Contrition [Itachi Uchiha x Reader]

#33: Casualty

Rock Lee was watering the garden when the car pulled up outside his teacher's house. He greeted them warmly before adding, "He's waiting for you. My only request is that you don't take too long."

"I understand. Thank you."

[Name] led the way, leaving the two men to share a brief glance. There was no exchange of pleasantries.

"My apologies," the woman said upon spotting Gai in his wheelchair. He seemed to have aged considerably since the last time they had met; the dark circles under his eyes had become more prominent and the lines on his face gave the impression of a man who was still fighting many battles. "I wish we could have avoided this."

He simply smiled. "Please, sit. And where's Mr. Uchiha?"

Sasuke stepped in front of him and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My father has told me a great deal about you."

"We have met, my boy," Gai said with a chuckle. "But you were so very young to have remembered it. You wouldn't let go of your mother's hand." A pink blush dusted Sasuke's face.

"Lee, would you mind making us some tea? Our guests have come a long way."

"Yes, sensei."

"He's a good kid," Gai mused, watching him leave. "He's even begun to dress like me now. Sometimes I'm scared he'll never find a girlfriend." He laughed. "But he's determined, without a doubt. It's rare to find ambition these days. You would know, wouldn't you Ms. [Surname]? It's the student that inspires the teacher, not the other way around."

"I agree."

"You're awfully quiet, Sasuke. Do you not like your new home?"

"What?"

"You'll be staying here for a few days," [Name] explained. "It's the safest place I could think of."

"Oh...thank you."

Lee placed three steaming hot cups of tea and a plate of mochi before retreating indoors. Gai lifted the cup to his lips. "Ms. [Surname], it is my request that you stay here as well," he said, blowing on it to cool it down.

"I'm afraid I miss my own bed too much to do that," she replied, with an unconvincing smile. "Onto more pressing matters, Shisui Uchiha will be here in a few hours. I've asked him to bring a lawyer."

Gai nodded. "You seem to think that it's possible to help Itachi Uchiha."

"What's scopolamine?" Sasuke interrupted. "You mentioned it earlier but you didn't tell me what it was."

[Name] passed him her phone. A web page was open. "It's called Hyoscine or Devil's Breath. In small quantities it can actually be good for you. Said to treat nausea. But if it's coupled with another intoxicant or taken in excess... Well, there's a reason they call it the 'zombie drug'. It's rumoured to make you incapable of exercising your free will. Simply said, you won't be in control of your own actions."

"And you're saying that poor boy came in contact with it?" Gai inquired.

"Kissed by the devil. That's what he said. It took me a while to figure it out. There he was tossing and turning every night, mumbling about a puff of smoke and being kissed by the devil. I don't think even he knows the full story. But Shisui might."

"But why wouldn't Shisui tell anyone?"

"Did you forget who he's related to?" she said, pointing to the scar on her wrist. "He couldn't have. At least not without proof."

"And how would we get proof now?"

"Gai sensei." Lee returned to the room wearing a worried expression. "Someone's here."