[log] An appology

Rin:  For once Rin didn't have both of the children with her.  Hitsuki was spending some time with her father -- Rin might have heard something about 'training' but she wasn't sure.  She had been trying to sleep right then and she hadn't really been paying attention beyond making sure Hitsuki was dressed for the weather.  Rin was actually doing something she didn't get a lot of time to do these days, she was flipping through medical journals and reading while Arashi was in her other arm eating.  Rin was positive the boy was doing a growth spurt because he seemed to be eating constantly for the past day or so.  It made it harder for Rin to get rest, but at least Sasuke had helped her out by taking the more active child with him.



She was just wearing loose grey pants and a white tank top, nothing dressed up since she was curled up on the couch with the journal.  Dinner was in the oven, but it hadn't been in there for long so the house didn't smell like food yet.  Her tea sitting on the coffee table next to her had been forgotten and was no longer warm.  Essentially, it was a very restful afternoon.



Itachi: For once, Itachi was going round to see Rin and not Sasuke.  In fact, he hoped his brother wasn't there so that he could talk to Rin alone.  As much as he loved his fiance (and that was quite a bit) Itachi would be the first to admit that his stubborn, proud brother could be a handful now and then.



Itachi slipped inside the door, closing it loud enough to alert the girl to his presence before he took his sandals off, carefully dropping them next to the door before he walked towards the living room.



"Rin-chan, are you here?"  He didn't think his sister would be out and about yet, but even he didn't have the eyesight to see through walls after all.



Rin: She knew he was in the house.  It wasn't that he was hiding it, but when he called out, she answered, "I'm in the living room.  Can I get you to grab a bottle of water for me from the fridge when you walk by it?"  Rin was not doing much leaving the house still.  One little trip to see Madara was about it.  Oh, and when she took an hour to herself to not have any children with her and get her hair trimmed and some other girly things done.



If it had been anyone but family that had come over, she would have never asked for a favor like the water, but her brother was fair game -- and he'd have to walk right by the fridge to enter the main part of the house anyways.



"Sasuke took Hitsuki out for a while."  She assumed he was there to see Sasuke, not that she minded him being there.  Rin meant it when she said he was welcome and family.



Itachi: "Oh.  Well...anyway, I came here to see you, actually," he replied, once he had gottten the water and made his way over to the living room.  He handed the bottle over before he sat down next to Rin, dark eyes watching the girl carefully.



"I wanted to apologise."



Rin: She blinked at him.  The journal had been put down since Arashi was in her left arm.  The water taken with her right and she had been about to hold the bottle with her knees to open it with her right hand when he apoligised.  She didn't know there was anything that he would say he was sorry for, so she just asked in confusion.  "For what?"



Itachi: "...I am sorry for the way I have acted towards you since I came over that night for dinner.  I..I knew I shouldn't have let what you and Sasuke did together bother me, but it did.  I know you would never hurt either of us if you could help it.  But it bothers me now, having to share him.  I cannot understand why, when I had no problems before I left."  Actually, he knew part of the reason was the appearance of the Madaras, as well as his own twin.  Not to mention Ita's own revealed weaknesses.



"I want him to be happy, yet I dislike having to share him now.  ...I want him to be mine, but..he is Sasuke.  Being with other lovers is something he will do regardless of how much I love him."  It was difficult, sharing this information with someone other than his fiance, but Itachi felt Rin deserved to know.



Rin: She swallowed softly.  As he had explained, her eyes had grown softer.  In the softest voice possible, sounding like she was close to tears, she whispered, "I never wanted to hurt you."  There was nothing she could do about how Sasuke was, but she felt horrible for her part in it.  "I thought ... I should have known it would hurt you.  I ... I love you."  She looked up at him, baby still in her arms against her cheast and telling him the complete truth.  "I missed you so much when you left, it wasn't like losing a brother, it was losing a brother.  I don't want to hurt you."



Itachi: "Hm.  I don't blame you for it though.  I know how irresistable Sasuke is after all."  At that the Uchiha managed a faint smile.  "...I know that probably better than anyone, Rin-chan.   I have no idea how he made me fall in love with him but he succeeded.  I never thought I would have any relationships, let alone something like this."  The man looked down at his lap then back up at his sister.  "I know you want Uchiha children though, and he is probably the only choice for a father.  I love you too Rin-chan, but not in a romantic sense...I am sorry.  Sasuke...he is the only one I have ever been in love with, the only person I want."  He smiled again then, more noticeably this time.  Being in love with Sasuke was something that made him happy, knowing his brother returned such strong emotions.  Sasuke made him feel things no-one else ever had or ever would.



