I changed the tense for this first part of the chapter because it just sounded...right, you know? It will go back again!
There was blood on his fingers.
Such a lovely color, blood is.
A deep dark red that looks so ominous yet is so beautiful.
So odd that this pretty liquid was what kept people alive.
There had been blood on the night the clan was killed as well. It ran down the street like morbid rainfall, it saturated the earth. It was everywhere, permanently staining the floors. Now there is blood on the monument. Fitting really. That the murderer's blood would now coat the names of those he slaughtered. It is justice in the purest form. The blood on his hand shines before his eyes, running languidly down a wrist and plip, plip, plipping to the grass below. Sasuke Uchiha stands in utter silence, staring at his hand in morbid fascination. He has dreamed of this moment for years. This blood and victory are sweet and Sasuke is almost tempted to taste it. At his feet, lay his prey. Tangled slender limps lay before him. One arm stretched over his head from when he tried to drag himself away, the other tucked against his side. He is curled up slightly on his side, cheek pressed against the cool earth. His chest is bleeding from where Sasuke had clawed him, his throat sliced and bloody.
He looks so small, Itachi does. Nothing like the killer he truly was. It was like a marionette cut from its strings. It appears that Sasuke did not need eyes like his brother to take him down. Sasuke tore his eyes away from his bloodied hand to stare down at the limp figure at his feet. Would father be proud now? What would mother think?
Itachi took a wary step away from Sasuke. His eyes narrowed as he regarded his sibling. Sasuke was relaxed, arms crossed and expression pleasant. He resembled father when the man used to argue/cajole one of the elders. He wore that same smug superior smile and it sickened Itachi.
"You knew I would come." He stated, voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course." Sasuke replied, voice still cheery despite the dangerous glint in his eyes. Itachi's fingers reached back, touching the memorial to steady himself. Sasuke's eyes darted to that hand, losing his smile for a moment.
"You dare touch that?" He hissed. "You have no right to be here. Your very presence is polluting this place." Itachi's face went through a series of emotions. Anger, confusion and hope all mixed in on his face. Expressions that were foreign to Sasuke. The younger boy shook his head stubbornly.
"I'm not him yet." Itachi croaked. He shivered in the cold air and under Sasuke's even colder stare. "I want to know why."
"I told you why." Sasuke snarled and Itachi shook his head.
"I don't believe you." Itachi shot back. It was like arguing with his father all over again... "I would not kill the clan for such reasons. I must have lied to you." Itachi managed. Itachi was startled by a ripple that appeared under Sasuke's skin. Sasuke laughed, the sounds bouncing off the memorial. His red eyes seemed to darken suddenly, and Itachi swore he could see his skin turning as well. He blinked.
"I watched you do it. You showed me." Sasuke's hands balled into fists as his anger rose. He closed his eyes breathing sharply through his nose. Itachi slowly began to approach his brother, hand held out imploringly.
"I know," He whispered, voice wavering. "And I'm so sorry. I don't want to become that... I don't want you to hate me. I want to stay me and not become..." He let out a shuddering breath. "You're the only one who can make sure I don't." His hand reached Sasuke's shoulder, squeezing lightly and staring up at his brother who tensed at his touch, slowly opening his eyes. His eyes flickered over to the small hand on his shoulder. The hand touched him lightly, as if nervous he would hurt Sasuke. Sasuke looked at his brother. Staring into those large dark eyes. Eyes that had for years, haunted with a deep crimson.
"Itachi..." He began, voice rough. Itachi blinked, looking so young. Was he truly this young when it all began? Baby fat was still on his face. Sasuke could not comprehend it. He reached out slowly, cupping Itachi's cheek which was damp with tears. Itachi stared up at his sibling with hopeful wet eyes. A tentative smile curled over his lips.
"Otouto, ple-"
Dark wings slowly retracted into Sasuke back as he heard Kakashi swiftly approach. He heard his former sempai curse and rush past him falling to his knees at the murderer's side and checking desperately for a pulse. Sasuke was swiftly knocked to the ground by Naruto who screamed at him as he took in the grisly scene.
"Oh fuck Sasuke! Is he breathing?!" Naruto babbled as he looked towards Kakashi who was cradling Itachi's limp form as Sakura rushed towards him, face pale. His sight of Itachi was blocked off by the girl as she cursed softly. Sasuke did not move from where he was thrown. His curse seal slowly retreating and leaving his skin pale once more. He stared at his dying sibling blankly.
Itachi lay completely limp under Sakura's hands. Blood stained his lips and chin. Kakashi steadied the boy as Sakura attempted to heal the wound to his chest. Two of his ribs had been broken by Sasuke's wing. The wound to his throat was vicious. Sakura's hands were coated with his blood before she managed to close his wound, pumping air into his battered chest.
"C'mon Itachi breathe..." Kakashi muttered, staring down at the boy. Finally...finally he let out a ragged breath, back arching. Sakura's attention focused on his throat, his chest already closed. She wiped the excess blood away and gently coaxed him to look at her and have his eyes follow her finger. She offered him a gentle strained smile, her heartbeat pounding wildly in her chest. She looked towards Kakashi who was staring down at Itachi with an unreadable expression on his face. When she chanced a glance towards Sasuke, she noted her had fallen unconscious and lay limply against Naruto. Sakura let out a breath.
"We need to get him to Tsunade. She can heal his throat." She croaked. The Copy nin nodded in understanding. Kakashi slowly stood, lifting Itachi into his arms. The boy's head lolled against Kakashi's chest as his eyes searched desperately. His lips tried to move to speak but he found he was too tired. Instead his fingers shakily reached to where Sasuke had been.
