Don't Remember

AN: ^^; Flying without my beta, bear with me if there are a lot of mistakes.


Itachi cursed silently, putting his bags down as he unlocked the door. All the crap he bought was too damn heavy to lug all the way to Sasuke’s apartment. He knew through snooping that Sasuke didn’t have a few essential items for cooking, other than probably what the boy knew how to cook. The option of cooking for himself something more involved than boiling water and adding noodles thrilled him to no end. A talent or skill would dull after years of disuse; he was curious to find out just how much he had lost already.

Finally fishing out the keys out of his pocket, Itachi unlocked the door and pushed it open, using his foot to keep it that way while he gathered his bags. The grocery store nearest to Sasuke’s apartment was abysmal. He had to ask one of his customers for a ride to one that had the item he needed in stock, then walked all the way back. Thankfully he didn’t have anything that would melt. Until he grew more familiar with the bus system around the area, he would have to get used to walking. Which brought up the rest of his spending binge. Shoes, some nicer things to wear, as well as some things he could alter into good work clothes. Also a few large bags of socks; one would tend to underestimate the wonder of socks until they went without them for years.

Sasuke looked up from the couch, hair tousled, remote in hand. He raised an eyebrow as he watched Itachi struggle with the bags. Itachi’s hair was held back with a bit of string, a few errant hairs sticking to his face, bangs plastered to his forehead. It was a little amusing to watch, Itachi cursed at the bags and shoved them further inside with a foot while struggling to keep the door open. Helping probably would have been nice, but Sasuke didn’t feel like being nice.

Noticing Sasuke’s eyes on him, Itachi looked up. The door hit his calves while he was distracted, making him wince and turn around, kicking the door. Sighing, he shoved the last of his bags inside and let the blasted door swing shut. Now that he saw all that he had bought laid out, he was unsure how he managed to walk at all. Here he thought people were honking out of interest in him, they were probably laughing, the bastards. Pushing back the damp hair out of his face, Itachi nodded to Sasuke.

“Having fun?”

“Tch.” Itachi scowled and grabbed the grocery bags, heading into the kitchen. The new shirt he had bought clung to his chest and stomach, the lack of sleeves cooling his arms if not the rest of him. It still felt silky against him, a nice change to either going without a shirt, or wearing something so stiff and dirty that it wasn’t worth keeping if it tore.

“How did you get the money for all that?” Sasuke called from the couch, sitting up a little to look into the bags.

“I went to work, remember?”

“That’s a lot of money to make in one night.” With all that Itachi had bought, even if it were all on sale, it was more than he made in a week.

“I guess,” Itachi shrugged, walking back out with a glass of water.

When he turned and knelt in front of one of the bags, Sasuke’s eyes widened. There were bruises and scrapes on the back of his shoulders and upper arms. They weren’t there when he left, Sasuke would have remembered that. “Oi,” he frowned, hopping over the back of the couch, “where did those bruises come from?”

Itachi hesitated then sipped his water, acting nonchalant. “I probably was drunk enough at some point to knock into things.” A tickle at the back of his throat made him cough, head throbbing mildly afterward. He glared at his bags, standing slowly. Wasn’t alcohol supposed to kill germs? With all that he had consumed last night, it should have killed whatever bug he had picked up. He plopped down in the recliner, stretching his arms out above him, shirt riding up.

Sasuke’s eyes flickered down almost unconsciously to survey the bare skin, pausing when he saw more bruises. His brother’s pants were low on his hips, low enough to expose his bruised hips. Narrowing his eyes, he looked back to the numerous bags. Some of his old friends had talked about going to strip clubs, that if you paid a higher fee, you could... Sasuke jerked his gaze back to Itachi, hands balling into fists. “You slept with someone for money.”

Mid-sip, Itachi almost choked on the water, coughing heavily. “What?”

“You whore yourself out? That’s your job?” Itachi’s shoulders lifted a little in a half-hearted shrug, drinking more to calm his coughs. Reaching out he snatched the drink out of his hand.

“What the hell?”

“Don’t do it anymore,” he said firmly.

Itachi snorted, “I get a lot of freaking money for it. I’m not stopping.”

“No!”

“Look, I’ll pay for all of your rent and half the utilities. It’s not like I’m in danger or anything, I can beat the shit out of someone if I have to.” He had to a few times, but that hadn’t happened in a long time. There were other things he was careful with; no sex without condom, even blow jobs. The last thing he wanted was to catch something.

