Chapter 143

                                    

                                          
I do not own pic!
You headed home while Itachi was waiting for Tatsu, it wasn't long when the kid came out with his small backpack on his back looking around accompanied  by his teacher, who smiled and said something to Tatsu pointing to Itachi who stood up a little distance away from them.
"Daaaaad!!", Tatsu screamed out loud happily as he run toward Itachi, who bent down and opened his arms for him, holding him in a sweat warm embrace, Itachi looked down at his face to see the great happiness on the little boy's face, it was his first time being picked up by his dad, Itachi gently patted his head smiling at him, then stood up after a while, taking his small hand in his and started walking off.
"Where are we going dad?", Tatsu asked a bit confused, as he noticed Itachi didn't take the way back home, but instead went into the centre of the village.
"We will go get some things first", Itachi said calmly, looking around at the various shops around as people minded their own business.
"But where?!", Tatsu said looking up at Itachi with a smile.
"We will go to a greenhouse", Itachi said calmly, looking around for one.
"Why?!", Tatsu asked with a cute curious tone looking up at his dad while walking.
"To get a rosebush for mom"
"Why?!"
"Because I promised her, and she loves them"
"Why?!"
"Because it is beautiful and symbolizes love", Itachi said raising an eyebrow noticing his child keeps asking him why after each times his answers him, he should put a limit to it, or else he will not stop.
"Why?!", Tatsu asked Itachi 'why' again as expected.
"Why?!", Itachi asked him back with a smirk, confusing the little boy.
"Huh?!", Tatsu looked at Itachi confused.
"Why do you keep asking me why?"
"Because I wanna know!"
"Why?!"
"Becauze I'm curious and I want to learn"
"Why?!", Itachi chuckled a bit, as it was him now who is asking 'why'.
"Dad!", Tatsu puffed his cheeks annoyed at this, making Itachi chuckle at him.
"Alright my son I was just messing around with you, oh, here is one, let's go in", Itachi said with a smile as he ruffled Tatsu's hair making him giggle, as the two of them got inside.
"I guess I was s bit too harsh on him...", you said to yourself with a sigh as you finished preparing the dango you promised your son and Itachi, as you then tasted the cabbage soup that was still on the stove, "he just got back, it is a miracle...and here I'm only being negative and keep reminding him of everything bad and sad that happened...even the small details...", you said as you added some water to the soup and put the cover back on the cooking pot, leaning back against the counter and looking outside the window, "but I'm only saying this so he doesn't dare to go again! I love him so much...and I'm so happy he is back and I wanna...", you said with a blush spreading over your face as you looked down, feeling a sweet sensation in the pit of your stomach, "I really missed him, but he was an idiot...I hope the soup and the dango make it up to him a little bit, I don't want him to think he did a mistake coming back or he is unwanted...I really want him, I was just a bit upset...", you said as you sighed, shuffling the soup slowly with a wooden spoon, "and now I'm talking to myself...I guess I'm going nuts...", you sighed heavily, covering the cooking pot again then started to play with the hem of your apron, closing your eyes and waiting for the soup to be done.
"Is it okay to take one with the buds and flowers already on?", Itachi asked the guy working there as Tatsu was trying to smell one of the crimson roses on the rosebush his dad had chosen.
"Yes, all you have to do is take it out of the bag and plant it in the ground or a pot if you want, but don't forget to take care of it", the man said as Itachi nodded.
"Alright, I will take this one and...I need a bouquet of similar red roses", Itachi said as the florist nodded and asked:"so is that all sir?", Itachi nodded and was about to say yes then stopped once he saw some bonsai trees displayed nearby.
"Actually no, I would like to take a look at these, Tatsu, come here", Itachi said as Tatsu nodded and followed him happily, Itachi stood in front of the beautiful pots containing the small sized trees, examining them closely.
"Which one should we take, Tatsu?", Itachi asked his son, not really able to decide what to take, as all of the trees looks cute and beautiful.
"This one! Grandma has one like it at her home", Tatsu said pointing to a small bonsai cherry tree with a smile, grandma? He means Noriko for sure but this also, reminded Itachi of his mother, Mikoto.
"Alright, you take that one son, I guess I will be taking this as well", Itachi said with a smile looking at a small wisteria tree, "your mom will love them for sure...", Itachi muttered gently patting Tatsu's head as the florist went to prepare the order for Itachi to take with him.
"Now son, you carry the bouquet, and I will carry the rest", Itachi said as he and Tatsu exited the greenhouse together, with Tatsu holding the beautiful bouquet of red roses in front of him wrapping his small arms around it, while Itachi somehow managed to carry the three other small trees.
"Where did you get the money from dad?", Tatsu asked curiously making Itachi smiled, your home appeared a distance away from them.
"I have been working for long, I have saved enough", Itachi said briefly not getting into details as he looked at Tatsu and asked: "but why did you ask?".
"I just wanted to know dad", Tatsu answered simply.
"But why?"
"Because I was curious"
"why?"
"dad! Stop it", Tatsu said with puffed cheeks again as Itachi chuckled at his cuteness, "alright son, we will be home soon", Itachi said as Tatsu nodded, bringing the roses closer to his nose smelling them.
"Alright I'm coming!", you said hurrying to the door as you heard a gentle knock on it, Itachi needs to have the keys so he can enter and exit freely, you opened the door, and there you found lady Noriko with a smile on her pleasant face.
"Oh! Hello my lady, welcome!", you greeted her happily as you hugged her, the lady could clearly notice that you are happier than usual, and well, where is Tatsu?
"Sweetheart? Where is your son? Aren't you supposed to go get him?", she asked after she got inside, noticing that the kid wasn't home while you are there, how should you tell her?
"Well...he will come in a little while, um...why don't you rest for a while? The way here is a bit long and tiring, we will have lunch soon", you said with a nervous smile, as you started leading her to the reception room, just to stop half of the way as you heard another knock on the door.
"That must be him, I will be right back!", you said as you rushed to open the door, finding the two you're expecting, while the lady was thinking to herself, at how suspicious you look today, you seem like you're hiding something...and since Tatsu come home all by himself?
"Mom!! These are for you!!", Tatsu said giving you the bouquet of roses as you took it from him with a smile, thanked him and Itachi who had been putting the things he got aside and taking off his shoes. Tatsu then spotted a pair of shoes he knows very well, "grandma Noriko!! Dad is back!!", the little child screamed happily running inside looking for the old lady then hugging her when he found her as she smiled sadly at him and patted his head, still thinking that he is just making this or had seen a dream.
"Alright my boy...why don't go put your backpack in your room and wash your hands to eat?", she told him, gently patting his head trying to avoid this conversation with him about his father, as then you walked to them, holding the roses in your hands.
"What Tatsu said my lady...is actually...right...Itachi is here...", you said, with a smile, seeing the unreadable look on her face, as she just looked at you confused not saying anything still thinking of what have you just said, but soon her eyes widened once she saw Itachi steps in as well, after he took off his shoes.
"Hello...my lady...", Itachi said in his calm and deep voice as he stood beside you, smiling slightly and pulling you close to him, as the lady just watched him speechless, before she finally opened her mouth to say something...
"Oh my goodness...he is really alive", it was all what she said before she fell to the ground unconscious, not really able to handle the shock.