once more.
"What your father means is that you're fired," his mother explained simply.
"Fired? Whatever did I do to get fired?" Itachi snapped.
"Nothing," she assured him gently, "Itachi; hear us out." He took a deep breath and attempted to not look quite so sulky.
" –Itachi dear; the work you've done for the Uchiha Corporation is outstanding," she reminded him, "But we have never seen you happier than when you're here. And the same with you too, Sasuke."
"Sasuke; I know you plan on heading to college next year," Fugaku frowned, "…And we were hoping that you would consider Konoha."
"…Already have," Sasuke shrugged flatly, "But what's the point?"
" –That's another thing I've been meaning to discuss with you," he remarked, "…This house. We're no longer looking to buy it."
"What?" Itachi exclaimed in frustration, "You let us waste months of our time here, only to come out empty handed?"
"I wouldn't call it a waste," Mikoto laughed, "And I don't think either of you came out empty-handed." She smiled brightly at her son, "Itachi…we both like Kisame; and I know that you really do; I can see it in your eyes even clearer than when you were with Nagato. We know that work is important to you; but this here is more important. That's why you're fired."
"You…you want me to stay here?" Itachi's voice softened considerably; his eyes blinking in confusion; unable to understand quite what was happening.
"Yes," Mikoto replied softly, "We can't buy this place and leave this family without a home. And we can't just take away the people that have come to need them."
"…I'm staying too?" Sasuke inquired with a frown.
"Of course, sweetie," she chuckled, "It's important for you to stay with your friends; especially when they've finally dragged you out of loneliness. We came out here to tell you that we love you both very much and –"
"I don't understand why I'm being fired," Itachi remarked flatly; folding his arms.
"Well, it's not as though you can attend regular meetings at work and be back in time for dinner," Fugaku reminded him with a scowl.
"I think you underestimate how much everyone loves Itachi's cooking," Sasuke smirked; surprising his parents, "…If anyone could think of a way to keep Itachi at work and here as well, then it's these guys." Mikoto suddenly wrapped her arms around both her sons and they were suitably startled by such a display of affection.
"…Oh my dear boys," she crooned, "I'm so proud of you. Fugaku; could you give Itachi some time to figure something out? I know it would make him ever so happy?" Fugaku sighed.
"Of course," he muttered, gripping his eldest son's hand tightly, "I'm glad to see how you've changed, Itachi. It's been good for you here."
"…Oh; Itachi," Sasuke remarked with a small frown, "…There's also something that Naruto wanted me to mention to you…"
When they emerged from the living room, Kisame was standing at the bottom of the stairs; with all of his children perched on various stairs; looking rather nervous. Fugaku; wearing his best serious face, slowly stalked up to Kisame.
"…My apologies, Kisame," he commented darkly, "…But I am going to have to withdraw all offers I have placed upon this property." Kisame looked absolutely stunned. "You all have a great deal more need for it than we do." He held out his hand and Kisame shook it firmly; the teenagers all looking up brightly; and then their expressions falling once more.
"…Does this mean you're leaving?" Ino asked Itachi with a small pout on her face. He gave a small chuckle.
"I'd like to stay," he chuckled, looking over to where Kisame was looking at him with a look of affection that he quickly returned. "We'd both like to stay…If you want us to?" The response was practically an earthquake as the group of teenagers (minus Hidan, because he was too cool for that) leapt up from their spots on the stairs and raced over to envelop Itachi into some form of dog-pile.
"Fugaku; Mikoto; are you sure?" Kisame inquired very seriously, "I know that you were very interested in this property and –"
"We care more about the happiness of our sons," Mikoto assured him, "We want them to be happy. And your children are delightful."
"…Itachi, are you really gonna stay and be our mom?" Sakura exclaimed in delight as he managed to drag himself away from them.
"Stop calling me -oh what's the point...I suppose I am…" he muttered in resignation; ignoring his brother's smirks as Kisame came over to him.
"Welcome to the family, I suppose," Kisame chuckled to himself, kissing Itachi on the cheek and then briefly on the lips. Sasuke looked up and suddenly there was pain shooting through the side of hi face where Naruto had punched him.
"Bastard!" Naruto growled angrily, "Letting me think you were leaving!"
"Moron!" Sasuke snapped back as they broke into a grapple, "I just found out that I wasn't! How was I supposed to know!" They immediately began arguing and Mikoto smiled fondly at the scene.
