Back To You [Shisui X Itachi]

Chapter 29

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Itachi had around half an hour to make himself presentable before his brother got home from the hospital. He sped into the shower, religiously scrubbing off whatever scent of alcohol was left on his skin. He conditioned his hair and, when he stepped out, swished mouthwash vigorously around in his mouth.

Twice.

He looked pale and the bags under his eyes, from a night of no sleep, were quite visible.

He quickly got dressed as he heard his mother's car pull up the driveway.

Itachi made his way downstairs to find his mother and father plastering on the fakest smiles known to man. Luckily it fooled Sasuke.

"Nii-san! They gave me a balloon!" Sasuke exclaimed excitedly, clutching a helium balloon with the message 'WELL DONE!' written on it.

"Wow! That's a wonderful balloon! I'm so jealous!" Itachi smiled, getting on his knees so he could hug his younger brother. Sasuke wrapped his small arms around Itachi's neck and rested his head on Itachi's shoulder.

"I missed you so much..." Itachi whispered – with utmost control to keep his sadness at bay, to keep it out of his voice.

"I can't wait to show it to my fwiends!"

Itachi stood up, ruffling Sasuke's hair, "About that, I'll be taking you to school from now on!" He feigned his excitement.

"But mommy usually takes me", Sasuke said in confusion.

Itachi could feel his mother's gaze on his back, "Mom and dad are going to be very...busy the next few days."

He wouldn't turn around to look at his parents. He wouldn't look in the face of love now lost. He couldn't bare it – not now. Their forced smiles – yet clear distance from each other. Their vibrations of strenuous self control.

Itachi knew that the second he and Sasuke left the house, the banshee of discord would pay the house a visit. A screaming match that would wake the dead – accusations that demanded defence. And he would never, never in his life, subject Sasuke to the terror that was currently his parents' marriage.

"Ready to go?" Itachi asked Sasuke gently.

The little one scampered over to his backpack by the front door, never releasing his balloon, "Yup", he smiled his adorable smile. His carefree, oblivious smile. A smile Itachi prayed would never fade.

They left the house, walking quickly at first so Sasuke wouldn't hear the shattering and shouting. Once they were far enough Itachi slowed his pace, Sasuke chattering away about how much he missed his friends – how much he missed school.

Reaching the gates of Sasuke's pre-school, Itachi gave his beloved brother another hug, "Wait for me right here, okay?" Itachi instructed gently, adjusting Sasuke's hair ever so slightly.

Sasuke nodded with a grin and hopped into the school.

When he was out of eye sight, Itachi put his hand against his forehead, he was exhausted, he was anxious and he was...sad. So very sad.

He turned around and started walking to Konoha High. The wind rushing passed him, blowing strands of his ponytail loose. This was only a temporary fix, he needed a permanent one. His parents would eventually be at each other's throats in Sasuke's presence.

Maybe they could go stay with Aunt Mellissa. But would that be inconvenient? Would that be too much to ask?

Tucking a piece of his stray hair behind his ear, Itachi squirmed in his loneliness. It seemed like yesterday he had a rock, something to hold him down and present to earth.