Itachi was dead already, though, he wanted to argue. He'd done enough. He should be free of all this. Who got to decide he was to be brought back again? Who got to decide to bring him here.

This wasn't right. His brother was here and he was cowering away like a child. He was beyond this. No matter the circumstances, Itachi was here in front of him and he needed to address that. Sasuke straightened, raising his head.

"But you are, and I can't change that." Not yet, anyway. "Are you alright?" Are you alive? Are you well? His ears pricked up, and he listened for anything that might be off about his breathing, his heartbeat.