Oi! Hey guys! Thanks for the feedback, this is great! Thank you all so much! Working on other stories along with this one!

Four days later, Sasuke found himself still in Itachi's hospital room. Itachi had yet to awaken. Sasuke refused to leave his brother expect to use to restroom. Naruto, brought him his meals and would even spend a few hours with him, while they waited for Itachi to come to. Kakashi and Genma even came by a few times. Kakashi, leaving little blue flowers behind, which Sasuke kept at Itachi's bedside.

He had requested that they perform the eye exchange while Itachi was still under, but both Sakura and Tsunade agreed that Itachi would probably not be able to survive it. Not in his current condition.

Sasuke leaned over in his chair, tilting his head to the ceiling and released a low sigh. A buzzing in the light kept him from relaxing and he scowled at it. He wondered where Madara and Obito were hiding at the moment. He did not doubt that once Tsuande turned the other way, Sasuke would be tracking them down.

Itachi should not be lying on that bed. He should not have his skin desecrated and vandalized as it was. A constant reminder of what horrors he faced the final days of having his sight. Sasuke was an avenger. First against his brother, than Danzo and now it seemed Madara was his target. Hatred bred hatred and Sasuke would never be ale to escape the cycle of it. He would let it consume him if he needed to. Damn the consequences.

His brother would finally be given the peace he deserved, even if Sasuke had to kill and butcher to offer it to him.

Movement from the corner of his eye had Sasuke turning, just as Itachi moved his head, lips parting. Sasuke was out of his chair in an instant, moving to his brother as the chair screeched on the linoleum floor. He reached Itachi quickly, just as the elder Uchiha managed to feebly pull his head up, finally after all these days regaining consciousness.

"Aniki…" Sasuke breathed, reaching for Itachi who touched his face with weak fingers, feeling the gauze wrapped around his head.

"Otouto." The elder managed as Sasuke touched his elbow. He turned his head towards his brother, reaching out for him and Sasuke quickly leaned forward into his arms, allowing the elder to wrap tired arms around him in a hug. Sasuke instantly melted against him, elated to be in reach of his brother once more.

"How long have I been here?" Itachi murmured against Sasuke's shoulder, voice slurred from the drugs in his system. It would take some time before he was completely free of them.

"Four days." Sasuke replied, hands reaching to run down his brother's long hair which had been taken from its usual ponytail. It was ragged and Sasuke noted that it had grown longer since. The long hair suited him. Itachi hummed and pressed his head against Sasuke's shoulder.

"Genma found me." He recalled. "After Zetsu left me."

"Yes." Sasuke replied, continuing to pet his brother's hair.

"I'm sorry for the hassle." The elder spoke again and Sasuke's lips tilted at the corner. Still apologizing, Itachi?

"Don't start," He admonished in a kind voice, one he rarely used. "You were worth every step." At this Itachi released a weak laugh, reaching for the bandages, his lips wilting.

"My eyes are gone…" He murmured absently as Sasuke gathered up his fingers in a tight grip.

"I know." Sasuke stated simply, pressing his cheek against Itachi's fingers. Itachi's fingers were so cold, Sasuke desperately tried to warm them in his own grip. The elder Uchiha quietly enjoyed the attention, stroking his thumb down Sasuke's soft cheek. He leaned back against the pillow, body relaxing.

"I did not think I would ever…see you again…" Itachi stated, taking Sasuke's hand into his own.

"Neither did I." Sasuke admitted, voice just as soft. Itachi faced their clasped hands, lips pulled into a thin line.

"I'm sorry I had to go…" Itachi murmured. Itachi felt the tension that quickly rose in his brother at his simple words. Sasuke yanked his hand out of Itachi's weak grip.

"You didn't have to go." Sasuke bitterly stated and Itachi shook his head, too tired to go through this.

"I couldn't stay."

"Bullshit! You could have stayed and you ran!" Sasuke snarled, all his frustration striking him. He shoved his chair over and Itachi remained perfectly calm. This only spurred on Sasuke more. He had thought he would be able to control his temper, but Itachi had always managed to effortlessly bring it out in him.

He paced the room, fingers clenched as Itachi quietly remained perched on his bed, waiting for Sasuke to calm down. The medical gown he was wearing drooped off one shoulder, and any luck of Sasuke calming down dissipated at the sight of his brother's weakened body. Weakened because he refused to see reason.

"Did you know, Madara was going to take your eyes?"

"No." Itachi quietly replied, head moving towards his lap as he fiddled with his nails.