Rin: She sighed softly, looking back at him.  "Maybe me having kids of my own just wasn't meant to be.  I know you love him and you're the one he loves.  I have no illusions about that.  yes, Sasuke loves me but that's because I'm his family.  He doesn't love me or anyone else like he loves you.  You're the one he loves like that.  Sasuke will never be what I want.  Ever.  I know it.  He knows it."



She shrugged looking back at the baby, her free harm softly stroking his downy hair.  She loved the little boy, but she desperately wanted her own child, although she was starting to realize she had been fooling herself.  "I won't do it again."  Unlike Sasuke, Rin would promise not to sleep with Sasuke again, if that was what Itachi wanted.



Itachi: "...There's no need to do that, Rin-chan," Itachi said quietly.  "Because if Sasuke wants you then I shall cope.  I just want him to be happy...and I know there are some things I cannot give him.  I understand, even if I do not like it.  If you want to...I won't stop you, or him.  And hn, if you want to have children with him then I would not be so heartless to deny you that."



Rin: She shook her head.  "I don't know.  I mean, I don't want to hurt you, Tachi."  She looked back up at him, "I want a baby, but if it's meant to happen, it will.  It might be better if I just have some stranger's."  She sighed again and looked over at him, saying, "Tachi, the most important thing to me if this family.  That includes you and includes the children -- not just Sasuke.  I don't want you to be unhappy, and I don't want you to feel like you are not welcome here.  Nothing would make me happier than to have all my family together."  She didn't know what to say beyond that.  She still felt terrible that Itachi had been hurt by what she did with Sasuke.



Itachi: "...You know how Sasuke would feel if you had 'just some stranger's' child," the man replied.  "And I do not want you to be denied what you want.  If Sasuke is willing then I won't have any objection."  He smiled at her.  "I want you to be happy as well, you know.  You are someone else who is important to me.  Even if I arrived back in this world a while ago I find it is only now that things are starting to get back to normal.  ...I am sorry though, I cannot explain everything that has happened."



Rin: She nodded.  "I'm sorry, Tachi.  I haven't been around as much as I should have been for you."  She toko a deep breath and said, "It'll be a while before I'm ready to have another child.  Who knows what will have happened by then.  Maybe something else will happen, or who knows.  I need to worry about this little boy right now."



Itachi: Hesitantly he reached out to touch her shoulder, trying to reassure her.  "You will always have Sasuke and I, no matter who else you may meet.  And tch, no need to apologise to me.  I am the older brother, it is up to me to be here for both you and Sasuke.  I am just sorry that I have not done as good a job as I would have liked.  And you are correct, we have enough to worry about in the present to fear the future just yet.  Whether you meet someone or not, and I believe you will...Arashi needs you more right now.  And I cannot think of anyone else I would trust enough to look after our son."



Rin: It was Rin, of course physical touch reassured her.  She leaned into his touch as she moved a still evidently hungry Arashi to her other side of her body,  "You're a very good older brother."  She sighed softly as she leaned a bit more into him.  It wasn't anything sexual, Rin just was a physical person.  "I love both of the children.  I couldn't love them more if they were actually mine."  In all seriousness, she whispered, "I'll protect them both with my life."  Not just Arashi, but both children.  She would do her best not to let her family down -- any of them, including the little infant still eating in her arms.



Itachi: He smiled.  "I know you would." Against the people who probably would try to hurt their children it wouldn't go any good, Rin was nowhere near skilled enough, but Itachi knew his sister's intentions were good.  "And I cannot thank you enough for it.  2I know it means a lot to Sasuke and myself that you are so loyal to us and our family."  Even if he wasn't as kenn for touch as she was, he remained still, not wanting to offend Rin by moving away.

 

Rin: She knew Itachi wasn't as much of a touch person as she was, so she did back off.  Finally, she was able to move the baby to her shoulder to getly rub his back and get herself completely covered up.  It wasn't that she was shy about feeding the baby, she just was not going to be crass about it.