“I don’t want you doing it! Just stop!”

“You’re not my bitch,” Itachi stared at him coldly, taking the glass back. “I can do what I want.”

His nails bit into his palm as Sasuke struggled to keep calm. “Please.” It wasn’t a word he used often, but hopefully had some effect on his brother. He couldn’t nail down exactly why he wanted Itachi to stop, it really wasn’t his business. Yet, it felt like it was.

Putting the glass on the side table, Itachi stood, body close to his brother. “Look, I have something I’m saving up for. When I’m done, I’ll go back to stripping. It’s almost the same, anyway.”

“No... Itachi.” Sasuke grabbed his arm, mindful of the bruises.

“If you’re worried I’m going to catch something, I use protection. Every time, with everything... It’s that or no deal.” Although he knew that condoms weren’t a definite thing. They broke, sprung leaks, or what not all the time. He was certain that was how he came into being. Itachi couldn’t picture his parents being happy enough together to want to stay out of some misguided sense of love. It was duty that kept his mother with him for as long as she did, and probably longer if she hadn’t died so horribly.

Sasuke stiffened, “it’s not that!” His hand tightened on Itachi’s arm. “Please... aniki.”

Wincing more at the words than the firm grip on a sensitive spot on his arm, Itachi’s resolve wavered. “I’m saving up so I can go to school. If I play my cards right, it’ll take a month, maybe two. Then I’ll go back to stripping and go to school.” In an old expression of tenderness, one he used to use on the younger Sasuke, he touched the boy’s cheek, thumb stroking just above his cheekbone. “I’ve been shuffled from so many houses and institutes that I haven’t really had a change to go to a real school since I used to walk you there myself. Give me a chance.”

“I’ll pay for it. Just stop.”

The pleading look in his eyes mirrored the look he had seen many times when they were kids. He usually gave into it, but this Sasuke was an adult and able to take care of himself. Itachi needed to run his own life. “You don’t have that sort of money. It’s expensive to go. Books and school supplies, plus I need to get one to study for the GED test.” Not that he wasn’t sure he could pass it. He wanted to ace it, to prove to himself that he could do anything if he worked hard enough on it. “That book alone costs fifty bucks.”

“It’s fine, I’ll work overtime.”

“No.” Besides, he rather see Sasuke around more. “Relax, it won’t be for much longer and if I get caught I won’t tell them where I live, you’ll have no part in this what so ever.”

“It’s not that. I can’t... I can’t stand to look at you, if I know you’re still...”

Itachi tensed and dropped his hand. That was one reason he never wanted Sasuke to find out. “Can’t stand to look at me while I’m whore? Too dirty for you?”

“No... I,” Sasuke tried to gather his thoughts, to put up a good reason why he didn’t want Itachi to let other people touch him for money. Just one lap dance didn’t mean they were... it was his brother, he couldn’t have those sorts of ideas about him. There had to be something else other than possessiveness. “I want...”

“Me to stop, so we can live together and be the perfect family. We never were, I was always screwed up, and you were always innocent. Let’s keep it that way.” Screwed up of course being the nice word for crazy, but he loved being crazy. Add a nervous twitch, and no one would bother him.

“No!” It wasn’t like that, as much as it made him feel guilty for knowing. He wanted something more. Sasuke touched his chest hesitantly hoping Itachi would get the point. “I want..”

Itachi took his hand and kissed it. “Don’t touch me. Not after I’ve done all this. I don’t want you to ever be soiled like that.”

If Itachi was mocking him, or being serious, Sasuke couldn’t tell. Given his already suddenly shaken confidence, he decided it was a mockery. Sasuke jerked his hand back, face flushing from embarrassment and rejection. “...Fine.”

“Let me take a shower, and we’ll talk, ne?”

“No. Forget I said anything.” Looking away, he closed his eyes for a moment then turned and walked out of the living room. He was so close to admitting something he didn’t want to. For Itachi to find out that he had... unhealthy thoughts about him.

Itachi watched him leave. “Right...” Forget that he cared enough for him to not want to do this anymore. No one else would have given a damn, or told him to stop. Slowly he began to strip, ignoring Sasuke’s earlier protests about doing so in the bathroom. He’d pick up his clothes later. When he passed Sasuke’s room, he blinked and paused, hearing his brother speaking quietly to himself.