"He's right here, Itachi." Naruto stated, catching what Itachi was silently asking before the other two. Itachi relaxed against Kakashi. He felt Kakashi shift him securely and he sluggishly looked up towards the man. Kakashi offered him a shaky smile.
"Sorry I was late Itachi." He managed, voice light despite what had transpired. Itachi smiled weakly and reached towards Kakashi patting his cheek. He fell unconscious before Kakashi walked four steps, hand falling limply, blood plip, plip, plipping onto the ground below.
Sasuke woke up to silence. Slowly, his eyes opened, squinting under the florescent lights. He turned on his side, rubbing the side of his head and starting when he realized Kakashi was sitting by his bed, ankles crossed looking all too comfortable.
"Sleep well?"
"Hn." Sasuke muttered, sitting up. He scowled slightly, head pounding. The lights were letting off an annoying buzzing noise and Sasuke wanted to leave. "What happened?" He asked, voice hoarse.
"You don't remember?" Kakashi asked in amusement. "Think hard Sasuke." Sasuke glowered at the copy nin but looked away brows furrowed. It did not take long for the memory to rush back to him and he closed his eyes.
"Is he dead?" He asked flatly. Kakashi tutted, pulling out his book and opening it. He turned it, chuckling at a page while Sasuke glared.
"Despite your best efforts, Sakura and Tsunade managed to stabilize him." Kakashi replied easily. Sasuke turned away from the man to look out the window. It was morning and the sun was bright overhead. When Sasuke moved to look back to Kakashi, he was not surprised to see the nin had vanished.
In another hospital room, Itachi sat staring down at his blankets. He did not react as the nurse moved around his room, checking his vitals. Tsunade had been in and out all morning, checking him over and muttering to herself softly.
"How are you feeling kid?" She brusquely asked and Itachi indicated that he was fine. Tsunade was not convinced and shooed Shizune away before taking a seat next to the boy.
"You can't keep beating yourself up about this whole thing. You have no memories of the event and honestly something is wrong with this whole situation. You're innocent right now, brat. You need to realize that and so does that idiot brother of yours." She offered him a weary smile. "It was a close call but I am willing to bet my sake that this might be exactly what Sasuke needs to grow the hell up. Get some rest." Itachi smiled after the woman. She was a good Hokage.
Itachi's chest wound was healing nicely and his throat securely bandaged. Naruto had stopped by once with a promise to take Itachi out for dango once he felt better. Itachi appreciated his kindness. When Kakashi walked into the room sometime later, Itachi was sleeping. The Copy nin approached the side table and lay something on it. He looked towards the boy who lay under the covers and glanced towards the doorway. No one was there and he turned back to Itachi. His face was lightly bruised and his skin was ashen. But he was alive. Despite the blood that had coated Kakashi hours before, now Itachi had a chance. Kakashi reached forward and ran a hand through Itachi's dark locks. Itachi did not react to the touch. The medication he had been given was working its magic. Kakashi pulled away and shot another quick glance at the empty doorway. He slid out the window, leaving Itachi to sleep.
Later that morning, when he woke back up he glanced at the bedside table and smiled sleepily, reaching out and lightly taking the Kakashi plush doll into his hand.
Sasuke was released before noon, Tsunade having checked him over quickly and tutted, looking annoyed.
"You're fine." She muttered. "I want you in my office in two hours. No excuses." She straightened up, fixing her shirt and casting him a hard glare. He nodded once in understanding. Naruto met him once he exited with building, looking more disappointed that Sasuke had ever seen him.
"Come walk with me Sasuke." He muttered, turning and walking off before the older teen could reply Sasuke scowled after him but followed none the less.
They walked towards the treeline, Naruto oddly silent as he walked. Sasuke was used to the silence being filled with mindless prattle but Naruto gave him nothing. Naruto leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed and expression closed off. He glanced down at his feet, face troubled. Sasuke stared at him, brow raised in impatience. Naruto let out a low sigh.
"You nearly killed him Sasuke." He stated and Sasuke snorted.
"I'm well aware." He replied, genially. The blonde looked up.
"Do you even care?" Naruto questioned, brows furrowing. Sasuke scowled at the blonde.
"Why should I care? Killing him has been my goal for years! Just because he's younger does not change that!" The Uchiha stated coldly and Naruto shook his head in disbelief.
"Then you would have killed him the moment you looked at him!" The blonde snapped, shoving off the tree.
"It would have made things easier." Sasuke muttered, ignoring the logic in Naruto's words. Naruto and logic did not go together. Just like Itachi and innocent. "Why do you even care Dobe? He was after you remember!?"
"Because he's a kid now, asshole!" Naruto glowered at his friend. He glanced away for a moment, looking torn before his expression hardened. "Do you know what he did when we reached you guys last night?" Sasuke stared in silence, waiting for Naruto to speak. "He reached for you. You fucked him up really badly and he was worried about you!" Naruto shoved Sasuke in the chest, frustrated beyond words. Sasuke pushed Naruto's hand away.
"Don't think to lecture me Uzumaki. You don't have a brother. You don't know how this feels!" Naruto stared at Sasuke, expression dimming. He stared at his friend and shook his head, laughing without humor.
"For a supposed genius Sasuke, you're a real idiot." He muttered. "Blood means nothing...to me anyways." He turned on his heal and vanished in a puff of smoke, Sasuke staring after him, an apology on his lips.