"I'm glad Sasuke found someone perfect for him as well," she commented.
"…And here I was hoping for grandchildren," Fugaku sighed.
"Witches these days are very good though," she reminded him with a soft smile, "You never know."
"I'm very glad you're staying," Kisame remarked conversationally later that night, as Itachi curled up against his bare chest; his face flushed and his hair a wreck. The bigger man pressed a kiss to the raven's pale forehead as the exhausted Uchiha made himself comfortable. There was a sudden knock at the door.
"…Come in," Kisame called; dragging the sheets up a little more to preserve a bit of their modesty.
" –No; I'm good talking from outside the door," Sakura assured him, "Naruto's feeling better now!"
"That's good to hear," Itachi called back, "Now tell him to sleep in his own room! He has exams to study for and I know that if he's with Sasuke they won't be getting the rest that they need!"
" –But Deidara gets to sleep in Hidan's room!" Naruto complained; obviously having heard that Sakura was telling on him. "MOM! No fair!"
"Deidara doesn't have exams!" Itachi snapped back, "Room; Naruto!" There was a sulking noise from somewhere outside and Kisame laughed to himself.
"If I grant you grounding rights, will you abuse them?" he joked; only to get an irritated look from the raven.
"Oh please; I've been grounding them for weeks," he scoffed, and Kisame just laughed out loud. He was so glad that he'd met Itachi. He was exactly what his kids had needed; and exactly what he had needed.
Sasuke smirked to himself as a grumbling Naruto kissed him lightly and then vanished from his bed; probably being told by Itachi to spend the night in his own room.
He'd never thought that things would turn out like this.
There was an explosion from somewhere upstairs and an annoyed yell that was followed by a 'Deidara, go to bed!'
Come Monday, he'd be back to getting drenched by Suigetsu; and hearing Akamaru and Kiba stealing Hidan's body parts; he might get set on fire or nearly impaled by a levitating knife. Had anyone told him that this ragtag group of misfits and supernatural people would become the people who he most enjoyed the company of; he never would've believed them. With them, he had reluctantly had fun and made friends. He hadn't wanted to like them; hadn't wanted to be sucked into their world…but their mischievous antics and powerful personalities had made him fit in.
From now on; life was never going to be boring. But he was fine with that. And for the first time, he actually realised that being here, with these people, made him happy. And that stupid, adorable blonde…He was glad that Naruto had decided to be his friend.
Suddenly, there was a loud splash and he and his bed were suddenly completely drenched in icy water. He leapt out with a wild howl; shivering in horror as Suigetsu reformed on his mattress; absolutely laughing his head off. He looked up at the ferocious raven but just beamed.
"What? We couldn't have you staying without giving you a proper welcome, right?" Suigetsu snickered impishly.
" –Okay, that's it; I'm fighting back this time," Sasuke smirked gleefully; reaching into his drawer just as Suigetsu began dissolving through the wall. Something went flying towards Suigetsu and exploded on impact; sending flour all over the other teen and causing him to howl in horror as his skin began to turn to paste.
"No fair!" Suigetsu exclaimed; his skin a mess of gloop as Sasuke just chuckled to himself.
"It's war," he smirked; a dangerously playful glint in his eyes, "And since I'm not supernatural; I'm going to have to play dirty."
"…What was that noise?" Kisame inquired with a frown as there was a loud crash from somewhere in the house.
"Your children starting a brawl," Itachi muttered, "…I think Sasuke had plans to fight back. Go back to sleep. I'll ground them in the morning." Kisame sighed heavily with a low chuckle.
"Okay, but if I wake up and the house is destroyed; that's all on you." Itachi just smiled sleepily. He had Kisame, and he had his brother, and Hidan, and for eight teenagers, he had stepped into a role that they had missed out on for their entire lives. They were mischievous and unpredictable and a whole lot of trouble; but he wouldn't change a thing, and it was now that he realised how he'd come to feel about Samehada Manor.
This place really felt like home.
There you are; I hope you all enjoyed! A many great thanks to the wonderful reviewers out there; I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you thought!
There will be a short epilogue, so there's that to look forward to; but apart from that, the story's over! Itachi and Sasuke found their place and they can live happily ever after!
Much love, as always.
xx K