“Of course he wouldn’t want... that’s stupid, Sasuke...” He ran a hand through his hair, “god, I can’t believe I did that...” Shifting a little from his seat on the bed, he covered his face with his hands. “He’s your brother, moron. God, he thinks I’m sick now...”

“Sasuke.” The younger brother jumped, lowering his hands and looking up at him sharply. Itachi didn’t bother to hide his nudity as he leaned against the doorframe. Hell, he’d been partially nude for most of the night. “Why would you think I’d believe you were sick?” Sasuke flushed and dropped his gaze. “I thought brothers were supposed to care. I’m glad you don’t want me doing this to my body but... It’ll work in the end. And I’ll give you all that I made tonight, for food and the medicine... that day off you took too.”

Anger filled him quickly. Of all the dense... How the hell was Itachi his brother? “I don’t want any of the money from that! I just want you, stupid!” While Itachi stared at him dumbly, the anger that had given him the confidence to admit it quickly left, making him feel weak and tingly all over. “Just go.”

“Fine. I’ll take my shower. But while I do, you think about something, okay?”

Sasuke barely paid attention, so distraught by his admission as he was. Itachi was going to hate him, and not only would he lose the only bit of blood relative he had left, but in the short time he’d been there he had grown attached to his brother. Being left by someone who obviously meant a lot to him in the past... and now, felt like a sledge hammer to his gut.

“I was awake that day. I woke up because you were nuzzling my neck, which happens to be rather sensitive by the way, and I couldn’t help but grope you. If you hadn’t woken up at that point, I might have tried to do more.” Good, so they were both perverts. Although technically he was the bigger pervert, for molesting his brother in his sleep and admitting that he probably would have done more. Not that they were having a perverted contest. He always won those. Turning, he let his words sink into the very shocked Sasuke. Hopefully the boy would follow him into the shower.


Hope was all he had, after a quick shower, and sadly no sign of Sasuke. The boy didn’t even sneak a peak. How he slept around and still kept some semblance of innocence, Itachi didn’t know. He combed his hair, wincing as the small teeth caught several knots. As soon as his hair was combed back, he wrapped the towel around his waist and left the bathroom, steam billowing out after him.

Sasuke looked up as Itachi walked in, leaning his forearm against the doorframe. “I figured after what you said, that I would have someone to wash my back in the shower.” His brother flushed, seemingly annoyed that he was. It was adorable, the two sides of Sasuke warring. “Figured you weren’t that innocent...”

“I’m not!” Sasuke twitched, regaining his composure. “I just wasn’t sure if you’d want me to do something like that or not.”

Itachi shrugged, “it doesn’t matter right now.” Pushing away from the door, Itachi walked slowly to the bed, sitting next to him. He noticed Sasuke’s eyes trail down his chest, and smirked. “I have tattoos. On my back and... places usually not visible.”

“Can I see?” Sasuke was thankful for the change in subject, giving him something to do rather than be nervous. Really, he’d been out with how many men now? After all that and Itachi made him feel unsure and nervous.

Itachi turned around, long marks between his shoulder blades that strongly resembled scars. He looked back at Sasuke over his shoulder, watching his brother tilt his head and trace the marks with his fingers. “Lost my wings...” The thought behind it wormed his way into his head while in his first foster home. Wings were usually a symbol of innocence, but his own had been ripped from him early, by a drunk friend of his father. Later on, one of his clients happened to be a tattoo artist as well, and he exchanged the work on it for sex. Didn’t go over too well with his pimp, but that didn’t matter.

Sasuke smiled slightly, letting his fingers linger on Itachi’s back. “That is... really hot. Where’s the other?”

Itachi sighed, “it was my first, and I really wish I didn’t get it. Someone did it for me when I was in juvi.” Ah the arts and crafts one could make in jail. He pulled the towel down to mid-butt cheek. Just below the small of his back was a chaos symbol. At the time, it seemed perfect. Now it felt like something stupid a child would do.

Laughing softly, Sasuke pulled his hand away. He was comfortable touching above his hips, but that close to his rear was just too much. “I like it, though.”

Itachi snorted, “my nickname is juvi was chaos butt for awhile.” He smirked, raising his chin a little. “Until they respected me.” Amazing how a good beating would make one respect you.

“Why were you in juvi?”

