A/N: I plead with you LMAO please comment! It really helps me gauge what parts of the story to focus on to make it more enjoyable for everyone ❤️ so if you have a reaction to a sentence, paragraph or idea - don't be shy to comment on it! ❤️❤️ Good luck surviving this chapter LOL

Itachi wasn't asleep, he stared through the darkness with sad eyes – all night long...

There were no thoughts that ran through his mind. No intentions, no motivation, just an empty mind. Shisui had eventually come to bed. Probably after washing the dishes.

"Ita...are you awake?" The older male asked softly.

Itachi kept up evenly breathing, knowing it would fool his husband. Knowing it was wrong to do that too. Knowing, full well, that he should talk about what's bothering him. But, he pondered the question, is it really bothering him?

Because Itachi realised that he didn't love himself either.

So, why bother?

And, to his bitter relief, Shisui did think he was asleep. So the tan man climbed into bed next to Itachi. Itachi just stared through the darkness as he felt a ghost of Shisui's arm about to wrap around him. The tan man must have had second thoughts, because his arm didn't drape around Itachi.

The Uchiha kept staring at that indifferent darkness.

Time ticked by slowly, as if it had lost its meaning. The Uchiha found that relatable. He related to it because, before, he and Shisui were doing so well. They were enveloped in a blissful bubble of love and lust. Now, ever since Kakashi did what he did... The bubble somehow popped. The bliss was gone. The lust was, clearly, gone as well.

And Itachi feared that the love... would leave too.

He listened throughout the night to his husband's even breathing. Deep and peaceful – Shisui was sleeping.

What is he dreaming about? Itachi pondered.

Is he dreaming about me? He asked his mind...

Probably not.

At some point, Itachi turned around to be able to see Shisui. But the tan man slept with his back facing the Uchiha. If he was being blatantly honest with himself, Itachi expected as much. So, it didn't bother him. Itachi, instead craned his neck to look passed his husband's broad back just to see the time.

5:05 A.M.

The Uchiha realised he wanted to just talk to someone – he wanted to tell them what he was feeling. Maybe, if he vented out his issues, he would then feel better. But who? He only had two friends.

Obito had disappeared.

And Kakashi... well, Itachi didn't want to see Kakashi ever again.

So, who? Who could he talk to? Who could he open up to?

Just before his mind could trap him, he realised.

I can talk to Mellissa.

The Uchiha quietly got out of bed. This time, with absolute determination not to wake his husband.

"It's starting to feel like you hate what happened to me more than you love me..." His words to Shisui electrified his brain.

It was easier that morning to get out of the bed without his husband shooting up in that annoying worry that Itachi always seemed to create. Always worrying people. Always making them concerned about the raven Uchiha. He could not take it anymore.

He tiptoed to his closet, throwing on another red jersey – ensuring that the sleeves were longer. He shimmied into his black jeans, threw on random shoes and tied his hair into its low ponytail – all done in the darkness.

Itachi tiptoed back to his nightstand, grabbed his phone and car keys and tiptoed out of the room. He walked through the dark hallway and stopped by the front door. Considering making Sasuke breakfast and leaving it out for him when he wok-

"Thanks, Shisui, that was delicious! Itachi's vegetables couldn't even compare" His brother's words stabbed his brain.

Shisui can make him breakfast... Itachi decided sadly. A freezing sadness.

Am I...

Am I even wanted anymore?

Itachi violently wiped a single tear that was silently and slowly slithering down his cheek. He shook his head in despondence and carefully unlocked and opened the front door. Closing it just as quietly. He walked down the stairs of the apartment complex to the first floor. About to greet the security guard that sat behind the front desk.

He was fast asleep, reclined on his chair.

Itachi just rolled his eyes and left the building, climbing into his and Shisui's car. Once inside, he took a deep breath and took out his phone. He found Mellissa's number and hit dial. The line rang for a few seconds before the call was answered.

"MMmy dear...nephew", Mellissa yawned, "What is...up?" She spoke, clearly half asleep.

"H-hi aunty, I'm sorry I woke you-"

"Mhmm, no. I've been up for", she yawned again, "Like, hours..." She was clearly lying.

"I wanted to know, if you wouldn't mind, if I could come over... I could really just- I kind of... I need to talk t-to someone..."

"Itachi, is everything okay?" She immediately asked – seemingly waking up instantly.

"Everything is..." Itachi paused. "So can I come over?"

"Of course...drive safe, okay?" She instructed him.

"Okay. I'll be there in a few", Itachi said and hung up.

Itachi couldn't even remember the drive to Mellissa's apartment building. It was just a blur – not out of stress or sadness. It was just... a blur.

He parked the car and got in the elevator, hitting the button to Mellissa's floor that he easily remembered. It seemed like a life time ago that he and Sasuke moved here after his parent's death.

Itachi knocked softly on the door and it flung open, Mellissa immediately engulfing him in a bone crushing hug. She released him and ushered him inside.

"I already made you tea, let's talk", she smiled.

Itachi had genuinely forgotten just how successful of a prosecutor Mellissa was. At the age of thirty-six Mellissa had already been offered the grand position of being a judge. She easily declined the position, preferring to be in the action of the courtroom. Not the, as she put it, 'boring position of telling people to basically behave themselves in a courtroom'.

Her apartment spoke volumes of her achievement, although in a humble way. He felt as if he hadn't left in the first place. The warm wood flooring, the open layout that Itachi had grown so fond of – to the extent that he imitated it – and the dazzling countertops. It was more spacious than his own apartment, although that really didn't bother him. He often wondered how his aunt felt living in such a big place by herself, but felt it wasn't his place to ask.

Mellissa led Itachi to the living room, taking a seat on the plush, warm brown couch and patting the spot next to her. It was clearly still dark outside, so the lamps in the room were still on. It lit up the room in a gentle orange glow, similar to a candle but obviously brighter.