 

"Thank you, Tachi-nii." She smiled at him as she finally was able to hand the baby over to him.  "I'll do my best not to let you down."  The 'again' was not spoken, but it was there.  She was constantly trying to live up to what she thought was expected of her.



Itachi: "You haven't let us down so far, Rin-chan," he replied.  "...If anything it was I who let both you and Sasuke down, as well as the children.  Everything that has happened since I left...I was too weak to stop it from happening.  But I am getting stronger, I can feel it.  Madara is helping me as well to regain my strength.  I won't let anything harm you or the rest of my family again.  It is my duty as the oldest after all."

 

Rin:  "All I or the children need is for you to be around.  That's all your son really wants right now for you to be around and hold him and be around when you can."  He voice was soft as she smiled at him.  "We love you.  That includes me, Hitsuki, and Arashi."  It was obvious she had faith in Itachi -- much more than she had in herself.

 

Itachi: "...I disappointed Sasuke with my weakness though," the man said quietly.  "I let him down and hurt him so badly.  I know he loves me unconditionally but I hurt him, and that is something I cannot make it up to him for.  I...I love him...but I always wonder if I am ever good enough for him, because I know he and his twins as well as the other Uchiha about are stronger than I am, or close to surpassing me."

 

Rin: She shook her head.  "Tachi, that doesn't matter to him.  What matters to him is having you with him.  He loves you for you.  He loves you Tachi, he really does.  With all his heart, its the same way he loves his children.  Yes, he is proud of them when they are strong, but he loves them reguardless.  You are the man he wants.  You, not a different version of you, but you."  She didn't know if she was conveying her thoughts well, but she obviously thought he was worth something.



Itachi: "Sasuke said the same to me.  I know he loves me, it is obvious when he looks at me, and how he acts around me.  But it is nice to know someone else recognises that as well."  Itachi smiled slightly at the girl.  "And thank you, for not rejecting either of us for it.  I know if we were discovered you would be in just as much trouble as us, for helping us.

 

Rin: "You're both my family.  You're both worth the risk.  If I had doubts about the two of you, I would have never have had Arashi-kun." She smiled at him, her arms finally not holding the child she was able to hand Arashi to Itachi.  "We may do things different than the village would want, and we may be ... maybe we aren't right.  I think we're all doing our best though, and what we do within the district is not the business of anyone not an Uchiha.  The baby is a family matter, not a village one."  Yes, Rin put some things above her loyalty to the village, even if she hadn't voiced that before.

Itachi: "Even if it is illegal, it feels right," he replied, smiling down at Arashi as he held the infant.  "Our son...and the bond I share with Sasuke.  If it was to be found out we would all be punished, but what we have is more than worth such pain.  Perhaps all that has happened since I switched worlds was a test to see if we could withstand such things.  We did, even it was difficult to get here."  He looked back up at Rin.  "You must be careful though, Rin-chan.  I am sure that even though it is a family matter some people might think otherwise."



Rin: "I'm careful, Tachi.  Besides, most people that see this think Sasuke knocked me up and you are just being the supportive older brother.  No one outside the family need to know what goes on."  She knew she needed to be careful, but she was.  She smiled at him.  It was obvious she loved him and was happy he was there.  She leaned back on the couch, her hands folding under her head as she watched him, staying close but not touching him.  If an outsider saw it, they would think the loving uncle was holding the baby to give Rin a break probably.  She wasn't making any advances that were in anyways sexual.  She did explain though.  "I'm sorry about the other night.  I thought that was what Sasuke would want."



Itachi: "Sasuke would like nothing more than to have all his lovers loving each other as well.  It frustrated him before, when he had so many people and no-one was satisfied because they wanted him all to themselves."  Itachi held Arashi in the crook of one arm while he gently caressed his son's face with his free hand.  "...As much as I love my otouto, he can be very foolish at times.  I dread what will happen to us if our son has inherited his foolishness, that is for certain.  We will be doomed."

 

Rin: She laughed lightly at that.  "I know.  Well, in this case, he does have his wish a little bit.  I do love you.  Just, I am perfectly happy with it being like this."  She'd be happier with Itachi living in the house and having all of her family together, but she was happy that her brother felt he could come by the house at least.   "Are you OK with having a foolish little sister who loves you too?"  Her smile just stayed soft.

