Where We Belong

Chapter XIII

Uchiha Residence, two weeks later...

Itachi and Konan were sleeping cuddled up together on the futon in the living-room with their twins between them after having watched a couple movies to rid of the boredom of having spent the last week since their discharge from hospital –which had taken a whole week, by the way- locked up in their home. Although it had been their decision to do so, that didn't change the fact that they had got bored as time went by, though. The orange-eyed woman was fast asleep while firmly holding her daughter Nikita to her chest when someone knocked on the door twice. Itachi was quick to identify the person behind the door simply by sensing its Chakra. Therefore, he couldn't help a small smile to appear on his face at how gently his former Akatsuki partner had knocked on the door. As far as he was concerned, Kisame Hoshigaki was anything but gentle. Shaking his head, the ebony-haired shinobi walked over to the door while holding one of his twins firmly in his left arm, opening it slowly to be met with the person he had expected to meet. The huge blue-skinned shark-looking man greeted him with a low bow of his head before Itachi moved to a side, letting him in. Before entering the house completely, Kisame looked down to the tiny bundle covered in pale green blankets in his friend's arm. It was, precisely, his goddaughter, Akemi.

- I have to admit; I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to it, Itachi-san, really... Don't get me wrong; it's not my intention to offend you. However, we both know that this is a very strange situation for a man with your 'record'...

Itachi's deep scarlet eye –with his Mangekyō Sharingan shining bright- pointing accusingly at him made the veteran swordsman cringe. Despite such attitude not being something usual in him; as a matter of fact, it was completely the opposite most of the times. Since his times as an ANBU, Uchiha had trained himself to perfectly masquerade his emotions. Otherwise, doing such atrocity as that he was forced to do would have marred his mind thrice as much as it had actually done. However, Itachi seemed to take notice of his reaction and looked away from Hoshigaki's face, apologizing for it and admitting that he really didn't like being reminded of that. Or, to better rephrase his words, he abhorred sarcasm; and he had had enough of it from Tobi and Pain during their times in Akatsuki. And even from Deidara and Orochimaru. Letting out a long sigh, Uchiha finally asked his friend to follow him to the living-room, warning him to keep quiet since Konan was asleep with Nikita on the futon.

- Then let's go somewhere else, so we don't interrupt their rest, what do you think?

Itachi nodded, telling his friend to follow him to the kitchen and asking if he wanted something to drink.

- I'm afraid you need a good cup of tea; one of those herbs your sister-in-law has in store...

Again, Itachi could clearly notice the hint of sarcasm in the older man's words. And this time, he couldn't stop his emotions from surfacing. For that reason, and raising her left eyebrow sharply and significantly, he reminded him that those 'herbs' that Sakura kept in store had helped him cope with his insomnia, and even his recurring pains and aches on more than one occasion. He shook his head, ignoring the sudden dizziness that that action brought him and asked the swordsman to forget about that, admitting after a brief moment that he was probably right about his needing a cup of tea. Honestly speaking, he needed to relax; even though he wasn't sure what he was anxious –and even nervous- about. Dizziness literally washed over the ponytailed man and he stumbled slightly forward, taking a hand to his eyes. That was, his free hand, since he was still holding Akemi in his left arm. Kisame rushed to hold him with his arm around the Uchiha's mid-back and then he led him inside the kitchen, to the nearest seat.

- You don't look good, honestly. Tell me the truth; have you even had an hour's worth of sleep since you left hospital? Your body won't resist much longer at this rate...