He tensed, dropping his gaze from Sasuke. Well that was a good question, but a good answer wasn’t coming to him. The truth would have made Sasuke drive him from his home. Itachi wasn’t ready to risk that yet. “It’s a long story.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Thankful for that, he turned toward Sasuke, shifting until he was on his knees on the bed. He pulled the towel down enough to almost flash his brother, to show off the last of his tattoos. Both intricately spiraled out in an almost tribal appearance, disappearing back under the towel and stopped at his sides. It was the only time he had a man stare at his crotch so long, and have no sexual intent.

Leaning forward on his hands and knees, he ignored the bruises above the tattoos, tracing them with one finger. “I like these ones...”

Itachi was understandably distracted for a moment. “My uh... friend... he and another friend of mine went to get tats lower. I’m not inking my penis.” Not only would it hurt like hell, but it was too extreme for him. Which was saying a lot, considering all that he was willing to do.

“Yeah... That would be a little weird.”

“Kisame got ‘not for free’ on his. It was amusing.” A shining example why people shouldn’t do drugs and drink, then decide to get permanent alterations to their bodies. “Do you have any?” Itachi licked his lips, sitting back on his heels.

“Yeah, one...”

“May I see it?”

Sasuke reluctantly tugged his collar down and turns his head so Itachi can see. It seemed like a beautiful emblem, until he found out what it really meant. “I’m not really fond of it.”

Leaning closer, he examined the mark, impressed. “Why? I like it.” He wanted to trace it with his tongue. Nightly, if possible.

Pulling the collar back up self consciously, Sasuke shifted a little, glaring at the bed. “The guy that I was with at the time wanted me to get it. That specific symbol for some reason. He turned out to be a real jerk, abusive and obsessive, and I found out later that he makes all the guys he goes out get those. He likes younger guys.” It was a way of being branded, like a cow. Not exactly something to be proud of.

“Oh,” Itachi made a mental note to find out more about the man, and kill him later. “What an ass.”

Sasuke shrugged a little. “I’ve had a few people see it and recognize it. They made... snide remarks, so I like to keep it covered.”

“I see.” He changed that mental note to kill slowly. “I see... you know you can get it removed, right?”

“Yeah, I’m saving up to have it done.”

“I’ll help.”

Sasuke shook his head. “No.”

Annoyed at being told no, he switched tactics. “How much is your rent here?”

“I’m not accepting any money from you. I get payed well at my job.” Though he had to still be around the jerk that had branded him, his boss even, and had to deal with a few... odd work requirements. “I don’t need any of your money.”

“I’m not living here for free.”

“Yes, you are. As long as you’re doing... that for money, I’m not accepting anything from you.”

Itachi snorted, “fine. I’ll save up and get a place of my own.” The last thing he wanted to be was a burden to Sasuke.

“So... I’m not good enough for you to stop, ne?”

“Don’t think like that,” Itachi mumbled as he leaned his forehead against Sasuke’s forehead. It wasn’t like that at all. There were goals he wanted to meet, and without having most of his cut taken away from some jerk, he would be able to meet them soon. Maybe he wasn’t doing it the right way, but he wasn’t exactly getting any younger. To be able to go to school, and do what he wanted, that was worth selling himself. It was just sex, a chore that he happened to be good at, it didn’t mean anything to him.

“But it’s true. It’s true. It’s not fair to me for us to be together and you still going out every night fucking with strangers. I’m willing to stop being with... the people I’m with. But I guess I just don’t mean enough to you for you to do the same.”

Itachi closed his eyes. “Sasuke... I need this money. If I strip, it’ll take a year, maybe two to save up. What I’m doing right now? I’ll have enough in two months. Then I’ll go back to stripping to support us and school. I just want something to put away, incase I can’t strip or find work... What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t want anyone touching you! I can’t stand the thought of it! I can get you a job where I work, or something. I make good money, who cares if you’re not making as much? I’ll help pay for you to go to school... not everyone who works their way through college does it by whoring themselves out, Itachi.”

Wincing at that, he pulled away. Just because he didn’t feel like struggling through school and keeping down a job didn’t make him a bad person. He wanted to concentrate on school, not school and a job with its own stresses. “Thanks for that.”

“Well it’s what you you’re doing... If we were to be together, and you were still doing that, it wouldn’t be fair to me, and you know it. It would be cheating, plain and simple. If I’m not good enough for you to stop, then maybe we just shouldn’t be together.”