Mellissa grabbed the two mugs on the coffee table, handing Itachi his tea and taking a sip of her coffee. She kicked her feet up on the table and got comfortable, waiting for Itachi to adjust.

"Did you put ni-" Itachi started.

"Yes, I put nine sugars in", Mellissa chuckled and got a chuckle in response.

Immediately she noticed it was hollow – lacking in some regard. Again, she kept quiet. She knew Itachi, she knew him well. So she knew that when he was ready, he would start the conversation. She just had to be peacefully patient and nonchalant – luckily that came to her as second nature.

It was a few minutes of silence, comfortable yet hesitant at the same time. Mellissa continued casually sipping her coffee as Itachi did the same with his tea.

"Sorry I came over so early... I-"

"You didn't sleep last night", Mellissa responded breezily, inspecting her nails.

Itachi sighed, "That obvious huh?" He asked.

"I know you. For one, you rarely wake up this early. And, you're a bit pale – so I figured."

Itachi put his tea mug down gently on the mahogany coffee table.

He sighed heavily again and undid his ponytail, it suddenly felt too restricting. To the point that he was actually developing a headache from it.

"I'm probably being too sensitive..." Itachi began hesitantly.

"Being sensitive doesn't make your feelings invalid", Mellissa answered wisely.

Itachi found comfort in that statement. It was the right decision to talk to Mellissa, she would quell his dreadful mind and still his gloomy thoughts. He could always count on Mellissa...

"When he says, 'I love you'... It doesn't feel the same anymore", Itachi spoke softly,

Mellissa nodded her head, "What does it feel like now when he says it?"

"It feels like the meaning behind it has been...blunted." The Uchiha whispered.

"And, did this just happen? Or did something else cause this feeling to happen?" She asked.

Itachi had to think for a moment, because a realisation slammed into him like a punch to the gut. Mellissa is a prosecutor. Kakashi tried to rape him. Shisui is a witness, who admitted to hating Kakashi. And, the bruises...

Mellissa instantly picked up on the few seconds of silence, and her mind sharpened even further. Yet, she waited and kept her expert poker face on.

"Something... bad happened and since then he- he doesn't want to leave me alone. He's always worried. And, he doesn't want to be intimate with me anymore..."

"Uhuh, and what is this bad thing that happened?" She instantly asked.

Itachi knew then that she had picked up on his silence, cursing Mellissa's sharp intellect, "I- This- The details aren't important", Itachi spoke brokenly.

Mellissa then put her coffee mug down on the table, her protective mode flaring up, "Itachi, what happened?" She asked again.

Itachi placed a hand on his forehead to calm down, "I can't tell you", he answered honestly.

"And why is that?"

Itachi closed his eyes and took a sharp breath in, "Because you'll do something about it and I don't want that to happen."

Mellissa's eyes softened, "Itachi, it's not like you to hide things from me. Just tell me, I'm getting worried he-"

Mellissa had never seen Itachi react so quickly, "Why is it that I always just worry people?!" The Uchiha snapped, "I'm just... nevermind. Thanks for the chat, I'll be on my way."

Itachi shot to his feet and Mellissa didn't waste a second, grabbing his wrist to stop him from leaving. She didn't expect what happened next.

Itachi hissed in pain and his hand shot up to cover his mouth – his eyes widened in fear as if he had been caught committing a crime.

It was anger at that point. Mellissa didn't release his wrist and yanked him back on the couch. She then stood up and faced him, staring into his frightened eyes.

"Stay. Still." She said, keeping her face neutral.

"You just grabbed me too hard! I really have to get ba-" Itachi rushed out.

"You and I both know I will drag you back in here. Lift up your sleeve." She ordered.

Without shame, tears welled in Itachi's eyes, "Aunty...please..."

"I'm sorry Itachi, but lift up your sleeve."

"Aunty, I'm begging you!" Itachi pleaded in pure fear.

Mellissa sighed, "I'm sorry but if you won't, then I will."

She grabbed Itachi hand and tugged the sleeve up. A bright purple bruise in the vague shape of a handprint was imprinted on Itachi's pale wrist. Mellissa stared at it vacantly, legal courses of actions running through her mind – accompanied by volatile emotions jogging equally as fast.

"I just-" Itachi tried to lie in a quivering voice.

Mellissa just drowned him out and grabbed his other hand, tugging the sleeve up just as quickly. A similar bruise – this one was healed slightly as there were blotches of yellow among the bright purple.

"Yeah. So, the only question now is who?" She asked calmly.

Itachi clamped up at this point, refusing to open his mouth. Refusing to even meet her gaze. He tugged his sleeves down quickly.

"Okay, so I take this silence as you won't tell me." She said.

Itachi remained quiet.

Mellissa nodded, "Then what I'm going to do, is call a friend of mine in the Konoha protection services and issue an arrest warrant for Shisui. This behaviour is unacceptable and I'm taking lead on the ca-"

"It wasn't Shisui!" Itachi screamed in panic, hiding his face in his hands. His shoulders shaking slightly, trying to withhold a sob.

It wasn't supposed to go like this!

This isn't happening!

This is just a bad dream, I'm going to wake up any second now!

"I'm sorry Itachi, I really am. But if you don't give me a name – my initial suspect is Shisui." Mellissa stated bluntly. Of course it hurt her to see Itachi like this. Of course she felt like sobbing along with her nephew. Of course she wanted to believe that Shisui would never do that to Itachi. But she knew, this is a serious problem – this is a serious crime.

Regardless of who committed it.

Itachi's heart sped up so painfully fast, his breathing became shallower and shallower. His surroundings spun around him, "It wa-s Kaka-" and then it all went dark for the raven Uchiha.