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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[itachi_san]

Itachi wasn't entirely sure how she managed to get him into her arms so quickly. Using the mangekyo made his head hurt and it made the world spin.

"... So why didn't you?"

[sparkplug_chan]

"Mom said you weren't lying." She shifted him around until she didn't feel like she was at risk of dropping him. Stupid long limbs.

Huffing, she turned to march for home.

[itachi_san]

Itachi fell silent. He couldn't argue with that. He never could.

[sparkplug_chan]

"Naruto said you were probably lying too. After." Her voice was lower when she said that, a murmur.

[itachi_san]

Itachi rested his head against Sasuke.

He didn't know what to say. Naruto was right. His mother was right. Even Obito was probably right. His plan was perfect... and in the end, this was all that it accomplished.

[sparkplug_chan]

Her voice was very low. "I tried to hate you, like you told me to." She tightened her grip on him to a nearly painful degree. "I... Naruto wouldn't let it work. I have a picture, with my other ones, that Naruto must have shoved in my things because it lived on the wall, turned around so we only had to look at it when we wanted to. Probably just grabbed all the pictures we had out and put them in my stuff. Moron."

[itachi_san]

He wished she did. But at the same time, he was kind of glad she didn't.

[sparkplug_chan]

"You're in that picture. I'll show you, when we get home. If you want. I... I didn't like it, but I never told Naruto to take it down."

[itachi_san]

"... All right." he whispered quietly, calmly. "I'd like to see it."

[sparkplug_chan]

"You don't get to turn weak now Aniki, hear me?" Her voice was soft, and she spoke directly into his ear as they neared the house.

[itachi_san]

"This... coming from the child I encouraged to become far stronger than me."

[sparkplug_chan]

"It doesn't count if I'm only stronger because you got weak. Stupid."

[itachi_san]

"How could I be weak?" he admitted, regret finally starting to disappear from his voice. "You... you're my strength. As long as you were there... I could never be weak..."

[sparkplug_chan]

She paused, then flashed him a smirk, any sign of her earlier tears gone. "Well, there you go then. So stop acting weak already."

[itachi_san]

"Does that mean you're going to put me down?"

[sparkplug_chan]

"Are you going to fall on your face?"

[itachi_san]

Itachi closed his eyes and sighed.

"... probably..."

[sparkplug_chan]

"At least I didn't throw you over my shoulder."

[itachi_san]

Itachi could convince his mind to stay strong. But his body... he could only force it to do so much...

"Point..."

[sparkplug_chan]

"I may not be -your- Sasuke but... close enough. Have a little more faith."

[itachi_san]

He nodded, tiredly.

[sparkplug_chan]

She just shook her head then finally moved to set him on his feet so she had a hand free to open the door. "You can prove your ability to get into the house."

[itachi_san]

He was unsteady on his feet, but used the door frame for support. He'd used far too much chakra, drained far too much energy. He could hardly stay awake, yet alone standing, but if Sasuke insisted... then he would do it. He would be strong for Sasuke. And nothing else would matter.

He walked into the house under his own power.

[sparkplug_chan]

She followed him, satisfied he could get at least -that- far, and she swept off into the house after closing the door once he was clear of it.

Not that she was entirely altruistic in her motives, of course. "Mom! Itachi needs you!" And then Sasuke was headed off to her room. She needed to think.

[proudofmybaby]

The call lured her out of one of the side hallways, most of her splattered with paint from what she'd been working on. Her eyes widened as she got good look at her son and she cursed, yanking off her gloves. "Oh baby what happened?"