My Brother's Keeper

*Characters: Itachi and Konan*

"Obito sure is overly protective of Tobi," said an exasperated Konan. "You'd think Tobi were a boy of 7 the way he carries on about him."
"Hmm... maybe."
"Yes, yes, there he is. The ever elusive, always brooding, Lord Itachi," Konan says mockingly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your mighty presence?"
Itachi swipes his Raven colored hair from his brow, giving his best Godlike impression. Konan chuckles with a faint blush.
"You know it's true, Itachi. Obito needs to relax and loosen up. Give Tobi some breathing room. Him and his, "Oh Tobi you're gonna be the death of me!" rhetoric."
"Funny, you should say. You know he means that, right?"
"Means what?"
Itachi sighs,  "I probably shouldn't be sharing this with you, but it is quite the burden to carry on my own and...I know I can trust you."
"Of course you can, Itachi," Konan says worryingly as she sits across from Itachi. "What is it?"
"Obito and Tobi are not your typical identical twin brothers. During childbirth,  after Obito's successful arrival Tobi...well he wasn't so lucky. He was born with a heart defect. He was turning blue and was gasping for air. Konan, Tobi's heart stopped."
"What? Oh my God. That poor child. Poor Tobi. His poor mother. She had just lost her husband as I recall."
"Yes, she did."
"Oh my...please, go on."
"Well she thought she had lost Tobi until some entity, some evil being disguised as a doctor told her he could save Tobi and out of desperation she hastily agreed and accepted whatever conditions that would come with it. So, Tobi's heart started beating and here he is. Suffice it to say, she never saw that "doctor" that "man" again."
"Oh dear. Oh dear," Konan replied, shaking her head in disbelief. "What did their mother agree to? What was the condition?"
"Tobi shares the same heartbeat as Obito. If Tobi dies, Obito dies...instantly."
"What?! No!" Konan said as she stood up angrily from the table knocking down her chair. "That's crazy! That's insane! How could she do that?!"
"Do what?!" Itachi said rising from his chair. "She's his MOTHER! That was her SON! He was DYING! She was DESPERATE! How could you even ask such a stupud question?!"
"I know but..."
"She was desperate,  Konan. And desperation can cause a person to do...all kinds of things. I know it might seem unfair but, but I won't have you judge her. Don't blame her for being a mother. Blame the sick, twisted whatever the hell that entity was that preyed upon a mother's love for her son and her desperation to save her child's life."
"You're right, Itachi and I do. I really do it's just...Oh dear God. That's, thats heavy. No wonder you couldn't carry this alone. I'm glad I could take some of the burden off of  your shoulders, off of your heart. Your secret, Obito's and Tobi's secret I will carry with me to my grave."
"Thank you, Konan. I tell you," Said Itachi as they began to exit the room. "That saying has a whole 'nother meaning now."
"What saying?"
"I am my brother's keeper."
*More short stories to come in the story of Obito and Tobi*