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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[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?"

[itachi_san]

Clearly, she wasn't.

As soon as Sasuke was out of sight and Mikoto reached the entryway, Itachi collapsed.

[proudofmybaby]

Cursing softly, at both her children, she rushed forward to collect her son, checking to see if he was even still conscious as she headed off to his room with him.

[itachi_san]

Fortunately, it appeared that he just fainted. Though, for being in the temperatures they were in, he did feel a bit warmer than expected.

After about ten minutes or so, he started to come to.

[proudofmybaby]

She was staring down at him, still paint splattered but she'd doe her best to change him into something warm and clean without smearing it all over him. "Itachi."

[itachi_san]

He looked back up at her with black eyes. It took him a moment, but his sharingan eventually activated.

"... I was on my way back."

[proudofmybaby]

"You're exhausted to the point of collapse." She put her hands on her hips. "Eyes off this instant young man. If you don't have the energy to walk, you don't have the energy to see."

[itachi_san]

"It's all right, really..." he tried to brush off her concern as he pushed himself up in bed. "It was just a more eventful walk than I anticipated."

There was a lot to explain, and he summarized it in far too few words. Running into an enemy. Talking to Sasuke with genjutsu.

[proudofmybaby]

Her eyes narrowed. "You. Flat. Now."

[itachi_san]

Itachi had almost forgotten how convincing she could be when cross...

He carefully eased himself back down, his sharingan deactivating as his head hit the pillow.