"But you knew he was not going to be happy with you."

"I…yes." Itachi admitted reluctantly. He listened as Sasuke moved, body tensing.

"Are you suicidal? Or are you really that fucking stupid?" Sasuke's voice was harsh and bitter, Itachi did not even bother to correct him for his language. He deserved his anger.

"I made a tactical decision based on the probability that Madara wou-"

"BULLSHIT!" Sasuke roared.

All at once, Itachi's face lost what little color it had. Sasuke was too far gone to notice. Too angry about everything to look at him.

"You fucking run away from your problem! You always have! You ran after the massacre, you spent years running from the truth! You came back as a kid and you ran again! You're nothing but a coward!" Sasuke shoved Itachi's shoulder and turned away, breathing labored. Itachi licked his lips and brushed his hair from his face.

"I know." Itachi calmly replied, his throat constricting. He rubbed at his neck, brows furrowing. Sasuke turned on his feel and approached the bed, grabbing Itachi's wrist away from his neck, holding it in a tight grip.

"You know…you know!? That's all you fucking have to say!?" Sasuke bared his teeth. "Let me tell you what happened, Aniki." He spat out the last part in disgust. "You were dropped in the forest, naked and eyeless. No fucking pride in sight. I carried you to Konoha. Madara made you nothing! And you don't even regret running!" He shoved Itachi's arm, turning his back on his brother in disgust.

"I don't regret running because it needed to be done." Itachi argued softly, voice still so calm. Sasuke clenched his eyes shut, enraged that his brother was being so…placid about this.

"You're so fucked." He muttered softly. "Do you even see it? Or did Madara tear out all common sense along with your eyes?"

Itachi turned away, groping blindly for something to steady him. He could feel the pains in his chest and knew another coughing episode was approaching. He could't let Sasuke see him like this. His bare feel found the cool floor and he stood. Blind or not, he needed to get away from Sasuke.

"Oh no you don't!" The younger Uchiha snarled, grasping Itachi's shoulder. Itachi was frail beneath his fingers, fragile and breakable. This did nothing to soften Sasuke. It only angered him more. His powerful unbeatable brother, reduced to this. This weakling was not his brother. Sasuke dug his fingers into his brother's protruding collar bone and wrenched him back.

"You don't get to fucking run away again." Sasuke spoke suddenly calmly, dark eyes fixed on his brother. Was this what true power felt like? To have someone as strong as Itachi, now so weak and Sasuke now the strong one? It did not add up. "You're done with hiding and I'm done being manipulated by you."

Itachi shoved at Sasuke's hand, fingers trembling. He turned his head away from his brother and listened as the other Uchiha scoffed, grabbing ahold of his shoulders and holding him firmly in place.

"Itachi." Sasuke's voice was far too calm and Itachi could picture his disgust. His throat ached and chest burned.

"Itachi!" Voice sharper, fingers tightening on too frail flesh. Itachi breathed slowly, pain rising.

"SAY SOMETHING DAMMIT!"

Itachi coughed once, and with that single cough, he could not held the rest back. He managed to push Sasuke back, legs pulling up towards his chest.

"I'm sorry," Itachi croaked, coughing again. His shoulders quaking violently with each cough. Blood stained his lips and dribbled down his chin. "Sorry Sasuke…I'm sor-" Itachi could not finish his sentence, body hunching forward as he tried to keep his coughs under control. His body continued to heave, scarlet staining the once white sheets.

Sasuke stared in blank horror.

Itachi breathed shakily, hands grasping at the front of his bloodied gown, knuckles straining. He saw tensely for a long moment as the worst of the coughing passed. Itachi could taste the blood in his mouth, could feel it stain his chin.

"Itachi…Niisan?" Sasuke's voice was suddenly soft, and unsure. He approached his brother slowly, reaching for him. Itachi's shoulders continued to heave, even as his coughing subsided. The sight of his pasty skinned brother had Sasuke shaking alongside him. He gently touched his shoulder and Itachi weakly lifted his head, mouth red.

"I…I'm sorry." Itachi offered weakly. The fight had left Sasuke the moment Itachi had begun coughing. He moved forward, shaking as he sat down beside Itachi. He tilted Itachi's face towards him, eyes narrowed as he stared at the bright droplets of blood on his brother's face.

"Don't," Itachi argued as Sasuke wiped the back of his hand against Itachi's chin. "You're going to get blood on you." Sasuke ignored him and wiped the blood from his brother's face. Sasuke wiped his bloodied hands on a towel that hung nearby, before returning his attention to his sibling.

