asgardeventide | Audio; Day 400

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Audio; Day 400

[Four months have passed since his arrival, and reaching that landmark has made him realise that he isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Things are changing, slowly, but right now his plans all come down to one problem- a lack of income.]

I'm looking for employment, what do people have on offer?

I'd give a resume, though I doubt it would be relevant unless there is a pressing need to hire those with combat training.

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[Sasuke's own eyes narrow in return.]

Why do you think?

[He could explain it all, sure. But faced with this image from his past, he'd rather hear Itachi's explanations.]

It seems I cannot guess at what are supposed to be my own actions.

A lack of answer from you only adds to the theory that this is all some grand illusion trying to rip my secrets from me.

[It's too soon. He's been too close to a breaking point for a while now, but he reigns it in as he always does - keeps himself from looking to shaken, keeps his voice steady.]

[Itachi may think this is an illusion aimed at him, meanwhile Sasuke thinks this is a trick aimed at unsettling him. It must have been done for a reason.]

[But he knows arguing back and forth like this wont achieve anything, not matter how much he feels like he wants to.]

An illusion like that would be pointless, I already know your secrets. I know, what really happened that night. And why. About our clan, the village elders, the fact that you should've killed me, but didn't. That's why you went through with it, right?

[Itachi shuts his eyes. He's already been told this, that his brother knows. What he knows. But it's painful to hear. They all seem so casual about it, but to him it reeks of failure.

What reason did he have to tell Sasuke? Had everything fallen apart? Had Danzo gone back on his word?]

You know my secrets, do you?

[What is he supposed to do? The hard edges of his expression soften, and he sighs.]

[Silence fills the room again as Sasuke stares at his brother, eventually moving slightly to perch on the edge of the desk in there. How in the hell is he meant to deal with this?]

If you have questions, I'll answer them. [What a strange role reversal this is.]

Did I fail so badly?

[It's all he can think to say. He leans forward to lace his fingers into his bangs, eyes down at his feet.]

...You didn't fail.

[He didn't fail at all. Far from it.]

...I believed everything you wanted me to. For years I hated you, despised you, threw everything into getting revenge for what you did to our family. I killed you.

And then I found out the truth.

[He lets out an amused snort, though nothing about this is funny. Everything he had worked towards was achieved an then shattered within the same day.]

[He raises his head a little as Sasuke speaks, watching his brother carefully, monitoring body language out of habit.

Everything seems honest enough. Though...]

You said I told you.

[The obvious question being 'How did I do that if I was dead?']

[Right. That part was coming.]

You did. That happened later- via Edo Tensei. Kabuto resurrected you, alongside plenty other shinobi. There's a war going on.

[Dammit, things were a lot simpler when his brother was here the last time. At least then, he already knew everything.]

[The name "Kabuto" doesn't ring any bells, but the term Edo Tensei does. So he had succeeded, but been denied a permanent death.]

A war... And they needed dead fighters for this war. Controlled, no doubt.

...But even then. I would have needed good reason to tell you. I...

[He lowers his head again.] I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Sasuke. Everything is so confusing right now.

You're telling me.

[When has everything not been complicated though.]

We ended up fighting together against Kabuto, to stop the Edo Tensei. It was sort of nostalgic. By that point I already knew the truth, that guy calling himself Madara told me everything after your death.

Before the jutsu was completely undone, you used the sharingan to show me.

... I see.

["That guys calling himself Madara"... That's something he'll have to ask more about later, but it's better not to involve too many details right now. It's a lot to take in.]

That makes more sense, I suppose. That I would show you after you already knew.

[His head remains lowered, fingers slowly running through the hair over his face.]

Edited 2014-02-21 20:47 (UTC)

[He falls silent once more. There is a lot more that can be said, about everything, but he won't bring it up unless asked. There is simply too much.]

There's always a chance that in a few days you will remember everything that happened here previously. Sometimes people get 'cursed'... though I fail to see why they would do it to you.

[Unless they felt it was Sasuke they were punishing.]

Cursed?

You think I will remember things that have yet to happen to me?

[It could be possible, but it seems so unlikely. He had been older, apparently, when he'd been here before.]

And if I don't?

Someone told me once this type of thing happens, one of the regular curses seems to be a de-aging one, but only for a couple days and the victim doesn't lose all of their memories, they are simply altered.

[So not likely, even though there is a small chance. He wants to believe that is what it is, and things will turn back soon. He's already planning to track down Hel and see what the fuck is going on.]

If not, then I guess you'll stay here like this.

[That those who ran this place could so easily de-age someone... though perhaps this shouldn't be any more surprising than having been brought here in the first place.

Perhaps he had been older, and when they took the years away from him they'd taken the corresponding memories and there was a chance of him getting them back. It seems highly unlikely.]

... You would rather I be as I was before. Already knowing what I should.

[Yes, in a way. Only because it made things easier, but Itachi was still Itachi.]

Wouldn't you? At least the you that was here before knew everything, instead of being faced with their little brother who was now a decade older.

I don't know much about my older self, apparently. I don't know if the man you spoke to was even me. You seem certain that he was.

[He presses the bases of his palms into his eyes.]

You look well. No matter what I know, I'm glad for that.

I have no reason to believe he wasn't. He was the same as I saw him before being brought into this place.

[Arguing the validity of past brothers is not going to get them far though.]

You look... [Well.] Young. I might even be taller than you for once.

I'm sure you are.

[Slowly, he pulls his hands down, setting them in his lap.

He looks incredibly tired all of a sudden, the front he'd been putting on completely fallen away. Sleeping hadn't come easy in the short time since the massacre, and this place hasn't helped.]

[Sasuke watches him for a moment, before pushing himself off the wall to stand up straight. Things like this are still foreign between them, now even more so, but he wants to do something. Anger aside, it is still Itachi here.]

You want any food or anything?

[Food is the last thing on Itachi's mind right now. He shakes his head, not wanting to have Sasuke fetch any even if he'd been hungry.

Though the ease in which his brother asks causes his heart to ache, and he wonders if it's wrong of him not to accept. But he doesn't change his answer. Instead he stands.]

I should return to my room.