 

Itachi: "Hn, of course I am.  And you are not foolish, or at least not much, Rin-chan.  You are smart enough to give Sasuke and I something wonderful, and something that not just anyone could have done, you said so yourself."  He smiled back at her.  "A perfect son."

 

Rin: She continued to smile, a far away look in her eyes as she was just simply happy.  "He is wonderful.  The kids both are."  Rin's dilemma about how to refer to the children had been solved by her simply calling them 'the kids', although she did hope that two would become three before long.  Her eyes drifted to being half closed, just comfortable with her brother and the baby there.

Itachi: "I cannot thank you enough for this," he said, attention going back to the baby in his arms.  "Hm.  This is something I never expected to have, if I am honest.  A son of my own and a person who loves me unconditionally.  As well as a newfound adopted sister.  I am not going to be stupid enough to waste this second chance though." 

 

Rin: She smiled back at him, her eyes drifting shut.  "I'm happy to have a family."  She was being honest about it.  She didn't have any jealousy of Itachi because she knew her place in everything.  Itachi was the fiance, the husband, the beloved, the adored.  She was essentially the concubine.  She was the concubine to someone who loved her though, and for the moment, that made her happy.

 

Itachi: He smiled as he stared down at Arashi, pleased and touched to know how much Rin loved them.  "A family of misfits, but a family nonetheless."  The Uchiha lightly caressed his son's cheek before he looked back at Rin.  "We are lucky to have you in our family, Rin-chan.  But now you are just as much an Uchiha as we are."

 

Rin: She smiled at that.  "Do you feel better about things?"  One eye opened as she looked at him.  Her concern was more how her family felt than how she felt.  Someday that would probably be a problem for her at some point.  She loved her family though.

 

Itachi: "Mm.  I am sorry I let my feelings get in the way, because I know you would never.. You love both of us, I know that."  The Uchiha shifted slightly, being careful not to disturb his son.  "Arashi is proof of it."

 

Rin: With a little quirked smile, she let her eyes close again, "Don't tell Sasuke..."  He voice became a whisper, even though it was just as loud.  She was obviously not tealling a 'true' secret.  "I think he looks more like you as a baby."  One eye opened again as she smiled more, "And don't think I won't pull out a ton of baby pictures if you disagree with me."



Itachi: "Hn. I hope in the end he looks more like Sasuke though."  It wasn't just worry that someone might figure the truth if Arashi looked like Itachi, but he thought he resembled Fugaku too much, and he didn't like the reminder.  "Tch, I will not fight with you on this, Rin-chan.  Obviously I cannot remember what I look like at that age."

Rin: She nodded.  "I think he'll just end up looking like both of you."  She kept a smile on her face as she snuggled into the couch a bit more.  "And like his brothers eventually too."  She knew for her own sanity, the next child would have to be hers, but she had every intention still of making sure the other two sealed away and hidden would be born someday.  "No matter which of you he looked like, you know you and S'suke will both be chasing off the fan girls from him."



Itachi: "Hm, while their mothers chase Sasuke and I?" he replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes.  "Or...if Arashi is anything truly like his fathers we will have to keep him far away from Hitsuki instead."

 

Rin: She nodded. Actually that had occured to her but the person who most knew the genetics of Arashi and Hitsuki, she knew it would be dangerous for the two of them to be together.  Such a close combination was risky under control lab conditions, just just be left to nature though.  "Everyone already chases the two of you, even if it is only with their eyes when you are out.  You're both very handsome.  I am sure Hitsuki can find someone not in the clan, I am sure that the boys will be chasing her too."

Itachi: "Either way, whoever she chooses will have to deal with Sasuke first," Itachi added.  "...I pity them, knowing how formidable and protective he can be of his precious people."

 

Rin: With a little laugh she shook her head, "And Hitsuki has her father firmly wrapped around her little finger, so I am sure he'll just put a big show of being protective, but let her be happy."



Itachi: He smiled at that.  Knowing his brother, he would bet that Sasuke would give Hitsuki and her potential loves The Talk as well.  Itachi had gotten the lecture over being careful, and he was Sasuke's older brother after all.  "Hn.  I suppose it depends on who it is."