"I apologize." Sasuke quietly spoke up. "I promised myself I wouldn't lose my temper…and instead…" Sasuke was disgusted with himself. He had been adamant that he would not get angry. Now Itachi was coughing up a lung and looked worse than he had when he awoke.

"You deserve to be angry." Itachi murmured, voice weak. He felt Sasuke shift around the room. The younger released a long weary sigh that reminded the elder of their father after he would lose his own temper. The similarities between the two were startling.

"And I am. I'm furious." Sasuke stated blankly. "But I need to choose my battles, and fighting a weak opponent is beneath me." Sasuke's words were purposely cruel, conveying his anger and hurt, even with his heart still racing. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling like the lowest of scum. Here Itachi was, safe in Konoha again and Sasuke had already picked a fight with him. What happened to his reverent pleas in the dead of night to be reunited with his brother. What happened to that awful pain at seeing those two eyeballs floating in a bottle. He had once again shown that the cruelty and anger still lay within him, and nothing could change that. Had he not prayed for Itachi? Promising all sorts of things, with only the plea that Itachi be returned safely?

But he would not reach out to him. He would not coddle him. Sasuke's anger festered. Itachi would not be in this position if he had not been so foolish. This was his fault. He never considered what could happen to him. Sasuke was sick of being hurt.

"I would suggest you don't run again." He drawled, casting his brother an expressionless glance. Itachi had once hardened his heart to protect him, perhaps it was time Sasuke did the same. Itachi smiled bitterly, showing no outward reaction to Sasuke's frosty attitude.

"There's no need to run anymore Sasuke. I am of no use to anyone anymore."

Kakashi shifted awkwardly outside of Itachi's room. He had heard the commotion. He was pretty sure the whole hospital had. Sasuke and his temper…but now a silence had fallen over the room, and Kakashi did not doubt that Sasuke's energy had been zapped.

He reached forward and rapped his knuckles against the door. For a long moment no one answered and Kakashi could only imagine Sasuke sitting on the edge of his brother's bed glaring at the door and the intruder on the other side.

In fact that was exactly what Sasuke was doing, scowling at the door in distaste as Itachi tilted his head back. When he realized Sasuke was not going to answer he sighed.

"Itachi?" A familiar voice called out. Itachi perked up as Sasuke shot him a dubious glare. "Can I come in?"

"No." Sasuke called out just as Itachi called out yes. Sasuke scowled again as Kakashi opened the door and peeked his head in, holding a stick of dango hopefully.

"I have dango." He declared and Itachi shot him a weak smile.

"We don't want dango." Sasuke griped.

"Sasuke, don't be rude." Itachi chastised his sibling and Kakashi practically skipped into the room. He took the vacant seat, paying no mind to Sasuke as he focused on Itachi. You could practically see the hearts in his eyes and Sasuke rolled his eyes. He plucked the dango from Kakashi's fingers.

"He probably can't even stomach this right now." He pointed out and placed the dango stick on the plate beside Itachi, who already looked worn out. Kakashi watched him fight to his head up. the gauze gave him a all too vulnerable appearance and it ate at Kakashi. Sasuke did not look at his brother as he suffled around the room. Itachi was tense, fingers curled into fists.

"Hey, Itachi?" Kakashi called out gently.

"Yes, senpai?"

"I need to borrow Sasuke for a second, is that okay?" He asked, slowly standing as Sasuke furrowed his brows. Itachi offered a tired nod. Sasuke got off the edge of the bed.

"Get some rest." He muttered over his shoulder, stalking from the room. Itachi hummed weakly, already going back under. Kakashi followed his former student out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. Sasuke did not spare his brother another glance, unable to stomach the guilt still stirring in him. Instead he allowed Kakashi to close the door, scowl in place as he turned.

"What the hell do y-"

Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, Kakashi's fist shot forward and struck him square in the nose, sending him reeling. The force of the blow and the shock of it managed to take him off his feel momentarily and he groped for the wall, eyes activating in shock as he met Kakashi's disgusted glare.

"Mind telling me why the moment your brother regains consciousness, you attack him?" Kakashi drawled and Sasuke wiped his bloodied lip with a sneer.

"I don't owe you anything."

"True, but do you really think you're helping him?" Kakashi inclined his head to the door, relaxed once more. Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment. "You lost him so many times already Sasuke. Don't make this the final time."