Back To You [Shisui X Itachi]

Chapter 27

A/N: I just want to say thank you to all of you for your comments! It means so much to me to hear from you all! Icy love to the max! Enjoy the chapter ;)

It was a numb feeling. An emptying out of all within. A liberation of the core; hell bound to absolute coldness.

Itachi had lost his tether to intimacy, he had lost his anchor to trust and his hope for love. All of those, once precious things, had frozen over. They had been drained of their colour until only gray remained.

A boyish charm – was now gray.

A lopsided smile – was now gray.

Unruly black curls – was now gray.

Shisui...was now gray.

"I'm not the Itachi you knew. I am different – and I can't be the same...I'm saying...Good bye."

Itachi turned around, ready to walk 'home'. Shisui was quick to grab Itachi's wrist – the embers Shisui's touch usually ignited, had burned themselves out. Now, all that remained, was a simple touch.

"I don't buy that", Shisui said through gritted teeth. But the panic was evident in his eyes – his eyes so wide as if he had stumbled across a crime scene. "I don't buy that for a second. You are Itachi. You're going through something, but despite that – you ARE still Itachi...You are still the one I...the one I fell in love with"

The vulnerability in his words – the sheer honesty and naked truth...soaked through the air. Never to fully register in Itachi's mind.

"I'm so sorry", Itachi snatched his wrist free from Shisui's grip, "You love...when I can't love. Maybe I'm a bad person, for stealing your heart and not looking after it..."

Silence engulfed the cold woods. Both boys unmoving. Itachi's eyes focussed on the ground. Shisui's eyes never leaving Itachi's downcast face.

"I'll leave you alone – I won't bother you again" Itachi finally said.

Itachi made his way out the woods – leaving his heart in the forest. Leaving his heart with Shisui. Leaving his saviour alone, in the woods.

"Maybe I'm a bad, bad person", Itachi mumbled as he walked 'home'.

*****

Itachi could hear the shatter of glass before he even entered the house. But, this time, he didn't panic. He wasn't filled with dread.

He unlocked the door, stepped inside and blocked out the screaming and bellowing that came from the kitchen. Calmly he walked into the kitchen – his mother in furious tears and his father red-faced.

They both noticed his presence – but their anger was still painted on their faces.

"Sasuke is coming home from the hospital tomorrow." Itachi said indifferently.

His parents' anger did not dissipate, "So what?" His parents asked in unison.

Itachi took a further step into the kitchen with shattered glass crunching under his shoes.

"Listen, Itachi. Your mother and I ar-"

"No. You listen", he pointed at his father and then at his mother, "If this continues with Sasuke in the house, I will call child protective services – and not only will you two lose each other, you will lose your children as well." Itachi said coldly.

"You may fight and shatter objects – you may verbally box and claw at each other. But – I want to make this clear – only once Sasuke has left for school. And, from now on, I will be taking Sasuke to school", Itachi left no room for argument.

The stunned look on his parents' face confirmed that Itachi had made a point, absent of possible rebuttal. He turned and walked away, climbing the staircase to the upstairs bedrooms.

Once his bedroom door was closed and locked, he sunk to his knees – hugging them to his chest. Yet, no tears came. His mind did not spin, his body didn't shake and his heart didn't race like a rabbit being chased by a dog.

He was cold, he was alone and cold.

And, to his utmost honesty, he preferred the cold to the pain.

Crashing continued downstairs, reverberating throughout the house. Raised voices that were scrapping his ears like sandpaper.

There was a ping on his cell phone – despite himself he wished it was Shisui. He needed Shisui – but it was deplorable to crave such a thing. Shisui must hate him – and that would make things easier. That would make Shisui leave him alone.

Alone in a crumbling house.

Itachi fell asleep in that position, his knees hugged to his chest. Perhaps if he was miniature, the overwhelming pressures would deem him too small to bother.

*****

There was another ping on his cell phone and that was what awakened Itachi. He slowly sat up, stretching religiously to relieve himself from the cramps after sleeping in such a position.

He stumbled over to his bedside table in the dark, and retrieved his phone – two messages...none from Shisui.

Kakashi: Itachi, I'm sorry for being such an ass. I just didn't understand. I really am sorry.

An escape – an idea – sparked in Itachi's mind.

Itachi: Can you pick me up? I just need to get out...

Itachi knew the odds weren't great. It was eleven at night. But he would trade his pointless heart to just get out of his house. He was taken slightly aback when he got an instant reply.

Kakashi: Be right over.

Itachi threw on an oversized red hoody and a pair of black skinny jeans with black combat boots and quickly analysed an escape route. He peaked out into the corridor. His parents' light was out – the house was dark.

He tip toed down the stairs, avoiding making any noise at all. He made it to the downstairs hallway and noticed a light was still on – a flashing light. Itachi slyly peeked into the room and his father was asleep on the couch. The T.V, muted, was flashing lights.

The helplessness normally would've upset Itachi.

But his coldness, his numbness blocked it all out. Quietly, he made his way to the front door – unlocked it ever so silently – and gently closed the door behind him.

In the driveway, he could easily recognise Kakashi's car. He walked toward it, his sweater sleeves covering most of his hands. It was a chilly night and Itachi gently opened the car door and subtly closed it.

"Where to?" Kakashi asked easily.

"Anywhere but here", Itachi answered solemnly.

Silently, in the dead of darkness – the two teens quietly left Itachi's home.

With no destination in mind.