Getting settled

[youngesthokage]

This village was.... interesting. Not in a bad way, exactly, even though it didn't look like home, but this place was better than the last one he'd found himself in. He'd claimed a house a bit up the cliff face, where he could look out over the village, and he was sure eventually he wouldn't be the only inhabitant.

After all, this place seemed as baffling as the last. But, he was sure, he'd still get found by the ones who mattered eventually.

Thus, he settled himself under a tree, back leaned against it, as he nibbled some local dango.

(OOC: Alrighty! Itachi has been here a while and has made a little niche for himself. For those who know him from other places, he will know you too! Sub-note: if you have an AU with him feel free to pick it up here on his post.)

Comments

Annnnd we'll call that other thread a nightmare on his first night while alone I'd say.

[youngesthokage]

He shifted a little, debating actually getting up... then decided not to, settled back int he grass in a pose not dissimilar to the first time he and Itachi really ever spoke. He nibbled on his Dango and pretended he didn't notice a thing, even when Isamu decided to jump on him.

yeah, let's go with that.

[itachi_san]

Minoru would have jumped on him too, but he was busy practically dragging Itachi up the hillside.

"Next time... we're picking a world with a beach..." Itachi dropped to his knees next to the Hokage. (At which point, Minoru jumped on him) The child around his neck certainly didn't help him catch his breath any faster. "...not... not a mountain..."

[youngesthokage]

"...Sit down all the way and just breathe, won't you?" He stared at him, shaking his head.

[itachi_san]

"...Minoru, go run around and play for a little while." he urged the boy off his back. "There are lots of trees to climb. And they're much taller than I am..."

Thankfully, that worked, and Itachi slumped right next to the Hokage against the tree.

"Sorry to keep you waiting..." he apologized with a soft smile. "You didn't eat all the dango out of spite, did you?"

[youngesthokage]

Isamu burrowed in against his dad and closed his eyes, apparently intending to nap right there as he was being ignored.

"Would I actually do such a thing?" He offered him one.

[itachi_san]

"I'd hope not." he added, taking it and immediately eating some of it. "Or else I'd be pretty hungry."

With the date of the surgery looming, it had actually been Mikoto that suggested a vacation. Granted, that meant it took a little more convincing to get Itachi on board with the idea, but eventually he did relent.

[youngesthokage]

He looked over at him for a moment. "Do you remember the first time we actually got to properly talk, as ourselves?"

[itachi_san]

"I remember it involved trees and dango." he smiled back. "Was that why you wanted to come up to some place like this?"

[youngesthokage]

"Perhaps." He paused and offered him another stick. "You called the Dango your hearts desire and scoffed at the idea of ever having sex with me."

[itachi_san]

"I didn't scoff at... well, that..." he blushed. "It was... more like scoffing at the idea that you would actually want to have sex with me."

He was certainly embarrassed by that. In truth, he didn't remember much of it.

"That was also the last night I ever let Kisame offer me any Sake..." he sighed. "But I do remember a few things you said... You welcomed me. Even when I probably shouldn't have been welcome."

[youngesthokage]

"We met before that, but I don't think you remember it." He shook his head and sucked on a dango stick, looking thoughtful. "I remembered you."

[itachi_san]

Itachi tried to think of a time they met before that day, but outside of the possible dream, he couldn't.

"I don't know about that. But I obviously couldn't forget you."

[youngesthokage]

"You mean you couldn't stay away?" He looked over at him through his lashes.

[itachi_san]

"At the time... I didn't know what force compelled me to return." he admitted. "It went against everything I'd set up. It... it was like betrayal, in a way. I think about my Sasuke and it still is. But that didn't stop me from returning here."

He shifted closer, leaning against the other man's shoulder. He didn't want to dwell on that part. The guilt still weighed on him, and no matter how long he managed to survive, it probably always would. The force that brought him had to be love - but to Itachi, love was sacrifice. Love was usefulness. Love was death...

"I came here a few times before I finally approached you with the decision to bear your heirs. Without a purpose, I had no right or reason to stay... That... gave me one... a chance to make amends. A chance to... to start over..."

[youngesthokage]

"I'm glad you took it. You've soothed me so very much just by being by my side." He wrapped his arm around him. "I would miss you deeply if you were gone from me."

[itachi_san]

"I never want to leave it." he whispered.

After recent events, there really was nothing left for him to return to in the world he came from. Nothing to live for. Nothing even to die for. But here... here, he was surrounded by people who cared about him and people he cared incredibly deeply about.

He reached out, running his hand over a napping Isamu's hair.

"This... this is where I belong now." he smiled. "With you. With the boys..."

[youngesthokage]

He smiled at him, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Yes you do, and I'm glad you don't intend to forget it."

[itachi_san]

He never could. It would be impossible. More impossible than ignoring Minoru as he shouted from a high tree branch:

"Mama! Papa! Look at me!! Look what I can do!!"

A familiar interruption. Except that this time, he was literally standing upside down. He was actually focusing his chakra into his feet.

You're back!!

[youngesthokage]

Itachi gave a long, slow blink and stared up at his younger son. "You're prepared to catch him, aren't you?"

I am!

[itachi_san]

Itachi was already making signs for a shadow clone, which materialized just in time to catch his son as he lost his hold. The clone dropped him right at his parents' feet before disappearing into a flock of crows.

"Did you see?? That was almost ten seconds!!" Minoru beamed. "New record!!"

I missed you so!

[youngesthokage]

Huffing softly, the younger man reached over to snag his son's ankle to reel him in. "Very nice, now, if you'd not make me worry about you landing on your head when you do it that would be excellent."

awwww

[itachi_san]

"Uncle Naruto let me practice on the ceiling." Minoru replied with a pout, trying to kick his ankle free.

"While standing underneath you. There's a difference." Itachi added. "You know you don't have enough chakra control to do that kind of exercise without supervision."

"I told you to watch!"

"Without supervision directly underneath you."

[youngesthokage]

Itachi laughed softly and shook his head. "Just... be more careful okay?" He tugged his son harder so he could reel him into a one armed hug.

[itachi_san]

He accepted the hug, still pouting. As soon as the Hokage let go, he proudly announced, "I'm gonna hold it for ELEVEN seconds this time!!"

"Minoru. Not right now..." Itachi sighed, handing his little boy a set of shuriken. "Why don't you practice with these... See if you can't cut any fruit out of the trees for a sweet snack."

The diversion worked, and Minoru had a new mission.

And Itachi leaned against his partner again.

[youngesthokage]

"He's going to come back covered with fruit juice you know. He's still not perfect with his upward throws." He petted the older man's hair, watching Isamu squirm until a patch of sunlight was off his face.