Susurrus [Itachi x OC]

19: The End

Itachi and I sit side-by-side on top of the stone faces—just as we did as kids—but we're both silent. The night is silent, save for the wind billowing around us.

"Is Shisui gonna leave?"

"No. He's staying here once—" Itachi pauses, and that's when I hear it: his labored breathing.

"Itachi!" I grab him by his navy shirt, pulling him closer to me. "Itachi, what's wrong?!"

He begins to cough, eventually succumbing to a coughing fit.

I rub his back as comfortingly as I can, praying it'll be over soon for his sake.

Once the coughing finally stops, Itachi wipes at his mouth, blood dripping from the corners of his lips and staining the tips of his fingers.

"Itachi..." My voice is quiet, barely travelling over the wind. "How long...?"

"Since that fight when we were younger."

"You've been coughing up BLOOD since then?!"

Itachi sighs bitterly, wiping his hand on his pants. "Yes, Tani."

I sigh too, scooting close to him. Resting my head on his shoulder, I let out another sigh, this time in relief.

"Tachi..."

"I know. I am too."

"You? Afraid?"

He laughs, such a clear and happy sound. "Terribly afraid."

"I'm surprised."

"Why?"

"I dunno. You've always seemed unshakeable to me, Tachi. From that very first mission with Tenma dying to everything else, you've never seemed afraid, really."

"There"s three things I'm afraid of: losing you, losing Sasuke, and death."

I think back to all the times I've ever seen him afraid, or even uncertain.

"You're right," I admit with an affectionate teasing to my voice. "You really are loving."

Itachi blushes and turns his head. "Oh, stop, Tani." Suddenly, his gaze hardens and he stiffens.

"Tani, we're gonna die in the morning. Does any of it really fucking matter?"

I blink and look up at him in surprise. He's never cursed like this, what the hell???

"I'm sorry," he murmurs apologetically. "I shouldn't be so cross with you."

I sit in stunned silence, my brain unable to process a response.

"Can I tell you something, Tani? Something I should've told you a long time ago?"

I nod.

"I love you." Itachi sniffles. "I should've told you during our last fight. I should've told you before we took you. I should've taken you out of the Genjutsu and—"

I cut him off, pressing my lips firmly to his.

A rumbling sound of surprise rumbles in his throat, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he pulls me onto his lap and presses me firmly against his chest.

Carefully, I pull away from him, eyeing his face for his reaction.

Itachi's pale cheeks are flushed pink, but he's looking at me the same way he did when he saw my Mangekyo.

"I love you too," I mumble shyly, his gaze suddenly feeling like fire. "I should've said it sooner too."

He kisses my forehead gently. "At least we've said it, right?"

I nod, firmly pressing my forehead against his lips.

"We might be scared, but we'll face it together."

"Together."

~*~

Death is used symbolically to represent change. Change is scary, yes, but sometimes things must change and be scary before what's new can become familiar. I've left my students behind, and, yes, Matatabi as well, but I know that death isn't the end. We'll see them again someday.

Endings are painful.

Endings hurt.

But where was once death will someday grow life.