Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Requiem ❯ Chapter2 ( Chapter 2 )

 

The Rolex on my wrist showed 7 pm as I walked out the classroom door. Why bother running now? I was screwed either way for being two and a half hours late not to mention getting detention again. Checked the handy too. Yup. 5 not accepted calls. I could hear the roar of thunder for a few minutes already and the sun hasn't been shining through the window for about an hour by than. As I stepped out of the building I could see my driver standing under an umbrella at the base of the steps. His old, chiseled features were stern as always but it didn't make look cruel like father and Itachi. Maybe that's why the old man loved my brother and not me. They were alike in almost every aspect, except that as far as I can recall my brother, he enjoys being cruel. Father just is. I stopped at the top of the steps as the driver jogged up to me with the umbrella nodding his head slightly in greeting.

“Good evening Sasuke-san.”

“Evening Tanaka-san” I nodded back as we both started down the stairs under the huge black umbrella.

“Your father is impatiently avaiting you.” he continued in his usuall monotone opening the back door for me.

“I know.” My voice sounded strained even to my own ears as I climbed in and leaned back against the warm leather trying to force my heart out of my throat.

“Is my brother there yet?” I asked growing nervous, crossing my arms over my chest as Tanaka-san entered the drivers seat.

“Yes Sasuke-san. He has arrived exactly as scheduled at 5:30 pm.”

Of course, Itachi had no faults. How could I even think he could be late. Dropping my head back on the back of the seat I tuned out gazing through the blurry window. The now silent rain ran down the cool surface like teardrops from the sky, it's sound like a soft lullaby. A calming sound helping me to tune out reality. I didn't want to meet Itachi, didn't want to face father, didn't want to be there at all. The streets were full of people and I just wished I could be part of that crowd. Not Sasuke Uchiha, not the son of a billionaire, nothing special. Just a happy normal 15 year old with a normal life without the expectations of a father made of stone. The rain and speed blurred the surroundings making it look surreal, like in a dream. A whirlwind of rainbow swirling in front of my eyes all the way home. My heartbeat started to slow down, for a moment I wished it would stop completely. Would it be peaceful? Would I still be there at all? Would I BE still?

The car coming to a complete halt and engines being turned off snapped me out of my half dazed daydream. My eyes focused on the Uchiha compound. A huge mansion in the middle of a garden even the royalty of the past centuries would envy. It was called my home but I never felt it to be. Just a place where I lived with my so called family. The only member I really loved was the fragile woman I called mom. She was the only person in the whole bunch that ever really cared for me as a person and not just a heir. The door opened again and I followed Tanaka-san up to the front door in the safety of the umbrella again. It wouldn't do to get an Uchiha wet now would it.

“Goodbye Sasuke-san”

“Bye.” I watched the old man leave for the limousine with grace. I actually liked him. Though we didn't talk a lot he had a kind aura around him.

Turning to the door I braced myself before opening it. I wasn't quite sure if father would make a scene in front of Itachi but knew for sure that sooner or later he would and that would probably hurt like Hell. He was an aggressive asshole and when angered. He and brother had similarities but I never saw Itachi hitting anyone or even raging, well not that we met that much but he seemed so calm and composed all the time I couldn't imagine him doing that.

Rounding a few corners on the way to the salon where I suspected everyone to be my nervousness came rushing back with every step I took. Not only was I to face father but Itachi too. Whenever we met before he never missed a chance to humiliate me or hurt me if he could. And he mostly could. He just had the talent for these things it seemed.

Peeking around the last corner I had to force myself to swallow the sudden lump in my throat. There they were. Father, mother, aunt Kiyoko and her husband, some other people I didn't recognize and a firm, lank looking man in a perfectly fitted suit and long black hair. Itachi. Even though I couldn't see his face I was sure it was him. Great. Looked like they were having a gathering of some sort which I wasn't informed of up to that point, which meant that if I appear in my every day clothes father will be angry. On the other hand if he finds out I got detention and when I got back didn't attend immediately he will be raging. So the remaining question was, if you got two loads of shit which one do you step into? Opting for the -hopefully- smaller one I forced my legs to move.

