Shisui stirred awake by excited talking running from the kitchen like a toddler – he must have slept in late. Itachi must be feeling better if he woke up before Shisui.

The tan man sat up and stretched – yawning as he did so.

"Yeah, he just asked me not to talk to Kakashi and if he tried to contact me I should tell him" Shisui heard Sasuke say.

"Good advice! So what time does school start?" Shisui then recognised the voice as Mellissa's.

He furrowed his brows and looked over to where his husband slept. The spot was vacant – cold and empty. His brain clicked awake – he jumped out of bed, throwing on some random shirt and stumbled out of their bedroom trudging into the kitchen.

"Ah! You're awake" Mellissa smiled – but Shisui could see the anger in her eyes despite her chirpy voice.

"Where-" He tried to speak, to find out where Itachi was.

"Sasuke, do you need a lift to school?" Mellissa cooed at her nephew.

The younger Uchiha scoffed at her tone, "I can walk, thanks"

"Okay" she pouted playfully, "Shisui have a seat – I'll make you some coffee." She turned her back to him as she poured his coffee. Sasuke seemed oblivious to the atmosphere as he finished his orange juice, but Shisui could pick up on the silent anger radiating off the black haired woman.

She turned around with his cup in hand, "Don't you want to sit?" She smiled, a smile that made Shisui's skin crawl. He swallowed harshly and sat down. Mellissa hummed as she walked over and practically slammed the cup down before him – a few drops springing loose from the mug.

"Aunty calm down – you're too active" Sasuke grumbled as he flung his bag over his shoulder, "Bye guys!"

"Have a wonderful day, Sasuke!" Mellissa called.

She stood staring at the front door until it closed, then she hummed as she made her way and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Where is he?"

"Keep quiet – wait another three minutes. Sasuke might hear us" She said in that clinical, chirpy voice.

She walked over to the opposite end of the kitchen table and sat down, she cracked her knuckles and dropped her smile – staring coldly at Shisui as she sipped her coffee.

Shisui felt incredibly uncomfortable and somewhat afraid – but kept quiet.

Three minutes felt like a dragged out eternity when Mellissa stared at you like prey. Finally she broke the silence, "Number one, he is at my place sleeping. Number two, what the absolute fuck?"

Shisui sighed, "So he's oka-"

Mellissa slammed her hand on the table so hard that the mugs shook slightly, she then forced another smile – however it wasn't a happy one, "Let's start with number two."

Shisui squirmed slightly, he didn't know if Itachi had told Mellissa and if so, he didn't know how much he had told her.

"No, you don't get to withhold information – I want the full story, Itachi fainted before he could tell me everything. All I got out of my bruised-wrist nephew was Kakashi's name." She explained coldly.

Shisui sighed and dragged his hands down his face, "I took Sasuke to school 'cuz it was raining. We picked Kakashi up the night before – he was too drunk to drive and didn't want to go back to his apartment because Obito left him... When I came back Kakashi- he was on top of Itachi... forcing his legs apart... I saw red and dragged him outside."

Mellissa took a sip of her coffee, rubbing her lips viciously against each other. Shisui could basically see her radiating in rage. Her fist was clenched and then she let out a deep sigh, "Everything is fine for like five seconds and then something pops up a-fucking-gain!"

She stood up so violently that the chair fell back and she turned around with her arms crossed. Shisui just sat still – not wanting to upset Mellissa who had basically become a clenched fist with hair.

She turned around sharply, "HOW COULD YOU NOT CALL THE POLICE!" She screamed with wild eyes.

"I wanted to! But Itachi begged me not to..."

Mellissa laughed dryly, "Unbelievable... unbelievable – I don't believe it. He is such a stubborn little shit – and you encouraged it!"

"Don't talk about him like tha-"

"I will talk about him however I want to! What? So now you're ready to do something? If I begged you not to – what would you do then?" She seethed.

Shisui scowled and sprang up – his chair also falling backwards with clenched fists.

"I want you to – I wish you would" Mellissa smiled happily as she rolled up her sleeves and clenched her fists, "Come on – go ahead. You're a tough guy now, huh? Give it your best shot – I'll have you on your ass in one fucking swing."

Shisui let loose a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, "I'm sorry", he whispered.

"Uhuh, I need a bag" She dismissed him as she walked toward their bedroom.

"For what?" Shisui followed behind her.

"Some of his clothes and toiletries" she stated bluntly as she walked into the couple's bedroom.

"Wait, why? He isn't coming back?" Shisui panicked slightly.

"For a short while as he recovers and I press charges – get me the bag."

"Mellissa..." Shisui began.

"Okay, I'll put them in a trash bag" she shrugged as she was on her way to leave the room.

"He's my husband, I want him here..."

She rolled her neck and Shisui heard a small crack, her high ponytail ran across her as she did. She turned around and looked at him, with gentle eyes this time.

"He told me that he feels like something has changed...between the two of you. He needs some space, Shisui. Some time to think." She tentatively placed a hand on his broad shoulder.

"What am I supposed to do?" Shisui asked softly.

"You look after Sasuke. I look after Itachi for a bit – I'll be the big bad bitch. Then, we see what happens. Please get the bag..."

Shisui sighed and went to their closet, pulling out a travel bag. He began taking clothes out and folding them as Mellissa joined. They folded some clothes until they packed a pair of shoes.

"His things are in the bathroom" Shisui pointed to the door. Mellissa walked in and gathered Itachi's toothbrush and the like. Shisui quickly grabbed one of his hoodies and stuffed it in the bag, thinking he was discreet – Mellissa saw, she just didn't say anything.

He zipped up the bag and handed it to Mellissa "It's a bit heavy, I should probably come wi-"

Mellissa easily grabbed the bag with one hand, "Look after Sasuke please..." She asked and turned to leave.

"What do I tell him about Itachi?"

Mellissa sighed, turning to look at him "The truth. We are better than this – better than covering things up. This family communicates. Itachi doesn't have to like any of this – and I don't care about that. You tell Sasuke the truth."

The black haired women left the apartment, Shisui just watched the door close behind her. The apartment was empty – it screamed in lack. She was right, of course – Shisui thought. He sighed and picked up the two fallen chairs...

"Ita...I miss you already – I miss you so much" The tan man whispered in the empty apartment.

A/N: Hey y'all! I'm so sorry for being MIA... I was drowning in university work and all that jazz – I didn't want to post low quality chapters because that would ruin the book❤️. I saw everyone's comments just now – thank yew everyone for the continued support and rageful comments lol😂. I just wrote this chapter now and it might take a hot minute for me to adjust to a schedule – I just wrote my last exam today! Anywhore – let me know what you think of the chapter! And if you see the vote button – attack her, she's been saying things about you... OH and Happy Pride!✨❤️✨