The mountainside felt smaller somehow. Far bleaker than Kisame remembered. Was this what death meant? That once you've died you're not meant to come back. That the world as you know it is no longer what it used to be? Keh...when Kisame was alive...he would have defended Itachi when his eyes were taken. He would have attacked Madara, loyalty or not. Itachi would have been safe with him. Now Kisame was nothing more than a puppet. Like he used to be, before joining the Akatsuki...and Itachi.

War was on the horizon. Both Obito and Madara seemed to radiate with fierce pride and impatience. Even Kabuto was somehow involved. For the first time in years, Kisame was questioning his role in life and in death. Kisame had been robbed of his death and his freedom. He had died gloriously. He had died knowing who he was and what his life had meant.

Now he was nothing more than a shadow of his former self and even the return of Samehada did not feel natural. It was all just a sick parody of the life he had once lived.

Kisame looked up at the night sky, staring at the stars that adorned the expanses. Funny how small those stars made him feel. How insignificant this very world made him. Had Itachi been right to turn away from him? Had his brilliant partner understood and sensed that his Kisame was dead, while Kisame himself refused to see it?

Slowly, a grin spread across Kisame's sharp features. Who knew where things would go in the coming weeks...war was inevitable and Kisame would follow the Uchiha to victory. Funny thing is, he wasn't sure which Uchiha that was.

The younger Uchiha was surprised when Itachi readily agreed that they needed to talk. He was expecting Itachi to avoid answering him all together. Well, then Sasuke was going to finally get his answers. Sasuke scowled, shooting his brother an unhappy glare. Itachi tilted his head, his dark hair tumbling over his shoulder as he tried to blindly gauge Sasuke's reaction. Finally Sasuke noisily approached Itachi and sat across from him, the chair screeching against the floor.

"Talk." Sasuke snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. Itachi's hands clasped in his lap and he licked his lips, head moving towards the window.

"I was upset my final night here. I was so angry with you and I couldn't sleep. Each time the Hokage used her jutsu on me, more memories surfaced. I had the mind of an adult stuck in my teenage body. I only wanted to feel normal again. But you wanted me to play this role-"

"I wanted you to be safe!" Sasuke snapped, glaring at Itachi who inclined his head with a small hum. He drummed his fingers on his thigh, mouth pulling into a thin line. He didn't doubt that Sasuke wanted to protect him. And he appreciated him for it. But it changed nothing. If only he could look into Sasuke's eyes. To make him understand that Itachi hadn't left to hurt his brother, or to hide. He left...

"In any event, after you went to bed. I stayed awake for a long while and I realized something."

"What?" Sasuke muttered, scowling at his sibling. Itachi faced him, looking suddenly forlorn.

"That my staying was hurting you. That my very presence was poisoning you." Itachi admitted, tone level despite his trepidation.

"Bullshit." Sasuke spat rolling his eyes. Of course Itachi would act as if his actions were for Sasuke's benefit. The long suffering older brother, giving up something for the spoiled unworthy little brother. Itachi scratched the bridge of his nose thoughtfully.

"So I wrote you th-"

"Yes, your letter." Sasuke bitterly muttered, recalling how every word Itachi had written was like a punch to the gut. Itachi had run away like a coward, leaving a flimsy piece of paper as his final goodbye. The elder Uchiha nodded once, licking his lips.

"You were so obsessed with protecting me. So stubborn about shielding me from everything. You were more than willing to keep me as a child in order to do so."

"You were healthier at thirteen. Now look at you." Sasuke replied, recalling that Itachi had more color to his skin and his cheeks were not so hollowed out as they were now. Itachi stood, gripping the edge of the chair to support his weight.

"But I'm not thirteen anymore Sasuke. I couldn't keep up the charade. I couldn't stay when you couldn't accept that I needed to age."

Sasuke sneered, pushing off the chair and walking around the kitchen to stare out the window. How could he want Itachi to age? He knew Itachi had taken an illness as an adult. He knew the risks that it presented. His brother was better off reliving his youth. Itachi's head followed his movements and he made an slow step forward, shoulders straightening.

"You want me to apologize for my decision. To admit that I was wrong to leave. However, I will not apologize for doing it. Not when it spared you having to face my illness." He listened to the floor creak, awaiting Sasuke's response.

"You crawled back to the man who saw it appropriate to claw out your eyes." Sasuke spat over his shoulder. Itachi turned away, expression pinching bitterly. His fingers tightened into fists before quickly relaxing.

"More preferable to crawl back to his physical abuse then to your resentment." Itachi replied steady and Sasuke turned in suddenly fury. His hand shot out, grasping Itachi's collar and wrenching him forward. How dare he? How dare Itachi compare him to the very man that made him this weak.

"You dare fucking saying th-" Sasuke began, lips pulled into a snarl, wrenching Itachi who did not struggle and dragging him by his shirt. Itachi stumbled, surprised by the sudden movement and unable to stop his fall in time. Both brothers fell to the ground, Sasuke attempting but unable to break Itachi's fall. Sasuke's elbow smashed painfully into the floor and Itachi landed on top of him, the side of his head hitting the floor with a sharp thwak.

Itachi released a sharp noise of pain and once Sasuke heard that small pained gasp that escaped his brother, all the fight left him. Itachi couldn't even see to defend himself. He couldn't even stop his fall...it was like a smack to the face. This was what his brother had been reduced to. All to spare him the pain of holding him back.

