one_long_mission | [Open] Home at last.

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[Open] Home at last.

She'd been away from home a lot lately and she was more than aware of that. While the kids and other adults were doing their best, they still had quite the pack of children to support, and there had been no fall back funds or reliable missions to take care of the gaps. It was improving now, but she'd had a rash of missions to take care of over the last month, and it had meant that she'd been away far more than she'd been home.

She just hoped everyone was happy to see her, given that the weather seemed to think she needed to be blown away the second she stepped foot back in the village.

In any case, she'd fought her way back to the house, changed into clean clothes, then went out for a walk since most of the house's residents weren't home. When she got back, she'd check on the ones who were, but in the meantime, she saw no issues in fetching some fresh things for dinner before settling back in.

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"Much better. I'm glad you were awake to see me."

Given how uncommon of an occurrence that had been lately... "Me too... I actually... haven't been awake very long. Is there any tea made?"

"If there is I haven't checked for it." She shook her head and ran her fingers over his hair. "I'll go see."

"I think... I'll join you..."

This was a good day, Itachi decided. After all, his mother was home. And he felt as though he had enough energy to be out and about for a while.

He stretched his arms over his head and took a fairly deep breath. He carefully made his way to the edge of the bed and stood up. He was stiff, as he always was, but it didn't deter him from following her to the kitchen.

She smiled to herself, making sure her son was alright on his feet before wandering off ahead. If he thought he could handle it, she'd trust him.

There was a chair by the kitchen window, should he need it. No doubt, the youngest Sasuke had been using it to climb up to the higher cabinets. But for now, he simply leaned against the counter.

"Is this... the missions... is it like it was... for you before I was born?"

His voice hinted curiosity rather than concern. He wanted to hear her stories, spend time with her while he could.

She was quiet for a moment. "In some ways these are harder, in others easier... but it feels good to be properly active again."

He could imagine how they'd be harder. She had been off the active roster since Itachi was born. and this was not the Konoha hey once knew. He could also imagine how it might be easier, being able to once again take matters into your own hands, especially in a place that was much more peaceful than their world had been.

"I'm glad... it brings you satisfaction..." Itachi smiled. "And pride... to be the shinobi... we always knew you were."

"I strongly suspect that the many Sasuke wouldn't agree to that part." She shook her head.

"That I always knew you were..." Itachi amended. He laughed a little, the coughs only tickling his throat.

"He was too young... to notice how you looked at me... when I went on missions... I remember your face." He couldn't see the expression clearly now, but it was still clear in his mind. "Anxiety and pride, all rolled into one..."

She moved over and brushed her finger over his hair. "You're right. I tried to hide that a bit better."

"By the time I made ANBU... you'd gotten better at it..." he laughed, and then immediately stopped laughing.

He remembered her face that night. She betrayed no emotion. No anxiety. Certainly no pride. His own face blanched with the memory, and he gripped the counter to keep his balance. He looked as though he might faint.

Her eyes widened, and she touched his cheek. "Sweetheart, deep breath now. Okay?"

He turned to look at her. She was so close, he could almost see the concerned expression on her face.

"I think..." He took a long, slow breath, steadying himself on both the counter and his mother. "...I'd rather... see you smile..."

Or almost see it, as the case likely would be.

She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. "I should hope so sweetheart."

I was a little disappointing that Itachi could remember the proud, anxious look on her face, even the look of emotionless acceptance, with more clarity than he could her smile.

"You smiled... a lot... when Sasuke was little..."

She gave him a sad smile for that one. "I did."

"I wish... I'd paid more attention to it then..." He mused aloud. Hs voice was lighter, but his color was a little better. "I guess... I was too busy... smiling right along side you..."

Thoughts of his little brother were some of his happiest thoughts. They always had been. Thoughts of family. Thoughts of being together.

"You had more important things to notice Itachi, no shame in that." She shook her head, reaching out to run her fingers along his cheek.

And he shook his.

"Just didn't know... how important some of those things were... at the time..."

"They were important to you, and that's what matters." She shook her head and kissed his forehead.

"You did good... with Sasuke..." he smiled, thinking of the littlest one here. "Happy, innocent, smart... You didn't let Father make him grow up as fast as I had to."

A full-fledged genin at age seven, and a rankless soldier three years earlier. That's growing up fast.

"That was... as important to me then... as it is now..."

She nodded and petted his cheek. "Then I think we've come around to the same point, right?"

He smiled, even offering a slight chuckle. Despite Fugaku's best intentions...

"Are you saying... that I turned out... rather like you, in the end?"

"Both my boys are like me, though Sasuke takes more after Fugaku I think than you do."

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