001 :: Video

[counterintel]

[Wearing an expression very much unlike his usual composed look, Itachi looks something like he's seen a ghost. It fades to something less frantic, a frown as he tries to figure out how to make the device do what he wanted.]

Shisui. Can you hear me?

[A moment, and-- nothing. He sighs, pressing something else which turns the video feed off, leaving only the rustle of sound as he fumbles with the thing.]

Shisui?

[Another frustrated noise, and he manages at least to end the whole feed.]

Comments

[counterintel]

[Why-- are you so tall?

Wait, more pressing issues.]

Did you just arrive here?

[hebi]

[...Because he's almost 19. He thinks. He's been 18 for a long fucking time.]

No, I've...been here for a while.

[Pause.] Where are you?

[counterintel]

[Just wait until you explain that one.]

Then you'll be able to tell me more?

Will co-ordinates do?

[hebi]

[Does he have to....]

...I'd just like to see you, first. But yes, I'll explain.

[counterintel]

[Everything, Otouto. Come on.]

Of course.

[He'll just be going ahead and verbally relaying his co-ordinates to you there, Sasuke.]

[hebi]

Give me two minutes.

[counterintel]

[Just enough time to sort through the mess of thoughts.]

I can wait.

-> offline?

[hebi]

[It doesn't take long for Sasuke to get there. After living here for two years, he practically knows the place like the back of his hand.

Though when he does get there, he has to pause. It's been...literally over a year since he's seen his brother here, let alone a brother who was younger than him. He'll take it, though. He's seen Itachi come and go too many times, he'll take him at whatever age now.]

Itachi.

Offline forevers~

[counterintel]

[Sasuke was definitely older. Taller, older-- had seen so much more he was sure. He could believe it too, if Shisui had been from a time before him. This wasn't a matter of weeks though.

Taking a breath when he realised Sasuke was here he turned to face him, needed the briefest moment just to see how much he had grown.]

Sasuke. That was quick.

[hebi]

[Nearly ten years, actually. Actually, probably over if Sasuke's guess is right. And he's probably only as tall as their father was.

He gives the slightest nod at that.]

I've been here for a couple years. The layout of the city isn't hard to learn.

[counterintel]

[It's tall enough. Tall enough to warrant the questions floating around in his head. Uncertainty about something was never constructive, and Sasuke was right here to ask.]

Two years. [That oddly comforting. Shisui.]

Not for someone like you.

[The words aren't easy-- but...]

Looks like you have... ten years of things to tell me?

[hebi]

[Pauses briefly, as if he's considering what to tell him.]

Do you...really want to know what my life was - will be - like after our family is gone?

[counterintel]

[On second thought.]

It really happens then. [and he really didn't kill Sasuke, too. He's surprisingly pleased with that, although it doesn't show.

It was never going to be easy, he knew that.]

Do you want to tell me?

[It was certainly difficult to know whether there was contention there or acceptance.]

[hebi]

It's up to you. It hasn't been an easy life. [Do you want to know the things you did (do) to him, how far he went in Konoha before his inferiority complex and hatred took hold of him and drove him away?

Or that he's met Madara, and learned of everything through him? And that he still wants to hurt the Elders that tore his life apart?]

If you want to know, I have no problem telling you. If you don't, then that's fine.

[counterintel]

The life of a shinobi is not meant to be easy.

[He knows Sasuke's is probably harder than many, but not most. There's a reason he's done the things he plans to do, or the things he'd done in Sasuke's life.

Just that thinking makes him feel uneasy. Sasuke is here right before him though, fit and well. Alive. Does he need to know the details? Details of a life he has yet to damage. For the good of the Leaf.

For the good of the leaf.

For the time being though, they're here, and it's a need to understand Sasuke that makes him speak up, eventually.]

Tell me.

[hebi]

I'm aware.

[And so Sasuke will tell. What happened at home, overview of what happened in Toshima and in Nesreca.

Everything Itachi could want to know.]

[counterintel]

[It was a conversation that was difficult to hear, but he took it all in, understanding not only the things that he'd done but the troubles they'd both been through. Mostly apart. For Konoha.]

This must feel odd.

[He was unsure of what more to say, really... time to take it all in would be preferable.]

[hebi]

I'm...used to it, by now.

[counterintel]

Right. Of course.

[Still. It's not particularly easy to see him like this. If he could have done it any other way-- if the things they'd tried had worked.

It was pointless to think about it. He was here, now-- with Sasuke.]

So you keep busy here?

[hebi]

[Though, for Sasuke...he probably wouldn't have asked for anything else. Except, well, maybe more people around here that weren't from their world. That would certainly help.]

I try to, yes. [Though it's not easy to find things to do, except clear out overgrown plants.]

[counterintel]

[He hasn't commented on the lacking population, but he would share that hope, too.

So, now is the time for making time.]

What do you spend your time doing? Seems there's not much to do. Training...

[hebi]

I typically just make rounds around the city, take note of who is here and who's left. Help with whatever mundane projects are being picked up, work on learning Russian the traditional way.

Otherwise, I simply just... train, for an hour or two in the morning

[counterintel]

Sounds official.

[That's a smile-- oh my goodness, yes it is. He's proud of you.]

Perhaps you'd like to train together sometime?

[hebi]

[He can't help a slight smile himself, because yes it is indeed rare Itachi ever smiles.]

I'd like that, aniki.

[counterintel]

[It's just as nice to see that on you, Sasuke.]

Mn. You train every morning?