Anger flared in him, followed by frustration. Why did the one obstacle in obtaining what he wanted have to be something so dear to him? Leaning forward, he kissed him softly, unsure when he’d get the chance again. Sasuke’s lips were soft and inviting, moving against his in a promise of skill. With their lips still close, he whispered, “I understand... Just don’t take away my chance with you completely.”

“If you don’t stop now, that’s it.” He opened his eyes a little, hopeful. Itachi watched him for a moment then stood, quietly making his way to the door. “Is that a no?”

Pausing at the door, he looked back. “I guess so. You can touch all of them, but I’m too dirty for you to wait. That’s fine with me, have your fun.”

“I said I’d stop touching them. You’re not willing to do that for me.”

“I don’t get any enjoyment out of it.” It wasn’t fair, he had to choose between the future he wanted, or Sasuke. “They don’t touch me. I usually give some jerk head and he gives me a hundred bucks. You’re...” He closed his eyes; Sasuke couldn’t understand. It wasn’t what Sasuke was doing, wanting to touch someone and happily sleeping with them. To Itachi it was simply a job. Like stamping license plates. There wasn’t any sort of fun to it, or enjoyment. He went through the motions that by now, he could do half asleep.

“I’m what? And just for the record, just because you don’t get any enjoyment out of it doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be cheating if we were together. How would you like it if I decided it would be okay to still do things with some guys I’ve been with, as long as I don’t enjoy it?”

Itachi leaned against the door, not looking at his brother. “I would have no objections to you dating other people while we were.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened, “then you don’t care about me like I care about you.”

There were times he was good at keeping his temper. This wasn’t one of them. He hit the door with his hand roughly, ignoring as it dented a little. “You don’t know shit about how I feel.” Itachi loved the little boy that was his brother, from day one. Maybe it wasn’t in the same way back then... but Sasuke didn’t even remember him from their childhood. “I meant while I was still working, to make it fair. But never mind. You’re the one that doesn’t care, you won’t even work with me on this.”

“Because you’re asking me to let you be with other people, Itachi! For money! Can you honestly not understand how just... unfair that is?! I don’t want to be with anyone else! I couldn’t even sleep with Gaara last night.” Which was rare, as that was honestly the only thing they had between each other; great sex.

“Excuse me for ruining your date, I’ll try not to do it in the future.” He turned and left the room, quickly returning to his room and flopping down on the bed. Pulling the pillow down, he buried his face in it, growling quietly. Why couldn’t Sasuke understand how important this was to him? Screw it, he couldn’t sleep. After the day he had, booze was a better option. He rolled out of bed and strode down the hall, not looking in on Sasuke as he passed his door. The last thing he needed was to see his brother’s hurt eyes. They used to be able to sway him into doing anything.

Pulling out a bottle from those he had bought, he looked for the strongest liquor he had. Finding one that would get him thoroughly thrashed, he opened the bottle, taking a long swig from it. He didn’t notice Sasuke creep into the kitchen, watching him with sad eyes. By the time he came up for breath, a quarter of the bottle was emptied. The buzz warmed him, making his body feel fuzzy. Much better than being sober.

“Aniki?”

Itachi twitched at the name, but didn’t look at him. “Yeah?”

“I’ll ask one more time, and then I swear I’ll stop bothering you.” He looked up at him, eyes pleading for his brother to accept his terms. “Please...”

“A month’s worth instead? How about that? I’ll quit earlier than I planned.”

Sasuke shook his head, “now, please... please, aniki.”

“I need the money, or it won’t work.”

“I can give you the money, I don’t mind. I can get you a job, your money at that job plus some of mine might be almost as much...”

Itachi raised an eyebrow. Unless Sasuke was some sort of high roller, he highly doubted that. “I made almost eight hundred dollars tonight. And it wasn’t even on a weekend. Can you honestly say you can make that much up?”

“Am I not worth that to you,” he asked quietly, watching him. “It might take a little longer, but we’d be together... and I promise, we’d get enough money eventually.”

“I just want to go to school. Why is that so hard for you to understand? It’s like selling blood now and then. Sex isn’t special to me anymore. It never really has been.”

“So... being with me wouldn’t mean as anything to you, anyway.”

“That’s not what I meant... I don’t kiss people. Ever. I think the only person I’ve ever really kissed was you.” Itachi sighed and looked away. “Whatever, I know it sounds stupid.”