“Good evening.” I said announcing my presence as I walked towards them with the well practiced social smile dancing on my lips.

I caught fathers deadly glare the moment he noticed my attire, which was about the moment he noticed my presence. I had the distinctive urge to shrink and hide under the glare but managed to keep my composure, though I promptly had to turn my head to the others in the room to do so. Aunt Kiyko headed towards me with a brilliant smile, probably intending to pinch my face. Again. It's one of her hobbies you see, I just hoped Itachi didn't get away from the treatment either.

“Sasuke Dear!” she squeeled and…promptly pinched my cheeks throwing her arms around me. “How are you?” a real smile crept to my face as I hugged her back. She was such a nice woman not really part of that snob crowd

“Fine Auntie.” The smile faded though as I caught sight of my half brother standing a few feet behind her looking at me. “And you?”

“I'm fine too dear.” she chirped letting go and dragging me by the hand to introduce the people I wasn't familiar with yet.

The pink haired young girl not far from Itachi was Sakura Haruno, the blond next to her Ino Yamanaka, the grey haired silly elderly man Kakashi Hatake and I was surprised to see Naruto's step dad Iruka Umino. “Now if you'd excuse the boy darlings, he hasn't seen his brother in a while.” And before I could say a word of protest I found myself in front of Itachi.

“Itachi-kun sorry for kidnapping your little brother for so long.” she waved with a cheeky smile returning to chat with the others.

“Well, well.” The smooth voice of my brother returned my gaze to him. “Long time no see.”

“Quite.” I said not knowing what else to say and frankly I never liked his company.

“A drink?” suddenly a glass was showed in front of me with what looked like whiskey in it. Staring at it dumbstruck I could only assume he was testing me and if I took it I'd be in trouble for drinking.

“I'm 15.” I shot him a glare.

“I'll take that as a no.” he said putting the glass down and taking a sip of his own as he leaned on the cabinet staring at the chattering people.

Not sure what to do I stood beside him, fidgeting with my sleeves. My eyes kept wondering back to his face though. He's changed since the last time I saw him. He was only 14 than and a lot more boyish than now. Even though he seemed slim and light like always you could tell that there was a defined body under the tailored suit. On the other hand even when Itachi was my age he was more firm than me. Not that I was fat or slobby but I was smaller and thinner than him, I hate that word but kind of…girly compared to him.

Moving my gaze to his face I was greeted with a pair of black eyes staring back at me blankly.

“What?” the voice made me snap my head to the crowd at the front immediately.

“Nothing.” I said looking at my toes. “You changed.” I always felt nervous around the oh so perfect Itachi Uchiha.

“It's been 5 years.” He stated matter of factly. Of course he was right. Who wouldn't change in 5 years.

“Yeah…”

We didn't talk much after that. He asked about my school and that's about it because father needed to talk to him and Kakashi about something. I couldn't hear and wasn't interested to begin with. I got stuck with Aunt Kiyoko and the two girls who apparently thought Itachi was the hottest guy on Earth and I was a cute mini Itachi. I couldn't see that much of a resemblance but obviously everyone else did. The Sakura girl was seriously a pain in the ass. She kept ranting about her new haircut and the dress she wore last new year. Ino didn't talk as much thank God. I oh so hated these gatherings and had to refrain from checking my watch every minute or so. By the time the guests bid their good bye's and left I was practically brain dead and seriously considered to announce the pink menace public enemy no.1. Knowing my presence wouldn't be needed anymore I said my good nights and headed for my room. To tell the whole and complete truth I wasn't tired at all but not about to spend more time than needed in the presence of those two.

That's where I thought wrong. Father immediately came after me grabbing my right arm, not enough to bruise though. “I need to have a word with you Sasuke.”

“Sure.” I almost choked on my words as he led me into another room where no one could see us and spun me around to face him towering over me.

“Who do you think you are?” he started voice dripping with scorn. “You think you can do whatever you want? What are you? Didn't I tell you to be home at 5pm?”

“You did.” I said not looking up at him.

“I did. Yes and when did you arrive?” he leaned closer to me and spoke as if he would be explaining something to a very small child.