"Shit," Sasuke hissed, reaching for Itachi and ignoring the pain in his elbow. "Are you okay?" He pulled Itachi into a seated position, fingers lightly reaching to touch the side of his head. Itachi nodded without hesitation and Sasuke scowled in irritation and worry. Itachi had hit his head hard. He got to his feet, helping Itachi to his feet. He led him to the counter and helped him sit, studying the side of his head and finding no bump or bruise.

"You knew he would not be happy with you after you blew up the mountain." The teenager muttered sullenly and if Itachi had eyes, he did not doubt that he would have rolled them in annoyance.

"The man was perpetually upset me with, it was hardly a shock to him." Itachi argued lightly and Sasuke shot him a glare of disgust. How could he even joke about this? How could he be okay with having his eyes stolen and his skin defiled?

"Yet you left and went right back to him...again."

"I left because if I didn't, he would have come after me himself. Do you truly think he would have allowed me to hide away here?" Itachi asked, listening as Sasuke stalked around the room like a caged animal.

"I could have prot-"

"No." Itachi swiftly cut him off, face screwed up in pain. "Not against Madara. You know this." Sasuke closed his eyes, leaning against the counter. His splayed his fingers out over the surface, staring at the small bruises that lined his knuckles. He should have known he would have to face Itachi. That Kakashi wouldn't keep them separated for long. Only long enough to allow Itachi the chance to gain his strength. Sasuke had been in a daze since leaving Itachi at the hospital. Refusing to see anyone. Not even Naruto.

He approached Itachi noisily, allowing his brother to know he was approaching again. Placing both hands on either side of the counter, he leaned close to Itachi who tensed, unsure what his brother was going to say or do next. For a long moment the only noise was Sasuke's uneven breathing. He stared hard at his brother. Looking at his waif like and sickly appearance. He couldn't do this. He couldn't continue to fight with Itachi. Not when he only just got him back. The boy bowed his head, sighing heavily.

"I can't lose you. Not again." Sasuke stated stubbornly, dark eyes lifting to stare at Itachi who offered him a tired smile, hand reaching to cup his cheek.

"You won't lose me Sasuke." The elder attempted to reassure Sasuke, thumb stroking down his cheek. How had this boy suddenly become a man? When had they years gone by so very quickly? "Death is a natural part of life."

"Not at twenty-two." Sasuke countered. Itachi shook his head, face tilting down slightly. Sasuke should know better.

"It is if you're a Shinobi." He replied as Sasuke pressed his head against Itachi's shoulder, his body sagging. Like the fight had left his body, he clung to his brother almost desperately. His fingers digging into Itachi's mused shirt.

"What do I do if you die?" Sasuke muttered against Itachi's shoulder, refusing to use when...even if it was highly likely. Even if death was tapping on Itachi's too thin shoulders, awaiting him to turn around. Itachi stroked his fingers through the boy's hair. His heart breaking. Hadn't he hoped his brother would suffer no more pain because of him.

"You move on." He offered softly, hugging his brother close. "You move on and you live your life as you choose to."

"Not without you," Sasuke fiercely replied. "You're not going to die Itachi. Not after everything we've been through." Itachi did not offer a reply, merely holding onto Sasuke like a lifeline. Sasuke looked up, cupping Itachi's cheek and staring at his bandaged face.

"When he took your eyes...did you know he was going to do it?" Sasuke asked, sitting next to Itachi on the counter and holding onto his fingers in a tight grip. Itachi shook his head, leaning against his brother's shoulder. His bare feet hung over the edge of the counter; he felt like a little boy again, sitting with Sasuke at his side.

"No...I knew Madara would be displeased, but I did not think he would bother with my eyes. I was already blind."

"Was it painful?" Sasuke quietly asked and Itachi nodded, not bothering to lie.

"He took the first one so quickly, I hadn't realized what happened until he pinned me back for the second." The elder replied and Sasuke released a disgusted noise. He reached for Itachi's hair and ran his fingers down the bandages, causing his brother to stiffen.

"Does it hurt?" Sasuke whispered and his brother smiled weakly, reaching to touch his brother's fingers. He stroked his thumb over the back of Sasuke's hand.

"Not anymore." He replied. He was surprised when Sasuke's fingers reached to unravel the gauze and his hand shot up to stop Sasuke. Sasuke lightly sushed his brother, taking his hand in his own. Slowly, Itachi lowered his hand and allowed his brother to continue to remove the protective covering. Sasuke gently pulled the cloth away from his brother's face. It fluttered gently and landed on the counter, forgotten as Sasuke stared at his brother. He reached out hesitantly, brushing the tips of his fingers over Itachi's closed lids. Itachi's body was relaxed against him, completely trusting.

"Your eyes...Tsunade has them." Sasuke managed to speak up weakly, gaze flicking over his brother's face.

"They are yours now." Itachi replied, holding his brother's hand. "They were always meant to go to you." Sasuke looked away, grasping at his siblings hands. They were icy in his grip and the boy quickly tried to warm them between his palms. He knew Itachi wanted him to take his eyes. He knew that had been Itachi's endgame since the very beginning. Could he do it though? Could he take his brother's eyes and leave him helpless and in the dark? It seemed barbaric and the refusal was at the tip of his tongue, when...

"Then you take mine."

"What?" Itachi's head shot up, but Sasuke was already on a roll. He moved quickly, standing in front of his brother and taking both of his hands into his own and staring at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"My eyes...we'll switch. We both have the Mangekyo Sharingan in our original eyes. We both would be at risk of going blind. If we switch, we keep our eyesight and we gain the Eternal Mangekyo and then we can face Madara on equal ground. It was meant to be, Aniki. He hasn't won. Not yet."

Oi! Hey everyone! We're getting so close to the end here! I can almost...taste it.