They say on the rooftop of the house, gazing up at the expanse of murky navy and its spotted sheen. Itachi had never really taken the time to stare up in the more—it was always forward towards the future, down for his sins, behind him for ambushes of recollections of his past. Up was hope and stillness, and he could afford neither. But when Sakura took hold of his hand and pulled him to the stairs with all her might because the stars were out, he had no good excuse for refusal.

So here he was, outside on a roof with his eyes turned towards the sky.

"Stars! They're like pretty flowers!" Sakura exclaimed as she pointed above her. "Do you think it's pretty, 'tachi-san?!"

He glanced at her. "Aa."

She grinned. "You know—You know what? Mama tol' me a story yest'rday! She said that some people who go to bed don' wake up no more and if they don', they're not really gone. They go up, up, up 'til they go super bright and be a star!" Awe weaved through her words. "But I don' know a star. Do you?"

"Itachi-chan! Come down her, I made onigiri! Bring Sasuke-chan down too, would you?"

"You are the future of the clan. I expect nothing but great things from you, Itachi."

"Yo, 'tachi! Wanna spar? I'll kick your ass this time—for real!"

"I know... quite a few."

"Really? Mama says if they're brighter, they're smilin'. And that's a good thing 'cause all the stars are super, super bright! That means that the ba-gillions of of stars have ba-gillions of smiles!" She jumped up to her feet with widespread arms as if trying to embrace the whole sky. Itachi quickly snatched the back of her shirt before there could be the chance for her to tumble off the roof. "Maybe they get sad 'cause they can't give no more hugs, but that s'okay. S'not for'ver."

"... Why would the stars smile at me?" he sighed. His grip slackened when she plopped back down. "What if... What if it was my fault that some of the stars are up there in the first place? I don't deserve their smiles."

Sakura tilted her head. "You loved 'em lots, righ'?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you love 'em lots, 'tachi-san?" she repeated. "The stars you put in the sky."

He stared at her, straight-faced, searching her wide, round eyes for any sort of judgment. What else could he answer but the obvious? They were his family.

Sakura moved to stand up again and Itachi readied himself to catch her. Honestly, why was there no harness on this child? The complete lack of self-preservation—

She patted his head and he froze.

"If you love 'em lots, they love you lots too, silly! It don't matter about you doin' bad things 'cause after you get punish'd ev'rythin's okay again. I know that 'cause once I ate a bunch cookies when Mama tol' me not to. She got real mad and I got into big trouble," she said. "I thought Mama wouldn' love me no more, but then she still read me stories and tucked me into bed!" She beamed. "All stars are good stars. They wouldn't love you no more."

"Father, Mother, I..."

"I know, Itachi."

"Itachi, just promise me this. Take care of Sasuke and do not fear—this is the path you've chosen. Compared to you, our pain will be over in an instant. Even if our philosophies differ..."

Itachi felt a pain long forgotten at the corners of his eyes.

"... I am proud to have called you my son."

He reached up to Sakura's wrist, holding it almost too gently to feel but tight enough to never let go and she watched, alarmed, as he bowed his head and whispered,

"You... truly are a kind child..."

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EDITED 2.28.18