“At 7:30” my voice grew weaker.

“Exactly. Which means you're either too stupid to know the clock or you were in detention again.” He stopped there and I had a distinct feeling he already knows which one and is waiting for me to tell him.

“Detention father but…”

“There are no buts Sasuke…you always get into trouble in school. You're always late, you disgrace me and your mother in front of everyone. Thank God Itachi isn't like you. This is all Mikoto's fault, she's not even fit to be called human. She's a moronic weakling just like you.” He spat and I clenched my fists in anger. He can say what he wants about me but not mom. “But that's it you little maggot. One more mistake like that and you're out of my house!” he shouted the last part right into my face before my head snapped to the side with a loud slap. “Now get the fuck out of my view and be glad your brother is here or you'd pay for this dearly!” he hissed and showed me towards the exit.

Once in the safety of my own confines I slammed the door shut and barely refrained from crying. Not only the slap but his humiliating words and the fact that he was right. I was nothing, he was the mighty Fugaku Uchiha and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. He beat mom up afterwards I knew it. Sometimes I saw blue or black spots on her here and there. She always has an excuse but I know it's him. When ever he's in a rage he takes it out on her. My chest heaved as I envisioned him laying dead in front of me in his own cold blood. I slammed a fist into the nearest wall with a frustrated cry promising to pay him back one day for mom, for me, for everything. Stalking over to the closet I swung the door open and snatched my Smiths and Wesson combat knife from under my shirts. Just seeing the smooth black metal satisfied me to an extent. I slowly traced the cool blade along the pulse on my wrist almost as if in a trance, my anger instantly fading, forced back tears disappearing. The edge of the knife moved away from the artery beginning to leave a red line growing deeper in it's way as the hand holding it applied more and more pressure. I felt satisfaction when blood gushed out of that line, warm liquid sliding down my arm and onto the floor. I watched the pool of red around my wrist as I sat in the corner opposite the door, patting the knife in the other hand. The more lines and the more blood I saw the calmer I became. It was my way to let go of the pain. My way of crying. The only way I could allow myself.

Panic rushed through me when something touched my cheek, my hand instinctively lashing out with the knife and before I could even realize who it was another hand caught mine smacking it against the wall beside my head. The sharp pain cleared my head a little and my eyes focused on the face of my brother inches from mine. Now clear and undisturbed fear ran through me. He saw. He knows. He's going to tell everyone. I stared into his emotionless black eyes with my own similar pair, just that mine were huge and terrified pleading for him to disappear. I wished he was just a dream, a mirage and would fade but he didn't.

“You're so weak…” he whispered more to himself as his eyes shifted away from mine to the bloody wrist.

Trying to calm my ragged breathing I searched for a retort…or any kind of response but couldn't find any. He was right, I was so weak. Moistness gathered in the corner of my eyes again and my head turned to the side on it's own accord as a sob escaped my lips. I expected Itachi to mock me, to tell me I'm weak again but not the soft hand sliding across my cheek in a soft caress. That was even worse than a slap. “Go away…” I whispered not looking at him, but the hand continued it's light journey on my jaw line, my throat to the collar of my hoodie. It was so humiliating. I didn't want him to be nice to me, especially not him. “I don't need your pity.” I hissed steadying my voice as much as I could.

“I know. You pity yourself enough.” the whisper came from right next to my ear along with the ghost of a breath on my skin.

“Get away from me!” I snapped grabbing his perfectly tailored shirt with my perfectly bloody hands and found myself raging at a stone statue. He looked so emotionless, cold and empty almost frightening. “Before I ruin your perfect suit completely.” I added in a low voice letting go.

Leaning back on the wall I stared at the ceiling. Anything than him. I hated that, when we were small he smiled, I mean really smiled. He looked alive but now he's just a shell. Frightening and hollow. He was the epitome of what I never wanted to be. I could tell he still hasn't moved from his spot and his gaze bore holes in me. My head turned towards him again on it's own with half lidded eyes. “What?” I asked like he did a few hours before. I thought I saw just the faintest hint of…something in those endless pools of black…”Take me with you.”