#takakra

@takakra 

prompt ( accepting. )

sarada blinks, surprised by her father’s words. with a festival being held in the village today, she asked both her parents to accompany her, with sakura promising to catch up after work. yet, it seemed her father was bothered about something. why would she get sick of him?

the light is obtrusive as it floods the apartment from where he’s thrown open the blinds. ❛ much better, ❜ chipper tone masks the concern as he turns to face the young man for what felt like the first time in ages. in reality it’d only been a week, but sasuke might as well have not returned at all. kakashi wasn’t holding it against him, but he was taking it upon himself to do the things that he had needed when the solitary confinement of sorrow and regret were all he knew. 

“ you know, you have a lot of nerve showing your face around here. ” kankurō stepped out of the darkness, his hands relaxed in his pockets. although his words were harsh, kankurō’s body language was non-threatening. his demeanor didn’t match his words, like a puppet moving its mouth to someone else’s speech. still, kankurō stepped close to sasuke, inviting yet distant. 

“i know my brother is sympathetic to you but not gonna lie,” he removed his hand from his pocket. it was like he was playing a game, switching between being protective and being open and welcoming. the line was a bit too fine to walk. 

         itachi was never one to express the weight that accompanied the sea of memories that plague his mind. there were many good things, many bad things & many things in between. some memories had a way of rearing their heads in the most unexpected of times, shredding every other thought in their path & pushing themselves to the forefront of his brain. he had done many things he was not proud of as a shinobi, but that was his responsibility. he had shed blood many times, hoping that one day the ceaseless violence would come to an end. hoping that on that day, peace would settle upon the land & give the survivors the chance to flourish. 

that was the chance they had been given, now in this newfound calm that had engulfed after what would hopefully be the last shinobi war. they had fought against impossible odds & come out on the other side, thanks to the ability to stand together. it was a lesson learned to many & to those who didn’t care to listen… they were no longer the majority. now those who had seen death could bring new life to the world, a new generation that did not have to live in fear of war. who’s hands might not know the blood of innocents. it was a comforting thought, he mused. 

but was truly comforting was the knowledge that sasuke had lived to see the day, despite the road that had lead him there. he had lived a life that had lead him to become strong, a life that had lead him to find a family, his own light to blaze away the shadows. he had spent so long trying to hide the love he harbored for his brother, to keep him safe from a danger itachi had never wanted him to face… the danger of love. it was the sweetest poison itachi had ever had the pleasure of knowing. 

his mind dips in & out of the good & bad that had lead him to become who he was today. he remembers the blood — but he remembers the good too. he remembers the silent smiles spared only for sasuke, he remembers the pride that swelled in his chest at every good report card, every technique learned.

there were many feelings that had taken root in the bottom of his chest. He had found himself at the training ground he used to frequent when he was a child. it was where his story had began & it was often where he came to reflect. He hadn’t expected his brother to stumble upon him there, but a small part of him was thankful. With the new life that had found a place both of their worlds, he needed to tell sasuke, at least this once.

      “ sasuke —-what are you doing out here?” the words cause his chest to feel tight. perhaps this was a bad idea. perhaps not. He waits a long moment before he speaks “ I’ve been meaning to talk to you. “