“But if we slept together, it wouldn’t mean anything to you?”

“If we did?”

“Yeah...”

Itachi mulled that over, trying to think of something appropriate to say. The truth made him look even worse than a whore. His adorable brother, and his own... Should he tell Sasuke that they’ve already slept together? “Sasuke.” No, that would probably make him wonder at what sort of person Itachi was. He already thought lowly of him, as it was. “Who wouldn’t enjoy sleeping with you?”

“I don’t mean would you enjoy it, I mean would it mean something to you?”

“Of course it would,” he whispered. It would mean more than it should.

“Then why... won’t you?” Tears came to his eyes, his first in a long time. He ignored them, letting his vision mist and become hazy. “I just want...”

Itachi winced and put the bottle down, closing the distance between them quickly, hugging him tightly. He knew that expression well; it was almost habit to pull him into a hug, and hopefully make those disappear. “I,” his resolve was wavering, as he knew only Sasuke could make him do. “Two weeks?”

Sasuke tensed in his arms, “no.”

“A week and a half?”

“Itachi...”

“Sasuke. If I didn’t care about you, I would have said no right when you gave me the ultimatum. I care, I do... but I need this money. I don’t know why you think so lowly of it.”

“I’ve explained why I think so lowly of it.” Sasuke pulled away, tears still lingering in his eyes. “But,” he gave him a weak smile, “it’s okay, forget it. If you need the money right now, then you do. I guess it’s none of my business.” He tried to laugh, but it came out shaky. “You know I... I forgot there’s something I need to do.” Spinning on his heel, he left the kitchen. There was no way he could stay here right now, it was too painful. Being rejected by someone he cared for, over stopping something so degrading. He wasn’t worth much to Itachi at all... Stopping that thought before it summoned more moisture to his eyes, he grabbed his coat.

Itachi followed him, knowing exactly why he was leaving. “At four in the morning?”

“Yeah...” Sasuke tugged his coat on, wiping at his eyes quickly. “I’ll see you.” He opened the door, early morning air hitting him like a slap in the face.

“Don’t go. Don’t leave it like this.”

He hesitated, looking back at him. “What else do you want me to do?”

Itachi cupped both cheeks with his hands then kissed him again. This time Sasuke whimpered and kissed back, wrapping his arms around his neck. The older brother deepened the kiss, almost purring at Sasuke’s taste. God, it was wrong that he liked this so much. Their kisses before, they were never like this. Childish things, brought on after watching his father’s friends, their ‘baby-sitters’, watch adult movies. Itachi held those memories as bitter sweet; they meant the world to him, but still... it wasn’t right that they had turned to each other as they had. As the older brother, he should have been more responsible than that.

Those things faded from importance, his world now was Sasuke’s lips, and the way his body pressed against him. He caressed his back, smiling at the way Sasuke shivered because of it. Eventually Itachi reluctantly broke the kiss, turning his head to rub his cheek against Sasuke’s rosy one. “I,” he flattened his lips, stopping before blurting something out that wouldn’t make sense for him to say now. Sasuke would question how he could, and it... just didn’t make sense to tell him now. “I really, really care about you, Sasuke. I never forgot you, all this time. Please just work this out with me. Give me a month, a week.”

Sasuke opened his eyes a little, pressing his cheek back against Itachi. “I can’t.” There were plenty of other ways to make money, it would take longer, but if he wasn’t worth a little longer wait, then he didn’t care about him as much as he thought he did.

Itachi dropped his arms, looking away. “Fine.” Stubborn, stupid brother. He turned his back to Sasuke and grabbed the bottle again. Something told him that he’d go through a lot of this, now.

“Okay... well... I have to go... do that thing. I’ll be back later.” Sasuke had to almost force himself to move, walking out slowly.

“Be careful. There are a lot of weirdos out right now.”

“Yeah.” Sasuke shut the door and leaned back against it, fumbling in his pocket for his phone. He put a slightly shaking hand over his eyes, trying to calm himself. It wouldn’t do to call a cab and have his voice waver in emotion. After a few moments he pushed away from the door, flipping open his phone. The lack of car meant that the cab service was on speed dial. While he would wait for someone to come take him to Neji’s place, he would have more time to settle down. Something ate at the pit of his stomach; it felt as though he had just lost the most important thing to him. He probably had...