Redemption In Your Eyes

Missing

Standing at the top of the stairs, just out of their sight, Aster clutched her pounding heart. Wood was chilly against her back and bare feet. She was sure Sakura and Sasuke could hear the commotion, but both had chosen not to get involved it seemed.
"You're selfish and it's going to cost Aster her life!" Hikaru took an aggressive step forward.
Aghast, Itachi cried, "Me? We should all be working together to find a way to save her and you're here, pointing fingers, and being useless! If that's not selfish, I don't know what is!"
"You're a lying, murdering low-life who doesn't deserve her." Clenching his fists he continued. "She doesn't deserve to be dragged into the grave by you."
Pointing at Hikaru, Itachi leaned in. "You're no better than me. I'm not the only person here who spilled the blood of family."
With a speed only the sharingan could perceive, Hikaru swung wide for the side of Itachi's face. The Uchiha caught it and made to return the blow. Hikaru mirrored him and grabbed him by the wrist. The sound of bare feet on wooden stairs reached them and they both turned. The sight of Aster's white face was a trigger for them both, each blaming the other for the look of horror she carried.
"Stop!" She screamed, running to them. Roughly she pushed them apart and came to stand between them, facing Itachi. "What are you doing?! Do you think the entire house is deaf and blind?"
A look of shame came over Itachi, while Hikaru continued to glare at him over her shoulder. "Aster," Itachi frowned. "It's not like that. We are just worried. All of us."
Pity colored the pout of her mouth and wide eyes. Then Aster turned to her brother.
Before she could speak, he cut in. "I won't stand idly by while this monster kills you. That baby has to aborted and this marriage nullified."
A well of rage opened in her and a fire was lit in her eyes. "Itachi has done nothing but try to keep me safe. He's even saved my life in the past, multiple times." Advancing on him and pressing a finger into his chest, "But you wouldn't know anything about that. You've been gone ten years and won't listen to the person who helped get your freedom back. I bet you didn't know Itachi played a part in that! You don't know anything!" Tears sprang into her eyes.
Remorse filled Hikaru and mixed uncomfortably with disbelief and distrust. "Look, you can't trust a man like him-"
"And what would you know about that?" Aster lashed out. "The only leg your argument has is that you're alike and you're untrustworthy. Is that what you're saying?" Suddenly she aware of four pairs of eyes on her. Sakura and Sasuke were standing in the corner of the room, eyes like saucers and lips pressed shut.
"No!" Hikaru grabbed her shoulders. "I'm nothing like him!"
Aster shook him off and made distance between them as she moved to Itachi's side. "You're being stubborn. You both mean the world to me, but if you force me to choose, you will be disappointed."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" he scoffed.
Frowning deeply, Aster held her brother's gaze. "I spent 10 years without you. I know what my life looks like without you in it."
Without missing a beat, he replied, "It will be a very short life if you let this pregnancy kill you."
Suddenly there was an insistent knock on the door. The room fell silent and Sasuke moved quickly to open the door. Shizune greeted him with a stern look and a bow.
"Tsunade-sama has requested Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sukkeynum Hikaru to her office immediately." Before leaving she added, "Please arrive in full gear. Be advised Uzumaki Naruto, Hatake Kakashi, and Hyuuga Hinata will be there as well."

Aster stood with crossed arms, watching Itachi pull his shoes on. He refused to meet her eyes as he mulled over what Hikaru had said. He's not wrong about what this pregnancy will do to her. If only he would put his efforts into convincing Aster instead of tearing me apart.
"And?" He jumped, startled from his reveries as Aster tapped her foot. "When were you going to tell me about this mission?"
Gritting his teeth he took a moment to respond. "I didn't know there was a mission until Shizune arrived. No one did. It must be something urgent."
She sighed, disbelief heavy in her voice. Turning her back to him, she paused, digging her fingers into her arms and reconsidering things. "Do you know anything about the assignment?"
"No," Itachi shook his head. "I have no information and had no warning. Can we stop the interrogation? Your brother has already had a swing at me-literally."
Exhaling slowly, she turned back to him. "Look, I'm sorry if I made things worse by intervening. And I'm sorry I'm giving you a hard time. I just..." Aster bit her lip. "I just don't want to watch you go again. I... I'm not well. I need you here."
Standing, he pulled her close to him. Her arms felt thin and brittle like wooden sticks and her stomach pressed against him and he reached around it. He knew she would hate the things coming out of his mouth, but he felt he had to say them.
"I have to go; if I could stay, I would." He felt her nuzzle his shoulder and he pressed his lips to the top of her head. "As for your illness, I can't help you. It's entirely up to you if you are to survive."
She pulled back at arm's length and nodded. "You'll trust me to make to the right choices," she said, her face stern.
Wondering if she was questioning him or making a statement, he answered slowly. "I trust you to do what you think is best."
Both knowing they weren't on the same page, they held each other's gaze as a profound sadness came to rest like a shared mantle. Gently, she pressed her lips to his, and he tightened his arms around her. With nothing left to say, he helped her into the bed and tucked her in. Outside the open door, Sasuke walked by and Sakura came to stop in the doorway. Itachi nodded to the younger girl and left quietly.