how did this even happen...

[mooneye]

It wasn't a bad sort of place. Lots of things to do and people to see. Plenty of freedom to dart over the rooftops and down the alleys--or out of the village and into the woods and rocky wild places beyond. Obito liked Michi no Sato.

He had stopped for lunch and was eating at a table outside the restaurant, watching people walk past. The food was good. The cold breeze was nice. Ah, yes. Years and years trapped in a cave with a crazy old man and a bunch of plant monsters--it had left him really able to appreciate the little things.

[ooc: here is an AU Obito in his twenties. Got through the time with Madara, and Rin's death, but didn't go completely evil after all of it...]

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[youngesthokage]

"Yes. I don't... have all the details of that little dream world, it was... a bit odd. But the boy was shy, who got named after you, very attached to mother though." He shook his head. "I never revisited that little world."

[mooneye]

He mused over that. And caught the hint of melancholy, also. "It can be difficult to leave a dream," he said, slowly. Thinking out just how much he wanted to say, and how truthfully he wanted to say it. "Sometimes it feels so real, you know."

[youngesthokage]

He nodded slightly. "There were two others with little ones. One bled into the Hotel itself and that one... I don't know how to feel about it. No, the ones I was most attached to were the twins. Minoru and Isamu. There are... nearly five years of memories for that world. Their other parent was another Itachi actually, from the primary timeline. It seemed the most real of all of them."

[mooneye]

"Dreams within dreams," he repeated, nodding. And he made a small, sympathetic sound. "Five years is a long time."

[youngesthokage]

"With children, and... all sorts of things. It didn't help that it interwove..." He sighed softly. "If I ever meet that Itachi again I won't say anything, just in case he doesn't remember, or in case he does and thinks everything is still fine."

[mooneye]

He thought about that, briefly. "I can't imagine leaving children behind," he said. "But I can't imagine having them, either. It sounds like the sort of thing that might be difficult."

"...Was he very different from you? The other you?"

[youngesthokage]

"He was... unhappy. So very unhappy." He closed his eyes. "I had to fight to convince him not to go let Sasuke kill him, I remember that. It was actually a hard choice for him to make."

[mooneye]

Obito looked grim, at that. He wasn't sure how he would have reacted, if he had met an Itachi like that... Not well, probably. In one way or another.

[youngesthokage]

He opened his eyes after a moment. "But I did, eventually. My last memory of that Itachi was in the Hotel, when I knocked sense into Sasuke, actually. Shortly after that I came here and no more sojourns into other realities."

[mooneye]

"So far," he couldn't help pointing out.

[youngesthokage]

He inclined his head. "So far, though I get the sense it's unlikely."

[mooneye]

Obito nodded. "I haven't been anywhere like your hotel. But yes. I'd agree that this place doesn't feel like it's... got that sort of thing in it."

[youngesthokage]

He couldn't help the small laugh. "Yes, 'that sort of thing'."

[mooneye]

Obito was quiet a moment. "Ah. I'm glad I ran into you here, little cousin. It's going to make this place better, having you here."

[youngesthokage]

He looked over, then reached and lightly squeezed his wrist. "I'm glad you're here too, even if you do seem to set Tenten on edge. Why?"

[mooneye]

"Well. I don't think she trusts me." A pause, smirking. "And I believe she felt there was some sort of romance between us."

[youngesthokage]

He stared at him in bafflement at -that-. "You're Obito-nii. I love you, but why would I when I have...?"

[mooneye]

"You wouldn't." He shrugged. "Nor would I, when I can see that you're happily settled. But there is love between us. It might seem... threatening, I suppose."

[youngesthokage]

He huffed a breath. "That's different." He paused a moment, voice quieter. "And as much as I missed you, I do love Sasuke more." He quirked his lips. "She should know -that- at least, even if she doesn't seem to realize that I care a great deal about -her-."

[mooneye]

"Sasuke!" He snorted, not actually sounding very surprised.

[youngesthokage]

He huffed a breath. "Yes Sasuke." He reached over and jabbed him. "He's the only reason I started talking again after you died. I'm not sure I would have recovered so well if he hadn't been born."

[mooneye]

"Well. Then I suppose I can only be grateful to him... And if we meet I'll have to try and make it very clear to him that I don't intend to kill or seduce you."

[youngesthokage]

"It would be good if you were clearer than you were with Tenten." He paused a beat. "Especially because I know how affectionate you are and Sasuke might not -care- what that means."

There was a moment here as he looked around, remembering they were close to the house so for all he knew Sasuke could be listening in. He finally looked back. "So be ready to dodge, okay?"

[mooneye]

"Oh? Fine. I'll rein it in. I could punch you in the arm or something in front of him, if you like. Though if he's as protective of you as Tenten is I'm not sure that would go over any better than the affection." He laughed. "In any case, he's my cousin too. Maybe he won't immediately despise me."

[youngesthokage]

Itachi turned and just -stared- at him. "...Obito-nii, you've never actually -met- Sasuke have you?"