Taken

Summary: The ring around Itachi's finger doesn't stop gleaming. Only Sasuke knows bitterly that this isn't revenge. This is justice. AU.

Pairings: ItaSasu. SakuIta. Misc.

A/N: When I'm serious, it turns cracky, when I try to be cracky, it gets serious. So I've stopped trying altogether. Also, in attempting to be more orthodox, I've crossed the pairing line... again. Sigh.

"Do you know what it feels like to feign ignorance and silliness everyday? Dolling yourself up so you might just enter his peripheral once in a while? And waiting for years, holding onto his last words and sitting by the phone for hours with the smallest of hopes that it'll ring? Do you know what it feels like to ache day after day, and yet he refuses to make a move? If you do, then you should know why I did what I did."

"Ah, sorry for being such a bother," she dramatically sighs, then gives me a large, cheery smile. "But thank you, the notes will help me a lot! You know, if you have free, how about I treat you to a cup of coffee or-"

"Just scan them and return them to me next class," I abruptly cut in, closing my laptop. I quickly pack my belongings and file out of the lecture hall.

The smile on her face falters, but remains persistent. She skips alongside me in the hallway, spins so that she is directly in front and blocks my path. "Okay, next time then?" she chirps. "I heard the cafe came out with a new Choco Java-Twist-"

I easily navigate around her, push the main door open. I hear her footsteps follow me down the stairs, but they hesitantly stop midway when it becomes clear I'm not interested.

"Ah... s-see you then, Sasuke!" she calls out.

I don't bother to look back. When I am sure I am not being pursued, I slow down to a more leisurely pace across the campus.

I stare up at the New Haven sky, the usual grey with scattered rays here and there. The warmer spring air is billowing from the west, but the cold stillness of February remains, as does some remnants of dirty snow. It's an ideal time for a peaceful stroll; the weather isn't as biting cold, and the students are still crowded in dinner halls or common areas. Once March fully kicks in, so does the tents and picnics and horns, as well as the flood of people... the flood of girls interrupting you every other step that reaching a class in a timely fashion is near impossible.

And years ago, I actually thought grad school would be any different. Life doesn't changed at all. It's always the same routine, regardless of school, state, even country. Wake up, morning lectures, girl x, lunch, evening lectures, girl y, studies, dinner, girl z, late studies, sleep. Maybe my high school and college schedules were a little less predictable than it is now, with an additional sport and dobe that chucks all order into a blender, but everything is still the same.

It takes only ten more minutes to reach my apartment. I swipe myself in.

"Oy, Sasuke!"

"Sasuke!"

"Good evening, Sasuke."

The usual three are nesting cozily inside my living room. No surprise there. Suigetsu is hogging his usual spot on the couch, tossing a football out of boredom. Karin scrambles off the office chair to me, arms wide, to which I evade. Juugo sets aside his daily newspaper and sends me the same benign smile he gives everyone.

Some days, I regret ever bothering with a roommate. When I first met Suigetsu in lectures, I saw an egotistical, flamboyant jerkass with sleek, heavily-gelled hair. Outrageous purple suit, Rolex watch, and checkered Converse shoes. Obnoxiously sipping a water bottle. And if all of that wasn't enough, he topped the day with a flavorful snarky remark – "Ah, look what the cat shitted out." Yet, I also had the pleasure of knowing he is a charismatic, manipulative bastard – quite like my father in many aspects, because before I knew it, he managed to convince me how economical it is to co-board. I corrected my mistake by kicking him out one week later, but the little weasel already made about eighty or so copies of the apartment card, and through time, I became acquainted with the other two currently loitering in my apartment.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke honey, but we'll have to kidnap you tonight!" Karin coos, grabbing my arm and tossing me to a nearby armchair.

I obviously make an error in assuming she'll stop that after she announced she's dating my former roommate. I mentally note to not let my guard down next time, and push her off. However, she leaps and tackles me back down, straddling me.

She pats my chest. "Your impatience only turns me on, sugarstick."

"What is the meaning of this," I grumble, not in the mood for another episode of Karin's act.

"Hey, we knew you won't listen to us, so we gave Karin permission to do whatever to restrain you." Suigetsu has a pleased grin on his face. Seeing my annoyance trumps the fact that his girlfriend is groping another man. Should I be flattered? Then again, only Suigetsu has such a messed up hierarchy. And messed up taste.

I shove Karin off again. "You have thirty seconds."

"The LGBT community is hosting their biannual movie night," Juugo calmly explains. "It would be great if you can attend."

"Not interested," I say, maneuvering away from the chair before Karin can pin me back down.

"But there's Hitchcock," Karin says suggestively, baring her teeth.

I return an unamused expression. Unlike two years ago, I've become immune to both her and her blatant euphemisms.

"We're also showing Wyler's The Children's Hour starring Audrey Hepburn," Juugo adds, equally adjusted to Karin's behavior.

"And free food!" Suigetsu laughs, catching the football and swaying himself upright. "Best. Pizza. Ever. Plus, Juugo's serving his famous fish chips too. That's what got me."

Juugo brightens at the compliment, then searches me for my answer.

If there is any reason to go, it may just be for Juugo's support; he's been a reliable companion through this hell. But I pulled two consecutive allnighters, and once I'm done with my thesis tonight, I'll want to turn in early. My mood will honestly foul with more people and noise.

"Maybe next time," I say. Before anyone can object, I escape into my room and lock the door. Thankfully, neither Suigetsu nor Karin has managed to obtain a copy of my room key. I also have the window barred with steel after I found Karin on top of me one night... even though I live on the fourteenth floor.

I close my eyes and rub my temples, exhaling a breath. At least I am alone now-

"I see someone hasn't changed," comes a chuckle, and my eyes immediate dart up towards my desk.

Maybe it's my absolute confidence I've secured my room to myself. Maybe I've just been caught at an exhausting time. Or maybe it's just the voice – deep, mesmerizing, familiar. Whichever one, I am frozen stiff.

The chair spins around, and I see him grinning at me. Elegant as always, head tilted, eyes amused, one leg crossed over the other. His fingers dangle my blackberry in the air. He tosses the cellphone to me; I numbly catch it without thinking.

"You should charge that once in a while," he says, getting up and waltzing over to me. "Or you wouldn't be as shocked as you are now..." A poke to my forehead. "... little brother."

And for a fraction of a second, this isn't my room, but his, and I'm embarrassingly caught peeking in at the doorway once more. Only for a second.

So there is something that has changed in my life.

Once I recover, I choke out, "Itachi? What the hell are you doing in the U.S.?"